Maccabi GB hosted their largest Community Netball Event ever at JFS, Kenton, with over 125 players and 40 spectators. This was Maccabi GB’s first Community Netball Tournament since 2019.
Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and colleagues combined from the age of 13 years old upwards, with twelve teams competing at the event, which was part of Maccabi GB’s ‘Grassroots Sport’ Initiative. Maccabi GB are looking to inspire the community to play, volunteer and compete in Sports across Great Britain. This initiative gives people the chance to set up their own sports club supported by Maccabi GB. On the day, women of all ability levels and backgrounds were brought together to compete, exercise and have fun all at the same time.
Despite the variation in abilities, the standard of play was high. The teams were split into three groups, with the top teams progressing to the Semi Finals alongside the best Runners-Up from all the groups. The Tournament was eventually won by our Pan American Netball Team, who proudly triumphed over Thunder, with NNC Arrows winning the third place playoff match.
Debbie Colton, an attendee at the event and part of the winning team said “Our first squad meet up ended in a superb win at the incredibly competitive Maccabi tournament. It was a tough-fought group and the team showed incredible versatility and skill, having never taken to the court together before.”
13 year old Amelie Melzack, member of Nat’s Netball Club, was one of the youngest participants at the event, she said: ‘‘It was such a great experience being part of the Maccabi tournament and having the opportunity to play against teams of all different ages was really fun. There was a brilliant atmosphere and energy in the room and I felt privileged to be part of it all.”
This is the latest Sports Community Tournament hosted by Maccabi GB and the first in-person event, following on from the success of two online Community Chess Tournaments earlier this year. As part of the Grassroots Sport Initiative, there is set to be tournaments in a variety of sports throughout the year
Speaking about the impact of Maccabi GB’s Community Netball Tournament, Head of Sport, Wellbeing and Health Jordan Sapler, said, “It was a fantastic day, to see so many people come together at a Maccabi GB event. The ability to engage with so many members of the community, in a fun, thrilling and exciting day of competitive Netball, played in the right way was something that we’re proud to facilitate. We’re already looking forward to hosting our next one”
For more information on our Grassroots Sport Initiative please visit www.maccabigb.org/grassroots