Australian netballers take local students through drills

MANY Port Moresby International School students took time out from their classes yesterday to participate in a clinic facilitated by the Australian’s men’s and mixed netball teams.
The Australians, who are here to face the Papua New Guinea Maleos in the Trans Pacific Cup, had a two-hour clinic with students signed up for the session.
The students were taken through the basics of netball before competing in a few matches to put into practice what they had learnt.
“We have the Australians coming to the Port Moresby International School to give a bit of netball training to a whole all new generation of potential netball players —both girls and boys,” PNG Mixed and Men’s Netball Association president Adam Parker said.
“The goal is to show that netball is not just a female’s sport.
“Hopefully, more men and boys can compete the sport and have fun while doing so.”
Parker said it was all about exposure, which he hoped could remove the stereotyping in the country that netball was just a women’s sport.
Australian men’s team coach Kimberly Kiely said it was a good initiative for the players ahead of the Trans Pacific Cup, which begins today.
“It’s good for the players to come out and have the session with the kids,” she said.
She said the teams were excited to take on the Maleos in the three-match series.