Page 49 - January Phonebox Magazine 2012

Fastnet: The Fast Pass to the
the sport has been presented to the Olympic Committee. It is referred to as the “fastnet” version, which speeds up the pace of the game as well as adapting the rules to make it more visually interesting for audiences. Double points are awarded for shots taken and scored from outside the goal circle, the quarters are six minutes long and each team can choose a quarter in which their goals will be doubled.
Olympics?
What do you associate with netball?
by Hannah Cooper
Trying to dodge dreaded PE lessons? Trying to hold down a discoloured pleated skirt whilst you attempt to put a ball in the net that is defiantly too small? Well, throw those connotations to the side line, dust off your trainers and help to revive the sport in Newport Pagnell.
In Milton Keynes there are over 40 teams playing in the Milton Keynes Indoor Netball League (MKINL) but not one of them is from Newport Pagnell; this is something that I feel needs changing.
Netball is a fun, exhilarating way to exercise and meet new people – something that is social and helps you to look and feel good. It’s like going to the pub but with a bit more sweat, what could be better?
There is not just a push for more local teams but also for netball to be made an Olympic sport. Netball is one of the most popular women’s sports in Britain but it has no representation at the Olympics. This makes netball one of the only non-professional sports to not be involved in the Olympics, as Rugby and Golf are to be included in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
This sends a negative, discouraging message to young girls wanting to play netball as they will never be able to fulfil Olympic dreams if they continue to play netball, therefore encouraging them to choose other sports.
In an attempt to get netball into the Olympics, a reworked version of
Not only does the campaign have the backing of over 600,000 supporters that include Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Lewis, Gordon Brown and Cherie Blair but also the backing of the Co-Operative supermarket. You too can show your support by logging on to www.netballolympicbid.co.uk.
It might be a long shot, but someone has to do it.
Have you got something to say...... If you have email your story or article to editor@phoneboxmagazine.com
Phonebox Magazine 49
The England netball team after their victory at the 2011 World Netball Series against New Zealand