#ActiveLockleaze Monday Motivation: Lockleaze Foxes Netball Club
As part of our partnership project #ActiveLockleaze we like to feature regular posts for our Monday Motivation or Spotlight On section. This is just one of the ways we promote physical activities and sports opportunities in Lockleaze. By sharing providers and participants’ personal stories we aim to inspire and motivate and encourage all residents to lead more active lives.
This week we focus on an update from Lockleaze Foxes Netball club.
The Little Foxes U12 Junior League Team. Description: 10 young people are lined up smiling at the camera wearing variations on the Lockleaze Foxes netball kit, which is red, black and white with a fox logo. A woman in a black coat stands with them to the left and they are on an outdoor netball court.
There are currently 4 Foxes sessions running at the Vench each week, providing netball for 56 children and young people (7-18 years old). All attend at least 1 session regularly on a weekly basis, 11 attend 2 sessions a week and 3 attend 3 sessions a week. Monday night sessions still run entirely for free, with all other sessions have been kept at very low rates or free for some families.
All groups are currently full and some have waiting lists. We’ve remained inclusive and have boys, children with various diagnoses, as well as a wheelchair user among our players. Most players are local to Lockleaze/Filton/Redland/Horfield/Southmead but we also have players regularly travelling to sessions from Yate, Bath and from as far as Bridgewater!
We entered our first league team (U12s) in the 2024/25 season. Next year we are planning to enter a second U12 league team, as well as a new U14 team. 2 parents will be training to be new L2 coaches.
Here’s what the parents, young people and player at Lockleaze Foxes have to say:
“I joined Lockleaze Wolves last year. At first, I was nervous, but Petra was kind and let me be her assistant umpire while I watched. After a few weeks, I was ready to join in, and I quickly fell in love with netball. Now I am also a member of Lockleaze Foxes. I can’t get enough netball!!” – Caleb, 11
“As an autistic person, I find groups of people hard, but Petra has created an amazing environment where I have learned to play netball and found one of my passions.” – Sylvie, 12
“My daughter joined Foxes last year and has loved it! Petra is a great coach, and the Foxes are an inclusive team where my daughter is learning good netball skills and enjoying being involved in a team sport.”
“I’ve only been at Lockleaze Foxes for a few months now, but even in that time, my netball skills have hugely improved. Everyone there is so kind and welcoming, and I look forward to it every week.”
“My daughter really enjoys netball with the Foxes. It doesn’t matter what the weather is doing—rain or even snow—she still wants to go every week.”
We are loving the resurfaced MUGA which was opened in September, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony which everyone enjoyed.
To find out more do get in touch: contact@lockleazefoxes.net or check out our website www.lockleazefoxes.net.
