By Amaechi Agbo

No fewer than 36 game masters and mistresses from both public and private schools, students as well as some staff of the Ondo State Sports Council have been tutored on the game of netball.

The two-day netball training workshop was held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Akure Sports Complex in Ondo state.

The Netball training was organised by the Ondo State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, in collaboration with Blitzik Sports and CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative.

The partcipants were taught the theory and practical aspects of the game by coaches Edema Fuludu and Onome Fuludu. 

Coach Fuludu said the training is part of the NGOs efforts in developing and empowering Nigerian children and youths, especially the girl child to play netball and further spread the awareness of the game to one million Nigerian school girls before the end of 2027.

The practical aspect of the training covered the areas of basic warming up drills, ball handling, passing, shooting and positioning of the players in the netball court. The attendees were also taught how to mark the netball court, as well as the importance of the safeguarding of students who take part in netball in the school and local community.

At the end of the event, netball training kits/equipment which includes rims/nets, finger held whistles, sets of netball training bibs, as well as netball balls were freely distributed to the games masters and mistresses for use in their various schools.

The Director of Ondo State Sports Council and a Director in the Ondo State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Fawolu thanked the two NGOs (Blitzik Sports and CSED Initiative) for holding the training event in Ondo State and he urged the teachers to make good use of the netball equipment given to them in developing the talents of the students in their schools.