The Times Australia
Google AI
The Times Lifestyle

.

Don the bib: why take up netball this season


Netball is one of the great Aussie games. Alongside basketball, cricket, footy, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis (okay, it’s a big list), this is one of those sports that we as a nation excel at and always take it to the Kiwis, the English, Jamaicans etc.

It should come as no surprise that you can’t go too far in Australia without coming across a netball centre, so why not consider taking yourself down there and joining a friendly league?

There are so many benefits to playing this super fun sport in both summer and winter, and it is obviously an awesome way to keep fit year-round.

With this in mind, here are a few reasons why you should take up this wonderful sport in 2023:

  1. It’s great for your health

There are netballs for sale, and they are here to help you maintain peak fitness. This super sport embodies a range of fitness aspects to ensure you are not only playing at your peak, but are also maintaining fitness for daily life, too.

With fitness elements including agility, balance, endurance, reflexes, speed, strength and more, you can trust that joining your local club or making up a team for a friendly games is going to be a great way to keep up your fitness levels even if you’re getting a little older!

  1. It’s a fun & social event

This sport is one that always has a social element to it. Of course, many teams out there are those made up of friends looking for a fun, healthy and positive social activity to partake in midweek, before the onset of weekend beers and debauchery comes into the fray.

As such, this a fun and social balance, a way to enjoy friendships in a lighthearted, jovial manner. Whether creating your own team with friends or joining a local club, there is always fun to be had at your local centre and always a good chat or two to enjoy with teammates!

  1. It can help with life skills

Sport is one of life’s great educators and netball is absolutely no exception. There are many life skills attributed to playing this sport, with everything from leadership to teamwork, organisation and selflessness all there to be instilled in anyone who takes up this fun and invigorating sport.

You can take some of these life lessons into so many daily aspects, from relationships to workplace scenarios, organising social events and more!

  1. It’s a great way to get out of the house

Because, hey, Australia copped it pretty bad in the pandemic, and we all know how many countless hours we spent sitting around at home, waiting for the day our respective state premier said, “okay, that’s enough now, we can get back to doing the things we love”.

And what do us Aussies really love? Playing sport, of course! We are one of the world’s great sports social nations, with friendly teams and local leagues catering for people of literally all ages and skill levels - this sport is no different.

It is a truly fantastic way to get out of the house and enjoy some social time with friends or new teammates!

  1. It’s just so much fun

And at the end of the day what’s ever been wrong with having a little healthy, positive fun? Netball is a sport that never fails to invigorate the senses and make one feel that they are looking after their bodies and minds - and that’s a pretty good thing, we say!

Times Lifestyle

Why a Holiday or Short Break in the Noosa Region Is an Ideal Getaway

Few Australian destinations capture the imagination quite like Noosa. With its calm turquoise bays, elegant dining scene, thriving local markets, and an unbeatable combination of nature and luxury, the Noosa region has become one of the country’s...

Aiper Scuba X1 Robotic Pool Cleaner Review: Powerful Cleaning, Smart Design

If you’re anything like me, the dream is a pool that always looks swimmable without you having to haul out the pole and scoop up half the garden every second day. Enter the Aiper Scuba X1 — a sleek, modern robotic pool cleaner that handles the hard w...

Record-breaking prize home draw offers Aussies a shot at luxury living

With home ownership slipping out of reach for many Australians, a growing number are snapping up tickets in a bid to win their Dream Home, which promises luxury living for the price of a coffee. The Christmas Dream Home Art Union draw will see a...

Why Australia Is Ditching “Gym Hop Culture” — And Choosing Fitstop Instead

As Australians rethink what fitness actually means going into the new year, a clear shift is emerging: we’re moving away from the era of “gym hopping” — the endless cycle of trial passes, sporadic classes, and half-hearted memberships — and leaning i...

Everyday Radiance: Bevilles’ Timeless Take on Versatile Jewellery

There’s an undeniable magic in contrast — the way gold catches the light while silver cools it down, the way bold pieces play against delicate chains. Once considered a clash, mixing metals has become the signature of modern style: expressive, effort...

How can you help your child prepare to start high school next year?

Moving from primary to high school is one of the biggest transitions in a child’s education. For some, it can be a really daunting time, moving away from friends, travelling to a new place and starting very different routines. Preparations to ...

Times Magazine

Australia’s electric vehicle surge — EVs and hybrids hit record levels

Australians are increasingly embracing electric and hybrid cars, with 2025 shaping up as the str...

Tim Ayres on the AI rollout’s looming ‘bumps and glitches’

The federal government released its National AI Strategy[1] this week, confirming it has dropped...

Seven in Ten Australian Workers Say Employers Are Failing to Prepare Them for AI Future

As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates across industries, a growing number of Australian work...

Mapping for Trucks: More Than Directions, It’s Optimisation

Daniel Antonello, General Manager Oceania, HERE Technologies At the end of June this year, Hampden ...

Can bigger-is-better ‘scaling laws’ keep AI improving forever? History says we can’t be too sure

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman – perhaps the most prominent face of the artificial intellig...

A backlash against AI imagery in ads may have begun as brands promote ‘human-made’

In a wave of new ads, brands like Heineken, Polaroid and Cadbury have started hating on artifici...

The Times Features

Worried after sunscreen recalls? Here’s how to choose a safe one

Most of us know sunscreen is a key way[1] to protect areas of our skin not easily covered by c...

Buying a property soon? What predictions are out there for mortgage interest rates?

As Australians eye the property market, one of the biggest questions is where mortgage interest ...

Last-Minute Christmas Holiday Ideas for Sydney Families

Perfect escapes you can still book — without blowing the budget or travelling too far Christmas...

98 Lygon St Melbourne’s New Mediterranean Hideaway

Brunswick East has just picked up a serious summer upgrade. Neighbourhood favourite 98 Lygon St B...

How Australians can stay healthier for longer

Australians face a decade of poor health unless they close the gap between living longer and sta...

The Origin of Human Life — Is Intelligent Design Worth Taking Seriously?

For more than a century, the debate about how human life began has been framed as a binary: evol...

The way Australia produces food is unique. Our updated dietary guidelines have to recognise this

You might know Australia’s dietary guidelines[1] from the famous infographics[2] showing the typ...

Why a Holiday or Short Break in the Noosa Region Is an Ideal Getaway

Few Australian destinations capture the imagination quite like Noosa. With its calm turquoise ba...

How Dynamic Pricing in Accommodation — From Caravan Parks to Hotels — Affects Holiday Affordability

Dynamic pricing has quietly become one of the most influential forces shaping the cost of an Aus...