For example, we will never, ever, have this time again. Whilst self isolating with a 7 year old and not quite 2 year old has its moments (!) actually the time we spend together can be quality time and I am trying my hardest to appreciate it!
Anyway enough of that ‘mushy’ over sentimental craziness - this blog is netball-inspired so we best get back to it!
Isn’t the netball family wonderful! I mean, I knew it before, but seriously the amount of effort, support, kindness and best wishes extended to team mates, netball communities and the global netball family has been immense. I’ve never been so proud to be a netballer!
The amount of shared netball love on social media is insane! From Superleague franchises streaming regular fitness sessions to clips of juniors sharing their chalk-created assault courses. There are some awesome ideas and inspiration from the wider netball community. The vast amount of netball knowledge being shared is also unprecedented! It can only be a good thing!
Neeks or would-be neeks, with more time on their hands, should definitely check out ‘Gaudy’s Gasbags’ on YouTube for some revealing insight into past Australian Diamonds. The chat with coaching legend Norma Plummer is first class entertainment.
Team Bath’s Kim Cummane also pops up on the ‘Having a Chat’ podcast. Definitely worth a listen if you fancy an insight into the differences between Suncorp Super Netball and the Vitality Super League. Cummane also discusses the challenges she has dealt with in her career and her honest views on Australia’s import policy. It was a compelling listen!
Regular readers know I am a big fan of Netball Nation and the gang are continuing their weekly podcast despite no netball actually happening! I always look forward to Thursday or Friday download but none more so than at the moment - Sara Bayman’s frankness is always a highlight.
I have a background and been fairly successful with Back to Netball programmes and sustaining that participation. I have thought ALOT about those back to netballers and social netballers, when all the exercise content was being shared online recently. Those videos and live sessions have the very best intentions at heart and on the whole have been fabulous.
With my ‘Back to Netball’ hat on though I have been concerned that our new to netball participants would be put off by the intensity of some of these sessions or worse, injure themselves trying to do the up & down plank or HIIT workouts. There has been a lot of research, a lot of experiences
and a lot of work put into B2N participants’ motivations - it’s something I pride myself on knowing and sharing and what makes the programme so successful, in my opinion!
So concerned was I, I’ve just completed a 5 day fun, fitness challenge on my Netball in the Community Facebook page - which has gone down a treat! It’s been targeted at those returning players and social participants who maybe play once a week and just want to keep active and make sure they are safe, when we all eventually return to the courts! It has meant I have had to come completely out of my comfort zone to see and record myself on screen though. It’s just not something I enjoy doing or seeing, self consciousness and anxiety goes into overdrive! BUT, was it worth it? Definitely and we all know getting out of that comfort zone is a good thing!
The seriousness of the Corona Virus pandemic cannot be underestimated and the Government advice of ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’ cannot be over emphasised.
There is far more important things going on right now than netball but, with more time on my hands, I have found the response to the lock down by ‘professional’ teams really interesting.
In the UK, so far, 3 Superleague franchises have effectively ‘shut down’ and furloughed players and support staff. This doesn’t bode well but is a familiar story across the sporting landscape not just in netball. I’m worried for those support staff but I guess it is the same for many, many people not just in the UK, but across the world, right now. My heart genuinely goes out to them.
The fact that Premier league football clubs have done the same thing for their staff makes my blood boil! What some of those premier league stars, not to mention Boardroom staff, earn in a week would be enough to keep a netball franchise going for several seasons. Don’t even get me started in comparing their earnings to NHS nurses etc etc.
What’s going to happen to the Vitality Superleague is anyone’s guess! I think there are a range of options but it really depends on how long this all lasts for and what can be negotiated in terms of the international calendar - will the Superleague, as well as SSN & the ANZ league in New Zealand even have the time to play?
There will be those who say thank goodness this has all happened so early on in the 4 year cycle and I, myself have breathed a sigh of relief on social media, that the World Cup was last year and not this. The first year of a new cycle is really important for young, emerging talent though so it will be interesting to see if this does have an impact long term. It will be the same for all nations mind you.
If you think the ‘professional’ leagues have problems spare a thought for all those volunteers who run the regional and county leagues across the UK. If they ‘call’ the league as they stand there are going to be very happy teams and clubs, but equally some very unhappy ones too. Those decisions are going to influence promotions and relegations. But with 95% of all matches played, I fail to see that their is an alternative. It’s the ‘fairest’ option - but I understand not everyone will see it as ‘fair’ to them!
My own team will miss out on winners’ medals in the County league if the situation does stay the same. We’re one game short of the league leaders and if we win we’ll go top. The game still to be played, we won convincingly in the first half of the season. In the grand scheme of things the top two are promoted, so it doesn’t really matter. For me though gold is always prettier than silver! My competitiveness must take a back seat for once.
Whatever the outcomes, whether your team benefit or are put at a disadvantage or aren’t effected at all - please do bear in mind that league organisers are mostly volunteers. They have big decisions to make and will be damned either way - if you can’t say anything kind, don’t say anything at all!
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