A netball development program for children has kicked off this week in Albany, with this year’s program offering a revamped approach to participation in line with the sport’s growing popularity. Woolworths NetSetGo started at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre on Monday, encouraging kids aged five to 10 to learn the basic skills of netball. Divided into three age-based tiers: Net (five to six-year-olds), Set (seven to eight-year-olds) and Go (nine to 10-year-olds), and run by Netball Australia, this year’s iteration has been redesigned to include new activities for each tier and additional resources. NetSetGo Albany co-ordinator Erin Liddle said the program has been running for a number of years and has grown exponentially. “This year is probably our biggest year, with just under 80 participants, ranging from ages five through till nine-10,” she said. “We had many very excited kids for the first session (on Monday), and then we run for nine weeks, introducing new skills to the kids, bringing in the fundamental basics of netball before they start their netball journey into competition with clubs.” Participant Chloe Liddle is excited for her second year in the program. “I’m excited to pass the ball and make a couple new friends and I’m also a little bit excited about all the games and skills.” Players this year also get a participation pack that includes a Suncorp Super Netball-branded team shirt and a key ring. NetSetGo ambassador and Australian netball legend Catherine Cox said netball serves a much bigger purpose than just athleticism. “Netball isn’t just a sport – it’s a launchpad for confidence, friendships, and leadership,” she said. “With a new look for 2025, NetSetGo is the perfect first step for young players to get active and fall in love with the game.” According to the Australian Sports Commission’s AusPlay 2023-24 report, netball is the second most popular sport for girls, after soccer.