Debbie hails ‘camaraderie’ of Portsmouth area netball community during life in lockdown

Selfie time - Debbie Laycock with one of her netball in the community coaching groups.

Laycock, who runs Netball in the Community, has been organising, promoting and delivering lockdown sessions throughout the summer.

The sessions have been exceptionally popular with no other netball able to take place.

Over 200 netballers have taken part in over 75 sessions across June, July and August with all different abilities and ages catered for.

She said: ‘Following England Netball’s recent announcement that we can start playing a modified version of our great game, now seemed as good a time as any to thank local netballers.

‘I’ve been running 1:1 sessions; small group sessions and family bubble sessions, all within the guidelines.

‘It has been hard work and very challenging at times but the support and camaraderie from the local netball family has been absolutely first class.’

Laycock added: ‘It’s common knowledge that netballers are adaptable but the level of co-operation, understanding and support for each other during this time has been off the scale.

‘Our youngest participant has been 6 years old and our eldest, 70.

‘It’s not always been about the netball, I’ve overheard conversations about overcoming loneliness, helping with mental health issues and reluctance to exercise if it wasn’t for netball.

‘It’s honestly been a privilege.’

With the new rules recently coming into force, allowing netball teams to go back to training and leagues to prepare for a late September start, Laycock realises sessions may now peter off.

She’s fully prepared for that day, though, and said: ‘I’m thrilled we can finally get back on a netball court. That is what our sessions have been working towards and the level of excitement from netballers is fantastic.

‘We’ll be running our own pay & play, friendly sessions in September to help players and umpires practice the new rules for when the leagues restart.

‘We’ll also provide 1:1 and groups sessions for those who want to continue and some have already indicated they do, which is fantastic.

‘Our ‘normal’ services will resume - I don’t view that as a bad thing!

‘Whilst Covid-19 has been challenging for all sorts of reasons, and also very tragic in some cases, I hope Netball in the Community has provided some light relief. It certainly has for me!’

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