The GIANTS are excited to support Netball NSW's new campaign entitled Come and Play Netball which aims to help the sport rebound after a difficult 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The campaign, which starts on Monday 18 January, will work with the organisation’s affiliated Clubs and Associations - as well as incorporated media and advertising platforms – in the hope of returning playing numbers to pre-pandemic levels.
The GIANTS support the Netball NSW pathway and pride themselves on the advanced pathway and opportunities they provide NSW talent.
Nine of their 10 contracted athletes have all followed parts of the Netball NSW pathway to get them to where they are today.
Come and Play Netball can be broken down into three pillars and will have an estimated reach of over five million people, targeting key metro and regional areas.
Netball NSW has appointed agency Benedictus Media to help deliver the campaign which will feature state-wide radio and outdoor advertising as well as strategic digital placement. It will also incorporate the organisation’s two professional teams, the GIANTS and Swifts.
GIANT and Australian Diamond, Kiera Austin, as well as Kristiana Manu'a will feature in the campaign. The vast NSW netball community will also play a key role with Netball NSW providing each Association with a suite of promotional material to ensure Come and Play Netball reaches all levels of the game across the state.
Kristiana Manu'a said it is a great initiative by the governing body.
"After a tough 2020, I think everyone should get amongst Netball and it’s environment, to ignite the passion and togetherness it brings everyone involved," said Manu'a.
“As a young girl, I remember being so confident and excited to play netball on the weekends. I think it does that for all girls and women. So I can’t wait to see everyone at registrations and playing the game we love.”
Netball NSW Executive General Manager of Community & Pathways Darren Simpson said the campaign was a huge, but necessary and exciting, undertaking.
“When you look at what the last 12 months have thrown at our netball community it’s very important that we put significant investment into helping the game bounce back,” he said.
“Netball across NSW had around a 15% drop in playing numbers in 2020 which compared to other sports was actually not a huge fall-off. However, when you note how much netball grew before COVID-19 we really want to get back on that path as quickly as possible.
“Netball’s grassroots numbers are among the biggest in the state but we should never rest on our laurels and we hope this campaign will help kick-start growth again in 2021.
“I would also like to thank our NSW netball community for committing to support Come and Play Netball, and our two elite teams in the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball for adding their voices too.”
Netball NSW Executive General Manager of Commercial & Marketing Steve Neal gave some more insight into how the campaign would work:
“In terms of radio in metro areas we’ll have a large presence on both Smooth FM and NOVA, while the campaign will also be heard on local radio stations from Wollongong to Orange, Lismore to Wagga Wagga and Newcastle to Dubbo, just to name a few.
“Our outdoor advertising will start in February and be placed on retail panels and outdoor furniture at a combined 145 locations across the state, which will rotate on a fortnightly basis.
“We will also be harnessing the full power of the Netball NSW, the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball’s marketing and social media platforms and providing all Associations with creative they will be able to use in their own environments along with suggested copy and helpful hints around sharing the campaign.”
Come and Play Netball will run for six weeks from mid-January to the end of February.
