How Netball ACT’s Marie Little Shield Program empowers women with intellectual disabilities
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For many Australian women, playing netball is almost like a rite of passage.
From standing outside on cold winter mornings to comparing player positions with personality traits (it’s almost better than comparing star signs), many young people have bonded over the team sport – and with over 1.2 million men, women and children all over the country playing it, it’s no surprise that it’s also the number one participation sport for Australian girls.
But one program hosted by Netball Australia is helping women with intellectual disabilities not only represent their state on a national stage but also grow their confidence, on and off the court – and ACT locals are invited to play.
Introduced in 2013, the Marie Little Shield (MLS) competition was named after Marie Little OAM, a netballer who dedicated her life to those with an intellectual disability. For over a decade, MLS has provided the chance for female athletes with an intellectual disability to compete at the national level each year in three days of competition.
Hosting an MLS team since 2020, each year Netball ACT selects a dedicated team of 11 athletes – along with specialist coaches and support staff – to represent the state at the MLS National Tournament.
Welcoming new players into the program every year since its introduction, for 2024 ACT MLS Team Manager Victoria Schmahl and 2024 ACT MLS Head Coach Jaimie Horrobin, they’ve loved every minute of watching the players flourish while enjoying the benefits of the sport.
“The MLS team supports woman over the age of 16, and for some of these players they can lose a part of their social connection and face big changes in routine when they stop school. There are some incredible programs around the ACT that support this transition, and MLS is one of them,” says Victoria.
“The team gives them positive relationships, drive, goals to work towards and routine. It can help support positive mental health, confidence and creating strong relationships.”
As well as the physical benefits of playing netball (which include improving muscle tone, coordination and fitness), Jaimie says that MLS also offers a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging for participants. But it’s been watching their confidence grow in all aspects of their lives that makes the program so rewarding for players, families and the coaches.
“We have seen a huge improvement in confidence in every player that has come through our program. We’ve seen players step up in other areas of their lives, not just in netball – we’ve seen players become school leaders, advocates for their community and make genuine friendships with not just their teammates, but players around the country,” explains Jaimie.
“People can underestimate the challenges there are for some people with intellectual disabilities to create genuine friendships. MLS gives them this opportunity.”
Starting the season with a come-and-try day where everyone is welcome, MLS selection isn’t just based on skill, with assessment based on the ability to be a team player, the ability to progress and develop, the passion for the sport and more.
And if selection into the state team isn’t an option, they make sure to offer other opportunities through community-led social teams, district-led skills programs and training partners.
“Families and caregivers play a huge part in this program and love the program just as much as the players. The community of netball has grown so much that they now run social and Saturday netball teams in between the MLS seasons,” says Victoria.
“We want the program not just to continue but thrive. Where we have strong ground root opportunities for more players, that lead into the state team,” adds Jamie.
Currently calling for sponsors to support MLS throughout the season, Netball ACT is currently fundraising for the 2025 Marie Little Shield Team through the Australian Sports Foundation.
Also currently welcoming expressions of interest from organisations interested in partnering as sponsors for the 2025 ACT Marie Little Shield Team, applications for official roles — including Head Coach, Assistant Coach, and Team Manager — open on 7 May, while player nominations for the 2025 ACT Marie Little Shield team open on 12 May.
Hoping to reach even more women in the ACT, both Victoria and Jamie say that the most rewarding aspect of coaching the ACT Marie Little Shield team isn’t watching the women play the game but watching them grow across the season.
“The growth each player has shown year after year, watching the friendships and joy that comes from the program and getting to be a part of that. Also allowing us to share the love that we have for the sport.”
“We have the greatest support in our netball community, we have seen this year and year again…and we know there are still women out there in our state that we haven’t reached yet!”
For more information, visit asf.org.au and for any questions, contact the Netball ACT Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator, Mahek Mann, at mahek.mann@netballact.com.au.
