By Dianne Craven
Crawshaw Netball Club is a girls’ netball club based in Pudsey.
It has been having a ball on the courts this season with some fantastic results to show for the girls’ hard work, determination and team work.
The club was established in September 2022 and offers competitive sport as a member of the West Yorkshire junior netball league.
The club accept girls from the community and beyond, from the age of 8 upward.
Currently there are teams for Under 10s, Under 12s, and Under 14s. There is also a newly formed Under 16s team.
Training is on a Wednesday at Crawshaw Academy:
- 6pm – 7.30pm U12s
- 7.30pm – 9pm U14/U16s – subject to change
- Saturday training is also at Crawshaw Academy and is 9am – 10am for the U10s.
The club’s matches are all listed on the West Yorkshire Junior Netball League website. They are all played on a Sunday at a variety of venues around West Yorkshire.
These training sessions are fun, friendly, welcoming and inclusive, but it’s the girls’ wellbeing that is at the heart of the club. It is all about exercise, and making new friends in a fun friendly environment, and having coaches that believe in each and every individual member.
Crawshaw Netball Club has two coaches, Chantelle Crowther and Mark Boocock. Chantelle told WLD that her netball coaching started off as a ‘Back to Netballer’ nearly 10 years ago.
She stated that a team was formed out ‘Back to Netball’ sessions and they have not stopped playing ever since. “My team is mixed bunch of ladies of ages and we all just love the game!”
When her daughter became interested in netball Chantelle found some training sessions at the club.
There was a shortage of coaches but despite this the club has continued to grow. Not only has Chantelle’s daughter benefited from the club, Chantelle has progressed and completed her Level 2 in coaching netball.
She said: “Crawshaw Netball Club and all the girls that I have coached have given me the opportunity to be able to do this. We offer opportunities for the girls to be able to umpire when they are aged 14 and above. We also encourage all the adults to join coaching as it’s such a rewarding job.”
Michelle Rothery, mother of one of the players, said “Originally Casey (but mainly me) wanted her to have a hobby to get her out of the house – at her age they tend to just hide in their room – and to gain fitness and friendships at the same time.
“She has always enjoyed playing netball, but when we found Crawshaw it was more than just that, the coaches welcomed her with open arms.
“She has met some lovely girls, who she now classes as friends; and she’s enjoying getting a sense of achievement out of the sport by competing in matches in the West Yorkshire junior netball league. She’s gaining strength each week physically and emotionally with the positivity of the team.”
Michelle has been enjoying adult netball games too.
The club is actively seeking to expand. For more information, check out the club’s Facebook page, or contact Chantelle Crowther on 07534208784.