Blog - #netball posts

How rising costs is changing Australian fitness habits

October 13, 2026 · 5 min read

New cost research suggests many Australian adults are changing how they exercise because of household pressure. This article explains what the figures say about gyms, studios, community sport and free activity. It also gives a simple way to compare the real monthly cost before joining, switching or stopping.

Is It Too Late to Start Sport at 12 or 15 in Australia?

October 3, 2026 · 7 min read

Teenagers can start a new sport, even when classmates have played for years. Australian research shows that organised sport participation falls through adolescence, but the numbers do not mean every teenager stops being active. This article looks at why joining can feel harder at 12 or 15, shares real Australian...

What Age Can Kids Start Sport in Australia?

September 10, 2026 · 4 min read

Most junior sport programs start between ages three and five, but each code uses a different pathway. Compare Auskick, MiniRoos, Cricket Blast, NetSetGO and Hot Shots before choosing a local session.

How Community Sport Works in Australia: Clubs, Fees and Registration

September 5, 2026 · 7 min read

New to community sport? Learn who runs local competitions, what registration fees cover, when to sign up and what to ask a club before paying.

Group or Solo Exercise? New Research Says Both Can Work

July 14, 2026 · 6 min read

A 2026 meta-analysis of 71 studies found group and individual exercise programs produced broadly similar results. Group formats showed a small functional advantage, while social connection may depend more on how a group is designed than simply exercising beside other people.

Sports in Pakenham: A Town Where Old and New Codes Sit Side by Side

May 17, 2026 · 8 min read

Pakenham's sporting story sits at an unusual intersection: a football club that goes back to 1892, a netball association that's been here for decades, and a new wave of social sports like pickleball and weeknight basketball filling the gaps in between. Here's how it all fits together, and where to...

Should Your Child Try Team Sport? What 189 Studies Say About Mental Health

May 10, 2026 · 6 min read

When a child wants to quit a sport, parents often face the same question: try another solo activity, or switch to a team? A major 2026 Australian-led review of 189 studies offers one of the clearest answers yet. The evidence found organised sport supports children’s mental health overall, but team...

The awkward, necessary hurdle of making new friends at 60

May 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Making new friends in your sixties isn't as simple as the brochures make it look. New Monash University research shows kinless older Australians face the highest loneliness rates, and the friction of joining a new group keeps a lot of people on the couch. Pickleball courts, walking netball matches and...

Get Active for Less: The Changes Proposed to Make Fitness More Affordable in Australia

February 28, 2026 · 6 min read

With the cost of living biting hard, getting active can feel like the last thing you can afford. But a bold new proposal from Australia's peak fitness body could be about to change that — with $500 family vouchers for gyms and studios, tax-free gym perks through your employer, and...

Keeping Teen Girls in the Game: Is Australia Facing a ‘Grand Décrochage’?

January 23, 2026 · 3 min read

A major study from France has highlighted a concerning phenomenon known as the "grand décrochage"—the great drop-out of teenage girls from organised sport. As the pressure of exams, social media, and body image mounts, many girls are hanging up their boots before they even reach adulthood. But is this just...