Serena Guthrie has warned of the “death of Jersey netball” unless urgent action is taken to address the island’s indoor facilities shortage.

With the planned closure of Les Ormes in March 2026 and Oakfield Sports Centre unable to meet demand, Jersey Netball faces the loss of hundreds of hours of indoor court time per year.

Key Issues

Lack of Facilities

The biggest issue faced by netball in Jersey is a lack of facilities, with the planned closure of Les Ormes in March 2026 resulting in the loss of approximately 1,600 hours of indoor court time annually. Although Jersey Netball have been offered use of the new Oakfield facilities, which open to the public in October 2025, the amount of hours needed is already 67 hours per week short of the requirement to run core programmes.

As a direct result of the loss of facilities, a number of key programmes are directly threatened, listed below:

– Winter League

– U12 Academy

– YouthNETS

– School and charity tournaments

– Walking netball 

– Back to netball

– Mixed netball

Loss of these programmes will result in an income shortfall of £60,000 annually, putting development work and participation growth in jeopardy.

Jersey Netball have been offered use of the numerous school facilities, which are outdoor Courts. Outdoor facilities are unsuitable for most of the netball season due to winter weather and health and safety risks, particularly for players and umpires. In addition to this, cold, wet and dark conditions make safe, competitive play impractical and dangerous from autumn through spring – which is the height of the netball season.

Additionally, a multi-venue model will create access barriers, with fixtures being spread across multiple courts in different parishes logistically unworkable. Reasons for this include:

– Many players also umpire or coach – managing split locations is not feasible.

– Parents with multiple children playing in different age groups or teams would face impossible scheduling.

– Adult players who are also parents would be forced to choose between playing and supporting their children’s matches

– The complexity would lead to reduced participation, especially for those without flexible transport.

Loss of Programmes

Netball is the most popular sport for women and girls in Jersey. The loss of programmes and facilities would have enormous impact on the wider community, with over 1000 players – children, teens, adults, and high-level athletes – being affected.

Physical activity, mental wellbeing, and community cohesion are all at risk. Without proper facilities, the performance pathway, including Team Jets and representative squads, could collapse. Following the huge success of Team Jets in the Playoffs and subsequent promotion into Premier League 3, this would be an enormous blow to the achievements of one of Jersey most successful sports teams.

Netball’s Accessibility and Community Value

Netball is one of Jersey’s most accessible sports due to it being low-cost and low-barrier – no expensive memberships or gear are required. It is also played across schools, clubs and age groups, and open to all abilities, with these opportunities for all abilities continuing throughout adulthood.

Netball is, at its heart, a vital community space for thousands of players on the island. It promotes confidence, friendship and leadership – especially for girls and young women, and gives space for older adults seeking social fulfilment with our walking netball offering. Jersey Netball’s programmes are inclusive and social, offering benefits well beyond the court.

Netball is a sport that belongs to the whole community – from minis picking up a ball for the first time, to elite athletes representing Jersey, those getting back into netball and beyond

If we don’t act now, we risk losing something that is thriving, not because of a lack of interest, but because of a lack of space

We’re not just asking for help, we’re inviting the whole island to stand up for something that brings joy, opportunity and pride to hundreds every week

Please come and show your support for Jersey Netball by joining us in the Royal Square at 10.30am on Thursday 12th June, so the States can see the support behind Jersey Netball. Wear kit, dresses or Jersey Netball clothing to get the message across!

Read the full Jersey Evening Post article here