People are calling adults who play netball ‘bizarre’ — and players are on the defence

A recent viral podcast clip has got the netball girls up in arms (Picture: Getty Images) A netball player is a woman to be respected. She is sporty, a high-achiever, a person somehow capable of being bang on time for an early morning match, a perfect ponytail firmly in place. And while research from Netball England shows that around 41% of teenage girls quit the sport around puberty, for many, it’s a love affair that lasts far beyond the school playground. Its figures show that netball is the most popular team sport for women in England, with 3 million players annually. In London and the South East alone, there are nearly 500 active clubs. The passion seems to extend to spectating, too. At the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games this summer, Netball was the most well attended sport, with 100,000 tickets sold. For hundreds of women, it’s a community sport that has become the highlight of their week. But, not everyone is on their team. During a recent episode of the Wednesdays podcast, hosts Melissa Tattam and Ruby Adler shared some pretty strong opinions about women who choose to spend their free time on the court. Both putting themselves strongly in the ‘not sporty’ category, Melissa starts by exclaiming: ‘We don’t have to do that anymore!’ Were you a netball girl back in school? (Picture: Getty Images) ‘I don’t think you could pay me enough to go to a netball club,’ Ruby adds, ‘I didn’t want to do it in school, I don’t want to do it now.’ Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The pair even said they find it ‘bizarre’ that women would willingly use their free will to play netball after work. ‘I can’t imagine trekking to Battersea on a Tuesday night to play goal attack,’ Ruby added. Fighting for recognition These comments were not well-received by the netball community. Melissa and Ruby were branded ‘mean girls’, and the clip has since been removed from TikTok. Kate Peers, strategic lead of campaigns at Sport England, which runs This Girl Can, a campaign to get more girls and women into sports, says she can understand why the backlash was so intense. ‘No sport that women enjoy should be called “bizarre”,’ she tells Metro. ‘Around 280,000 women regularly play netball in England; its a thriving community.’ Playing netball as an adult has been incredibly fulfilling for hundreds of women (Picture: Getty Images) Still, despite being hugely popular, netball continues to fight for credibility among the wider sporting community. Not only has it never been played at the Olympics, many elite players still have to balance their commitments with full or part time jobs. Kate continues: ‘The sport faces sexist stereotypes of being a “girls” game. This Girl Can celebrates women getting active in all ways, and netball plays an important part in tackling the gender activity gap.’ Similarly, a Netball England spokesperson tells Metro: ‘We’re proud that there is a place on court for women and girls from 5 or 95. ‘Netball is a sport for life, that has been built by women, for women over the past 100 years.’ They also stress how the sport brings women together, and ‘at the heart of all of it is community — a safe place where women and girls can belong, flourish and soar.’ What netball means to women across the UK Katy, 41, from Essex, first joined a netball club to make friends when she moved to London in her 20s, having played the sport back at school. She tells Metro: ‘Aside from being more fun than going to gym and the obvious health benefits, I just found the most brilliant group of women, all incredible humans, doing brilliantly in their respective careers. ‘There is something about how playing team sport shapes you as a person. ’15 years later, these girls became bridesmaids and are now aunties to my children. ‘More recently, after a bout of post-partum anxiety and depression, netball has helped me to come back to myself, surrounded by friends and women that understand the challenges that different life stages throw up. ‘There is no better feeling than those two hours of netball and I completely understand why it’s the most popular team sport for women.’ Samantha Bird, CEO and director of netball at Super League team London Pulse, tells Metro: ‘For busy women, netball can be a brilliant combination of exercise and socialising, without feeling like another commitment.’ And Samantha notes you don’t have to play to be part of netball. ‘Being a London Pulse fan is about belonging to something,’ she adds. ‘It is about watching some of the best female athletes in the country and having visible role models for the next generation.’ Another life long netballer, Emily Morris, 40, was Netball Club Captain at her university and currently plays in Surrey League Netball. ‘Team sports aren’t for everyone, but I much prefer turning around a netball court with friends than a session in the gym,’ she tells Metro. ‘I’ve made some of my best friends from playing throughout the years and you don’t have to be a professional to enjoy it.’ Finally, Eloise Alexander Gueye, 37, has been playing since she was seven— it’s even dictated her career path, as she’s created a footwear brand, specifically for netball players. She says: ‘Not only is it a laugh with my friends, and a fun way to unwind after a long day, it builds confidence, gives you the freedom to take up space, and teaches resilience.’ Metro reached out to Wednesdays podcast for comment. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Teenager dies falling from school balcony ‘after fight with student’ Arrow MORE: Teacher jailed for sexually abusing boy while he was aged between nine and 12 Arrow MORE: Mums with depression more likely to have children with ADHD and autism