Photo © Swiss Netball/Emma Connolly
Lots of opportunities in Geneva and Vaud this summer for girls to discover netball!
Switzerland has just won the Challenge Cup at the 2017 Netball Europe Under 17 Championship, taking the gold medal after convincing wins in all three of its championship games.
This is the second time in three years that Swiss Netball has taken the gold medal and Challenge Cup, after victory in 2015, and silver medal position in 2016. The team was composed of 12 junior members of the Swiss National Squad, who train throughout the year, at venues in the cantons of Geneva and Zug.
This year’s championships took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from 3-5 March, and brought together established netball nations such as England and Wales, as well as nations where netball is still developing, including Switzerland, which only fielded its first Under 17 team in 2010.
“We are very proud of this fantastic achievement by our young talented team”, said Swiss Netball President, Emma Connolly. “Netball is still very much a new sport in Switzerland, so we hope that this win will encourage even more young Swiss girls and women to join a netball club and try out this phenomenal team sport”.
Swiss Netball Director of Operations, Cathryn Rich, added, “Switzerland has achieved so much in a few short years. We have demonstrated our commitment and talent in this incredible sport for young women, both locally and internationally, and we are now ready to take it to the next level, with the support of local, regional and federal governing bodies for sport.”
Netball, one of the world’s most played team sports by women, is not traditionally known as a Swiss sport, but has gone from strength to strength since the governing body, Swiss Netball, was established in 2009. Switzerland has developed the game at junior and senior club level as well as at an elite national level. This most recent win at the European Championships will help to reinforce Swiss Netball’s performance pathway and inspire more girls to discover this fun and feminine team sport.
Photo © Swiss Netball/Laura Kehoe
If you would like to get involved in the Swiss netball action, there are numerous opportunities for girls to play the game, not only through weekly classes but also through special summer camps.
Weeks of 3 and 10 July, with the Ecole Internationale de Genève.
Registration is now open for 2 summer netball camps that will be organised by the Ecole Internationale de Genève, in conjunction with Swiss Netball.
For girls aged 9-16, these camps will cater to a full range of abilities, from enthusiastic beginners all the way up to experienced young players who are looking to refine their skills and game-play. The camps will take place at the La Châtaigneraie Campus (Founex), just 20 mins from Geneva. Click here for more info and registration.
Weeks of 24 and 31 July with the Ville de Genève.
Predominantly French-speaking, these camps will take place at Bois-des-Frères, Geneva. More information should be coming soon (and will be posted on Facbeook/SwissNetball when available as well as the Ville de Genève camps site). Registration will open for these camps on 24 April.
Local clubs
The best way to learn the game is to play the game, so if you're interested in learning or getting back to netball, please contact your nearest junior or adult club here: http://swissnetball.ch/play-netball.html
Both beginners and established players are welcome and the majority of clubs are bilingual (French/German and English). If there is no club in your area and you are interested in starting one, Swiss Netball may be able to help you. They can also help Swiss coaches to introduce netball. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Swiss Netball
www.swissnetball.ch
Discover Netball International Netball Federation video “Our Game”:
http://netball.org/game
Information explaining “What is Netball?” from the Swiss Netball website:
http://swissnetball.ch/what-is-netball.html
Official Rules of Netball (in English): http://netball.org/game/the-rules-of-netball
