About Our Team

Our Story

Netball Shoes Australia was born from a genuine frustration that many players will recognise. Back in 2024, our founder Sarah Mitchell—a Wing Attack who had been playing competitive netball for over fifteen years—found herself struggling to find reliable, unbiased information about netball shoes online. Every search result seemed to lead to generic product listings with no real insight into how shoes performed on the court, or worse, sponsored content that clearly prioritised sales over honest assessment.

Sarah knew from experience that the right shoes could transform your game. She'd played in everything from budget court shoes to premium ASICS Netburners, and she understood intimately how proper footwear affected her pivoting, her confidence in quick lateral movements, and her ability to stay injury-free throughout gruelling winter seasons. She also knew that every player is different—what works for a goal shooter holding position in the circle is completely different from what a centre needs when covering the entire court.

That's when she decided to create the resource she wished had existed when she was starting out. She reached out to her network of netball contacts—coaches, physiotherapists, fellow players from local leagues to state-level competition—and together they began systematically testing and documenting netball shoes available in Australia. They weren't interested in surface-level reviews. They wanted to understand how each shoe's grip held up after months of training sessions, how cushioning systems performed for players with different foot types and playing styles, and whether expensive technologies actually delivered real-world benefits.

What Makes Us Different

Today, Netball Shoes Australia is a small but dedicated team of netball enthusiasts. We're not a faceless corporation—we're players who spend our weekends on courts across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. When we recommend a shoe, it's because we've worn it during actual training sessions and competitive matches. We've tested grip patterns on both indoor wooden courts and outdoor synthetic surfaces. We've evaluated ankle support during real defensive sequences. We understand terms like "pivot point reinforcement" and "forefoot flex grooves" because we've felt the difference these features make during a tight fourth quarter.

Our commitment is to provide genuinely helpful information to the Australian netball community. We know that for many players—especially juniors and those just starting out—budget is a real concern. That's why we test shoes across all price ranges and are honest when a mid-range option outperforms a premium alternative. We also know that netball puts unique demands on footwear that differ from basketball, volleyball, or other court sports. Our reviews and guides are written specifically for netballers, addressing concerns like pivot toe durability, landing shock absorption, and grip patterns suited to the stop-start nature of our sport.

Our Testing Process

Every shoe featured on our site has been through our rigorous testing process. We wear each pair for a minimum of four weeks during regular training and match play. We evaluate performance across key criteria: cushioning effectiveness, grip and traction, lateral stability, durability, and overall comfort. We also consider factors specific to different playing positions—we know that what a GK needs is fundamentally different from what works for a WA.

We're transparent about our process and our limitations. While we do our best to test extensively, we're a small team, and our experiences may differ from yours based on foot shape, playing style, or court conditions. That's why we encourage our readers to use our guides as a starting point for their own research, and we always recommend trying shoes on before committing to a purchase.

Thank you for being part of our community. Whether you're a junior player lacing up for your first season, a social player looking for comfortable shoes for your weekly game, or a competitive athlete chasing state-level glory, we're here to help you step onto the court with confidence.