Signing players is a breakthrough for SA Netball

In recent years, Netball South Africa has done a good job of shifting the sport from a purely amateur environment to a semi-professional structure and their latest move is a huge step forward in ushering netball into a new fully-fledged professional era. For the first time this week, the NSA announced it had offered 24 players national contracts to give Proteas roster members more time to focus on the game. While clearly appealing to sports-loving South Africans, netball has been on the back foot compared to other codes and this latest decision isn’t just a…

In recent years, Netball South Africa has done a good job of shifting the sport from a purely amateur environment to a semi-professional structure and their latest move is a huge step forward in ushering netball into a new fully-fledged professional era.

For the first time this week, the NSA announced it had offered 24 players national contracts to give Proteas roster members more time to focus on the game.

While clearly appealing to sports-loving South Africans, netball has been on the back foot compared to other codes and this latest decision is not only a major step ahead of next year’s World Cup in Cape Town, but also a huge step forward for women’s sport in SA.

We’ve already seen the benefits of supporting top female athletes in the significant improvements the Proteas cricket team have made since they started receiving contracts.

And now that netball players are receiving regular financial support, we can expect a similar improvement in the national team, which has lingered at No. 5 in the world for far too long and has struggled to beat professional teams above their weight.

Paying players wages gives them the opportunity to focus on the sport rather than having to juggle full-time jobs (like many of them) with their sporting ambitions.

SA had previously had a semi-professional league for some time, but if players wanted to go pro they had to sign with international leagues in Australia, New Zealand and England.

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However, of the 24 players who have been awarded national contracts, only seven are based abroad and the other 17 are now supported without having to spread their wings abroad.

It’s the norm for men in team sports to have the opportunity to go pro and it’s refreshing to see federations, sponsors, advocacy groups and sports fans starting to show elite women the same respect.

Contract players won’t make the Proteas world champions overnight, but it’s a decision that will have many long-term benefits and will motivate talented young players to consider a potential netballing career.

And while we may have to wait some time to see the results, there’s no doubt that the NSA has turned a corner, and after years of trying to change the status of the sport, the federation is clearly on the right track .