Biloela netball set for a change

BEN Hancox, Alec Ball and Michael McLure could be mistaken as waiting for their sisters to finish netball training as they muck around shooting hoops at Magavalis Netball Courts.

But the three 14-year-olds are among the Biloela males turning the netball scene upside down.

The sport, which is often thought of as a woman's game, has experienced an increase of male players in Biloela this season.

For Ben, Alec and Michael it was about finding more out about the sport.

"The netball association were encouraging the school to get a team together and we put our names down and we ended up in the team," Michael said.

Ben got his first taste for the sport when he filled in for other teams in competitions.

"I had to fill in for another team when they had players away and I really enjoyed it," Ben said.

"It's actually a lot of fun," Michael added.

Netball has also brought a few surprises with it, too.

"It is a lot more physically taxing than we first thought it would be," Michael said.

"It gets you fit and really active and stuff that I think a lot of guys would enjoy.

"Plus you get to hang out with the girls."

Biloela Netball coach Shari Hancox said the club had an increase in male players this year.

"In the last couple of years we didn't have enough players to make a mixed team but now we have the numbers," Shari said.

Shari said mixed netball was a lot quicker to watch.

"Their (the boys') vertical elevation is amazing and they are a lot stronger than the girls," she said.

"There are also a lot more intercepts."

Mixed teams must stick to strict rules regarding the number of male players on the court at once and what positions they can play.