A two-day seminar on netball for P.E. Teachers in Cross River State was recently organised by Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative in collaboration with Cross River State Ministry of Education. The basic netball training event took place on the 2nd and 3rd May 2024 at the Table Tennis Hall of the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar. This training is part of “Project 2027,” which is CSED Initiative quest to provide Nigerian school children and youths access to learn and play the game of netball in a safe space.
Netball is the only sport in the world that is specifically designed for girls and women. CSED Initiative sees the game of netball as an important tool that could be used to promote the general health and well-being of the girl child, as well as empower them to blend sports with their academic pursuit. 38 participants from various secondary schools in the state, as well as three Cameroonian refugees who represented the Cameroon community that are based in Adagom 1, Adagom 3, and Ukende Camps in Ogoja local government area.
The training was facilitated by Edema Fuludu and Dr Grace Ataha, who were supported by Ifiok Inim (a Uyo based secondary School P.E. Teacher). Dr Ping Osaji Nsagha of the Human Kinetic Department of University of Calabar was one of the newly trained netball coaches. Two students of the University of Uyo, also benefitted from this free netball training that used a manual that was developed by Ambassador Mary Waya (a Netball Africa certified instructor). The trained netball coaches were provided with a free sport shirt that was donated by Lord’s Taverners (a UK based charity). The newly trained coaches were taught the basics of the game, netball rules, applications of the rules, how to mark a netball court, the different netball positions, as well as the roles that are attached to these positions.
Warming-up, passing the ball, throwing the ball, the restriction of the movement of players in certain parts of the netball court, practicing of how to throw the ball and how to score were also covered. This was then followed by a practice game between the new coaches who were divided into team blue and team purple. Another important aspect of the training was the session on safeguarding which was presented by Dr Grace Ataha. The newly trained coaches were advised that students and athletes are entitled to take part in sports in a safe environment. Access to free online safeguarding training was later provided to the newly trained netball coaches.
The Director of schools from the Ministry of Education Mrs. Okama U. Amos stated that she was very pleased to see an NGO who has passion for carrying out development and empowerment programmes that are targeted at the female gender, which was one of the reasons she approved the training course for P.E. Teachers in the state. She urged the participants to take advantage of the training and become reliable coaches in a sport that is being revived in Nigeria. Furthermore, she mentioned that she would work together with the Director of School Sports of the Ministry, Mr. Orlando Asuquo to monitor the use of the freely donated netball starter packs (a pair of netball rims/nets. finger held whistles, two sets of netball training bibs, and netball balls) to the representatives of the participating schools. The Director of sports of the State Sports Commission, Mr. Moses Ita also urged the participants make good use of the knowledge gained during the training.
As their post-training actions will lead to the development of the game of netball in the state. Mr. Moses Ita stated that netball will soon become a medal event in the National Sports Festival. Finally, Mr. Moses Ita mentioned that he was happy that a participant from the State Sports Commission was in attendance, and he promised to help spread the sport to schools in other local governments areas that was not represented in this seminar.
