WALKING netball sessions have been launched at Budmouth Community Sports Centre in an effort to help people who can no longer play the traditional game to keep in touch with the sport.

The sessions, that run on Tuesdays between 7-8pm, were set up by the Dorset Netball Development officer Karen Peaty and cost £4.50 a session.

Peaty said: “The reception has been really positive. There have not been huge numbers but the ladies who have been along have really enjoyed it.

“It is the social side as well as much as the health benefits it can offer so it is hopefully going to be a positive thing for those in the area.”

The sport is aimed towards people who cannot play the usual seven a-side game as Peaty explains: “It is for anyone that is looking to return to back to it that cannot actually play the traditional game for whatever reason and also it includes ladies that have had injuries as well.

“They have maybe had to drop out of the sport that they have previously loved.

“They thought they may have not been able to join back in again but actually walking netball may allow that to happen so it is really for everyone that is in that situation really.”

Peaty is looking to spread the word and get more people involved in the sessions.

The sport was launched within England Netball last year and England Netball have been trying to get it out to as many people as possible and saw Weymouth as a good area to launch it.

Peaty said: “We are just getting the word out there really, as with a lot of these programmes it is word of mouth and sometimes that takes a little while to get the interest up and running.

“There are a lot of netballers out there that cannot necessarily play the traditional seven a-side game so this is a slower version.

“It is the game at walking pace in a nutshell. It has been positive and we are hoping numbers will increase as we go.”

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