IN what marked a historic first for Jersey’s sporting landscape, St George’s Preparatory School and Les Landes Primary School played the Island’s ‘first-ever all-boys netball match’, a milestone for inclusivity and equal opportunities in sport.
The friendly fixture, held at St George’s, was not just a spirited contest, but a testament to how traditional sporting norms are evolving.
A Match to Remember
The game was fast-paced and electrifying. Both teams demonstrated a high standard of skill and teamwork, while epitomising the values of sport as a whole: camaraderie, healthy competition, and the joy of participation.
While the final score favoured St George’s 10-4, the event’s significance extended far beyond the numbers on the board.
This match marked a pivotal step in promoting inclusivity and challenging traditional perceptions of netball as a “girls game”.
Alex Pemberton, head of PE at St George’s, emphasised the real victory was not the score, but the opportunity created for boys to participate fully in a sport they had grown to love.
“The result didn’t matter,” Pemberton said. “This was about giving boys the chance to play, to showcase their skills, and to be part of something bigger.
“That’s what sport is all about.”
The match came about as a natural progression of years of groundwork. Both schools have integrated boys into netball lessons from an early age and participated in “mixed” netball leagues.
However, league rules, which allow only two boys on court at a time, often left many eager players on the sidelines.
Building Interest and Breaking Stereotypes
Pemberton described how netball lessons from an early age sparked enthusiasm among boys at St George’s.
“We’ve been teaching netball to boys since Year 3, and it’s become a sport they genuinely love,” he shared.
His colleague, Lisa Dingle, head of Netball, seconded those thoughts, explaining how her passion for the game inspired the boys.
“At first, they saw it as a girls’ thing,” she admitted.
“But once they understood the rules, tactics, and competitive element, they fell in love with it.”
Dingle highlighted how netball’s unique demands challenge players in ways other sports might not: “It’s not just physical like so many sports out there; it’s also incredibly strategic and complex in unique ways.
“You can’t move when you have the ball, and you can’t go everywhere on the court,” she explained.
“It really emphasises things like positioning, space, and timing; both as an individual and as a team.”
“The boys have really taken to it, and with the current league rules so many of the boys end up disappointed because they can’t play – I really hate that.”
Equal Opportunities in Sport
The success of the all-boys match is part of a larger movement to promote inclusivity in sports in the Island.
Both Pemberton and Dingle are passionate advocates for breaking down gender stereotypes in sports.
“There’s no reason why any sport should be labelled ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls,’” Dingle said.
“If you enjoy a sport, you should have the chance to play it.”
This philosophy is already taking hold across Jersey and the UK. Many schools in Jersey are beginning to include boys in netball lessons and matches, while men’s netball teams are gaining traction in the UK.
Dingle believes the more inclusive approach benefits the sport as a whole.
“The more players you have, the higher the standard becomes,” she clarified.
“It’s great for training sessions, for competition, and for building excitement around the game.”
The inclusion of boys also reflects a broader societal shift.
“We’ve seen girls thrive in traditionally male-dominated sports like football. Why shouldn’t boys have the same opportunities in netball?” Pemberton added.
The Road Ahead
The success of this first match has already sparked discussions about the future. Pemberton revealed that other schools have expressed interest in organizing similar fixtures, and there is hope that a more inclusive netball league set-up might develop in Jersey.
“This was a one-off friendly, but who knows? It could be the start of something much bigger,” he suggested.
Dingle echoed this sentiment, envisioning a pathway for boys to play netball more regularly.
“It would be amazing to see more opportunities for boys to play.
“With the growing participation numbers, both in terms of boys and generally, there might be scope for the current league to change the rules on how many boys are allowed to compete per team, and then to expand the league capacity so that nobody misses out, and everyone can enjoy the sport to it’s full extent.”
She elaborated further, expressing that a dedicated boys’ league could also provide similar benefits, but was by no means necessary, particularly at a primary school level, due to the sports’ non-contact nature.
Both teachers emphasized the importance of variety in sports.
Pemberton explained, “The more options children have, the more likely they are to find something they love and stick with it.
“That doesn’t just benefit their physical health, but their mental well-being too.”
A Unifying Game-Changer
One of the most encouraging outcomes of the event has been the support and enthusiasm from both boys and girls.
Far from being territorial, the girls at St George’s have embraced the boys as teammates.
“The girls have loved having the boys around,” Pemberton stated, while Dingle affirmed, “The girls see the boys as part of the team, and they’ve really enjoyed playing together.”
For Dingle and Pemberton, this match underscored netball’s potential as a truly inclusive sport.
Its unique blend of strategy, teamwork, and non-contact play creates a welcoming environment for players of all abilities and genders.
“Netball is an amazing sport because it’s accessible to everyone,” Dingle concluded.
“It has a unique ability to bring people together – boys, girls, seasoned players, or complete beginners.
“That sense of inclusivity is what makes it truly special.”
