I’m very grateful I was able to get last minute Storm v Thunder tickets before the lockdown began - even more grateful I made the effort to go! 😉
I was meant to take my eldest to her first Superleague game, London Pulse v Wasps a few weeks ago and it was really sad that we couldn’t go - she was so looking forward to watching Ashleigh Dekker, by far her favourite netballer!
I also had Grand Final tickets - like many, was looking forward to a netball extravaganza, as well as a day out with the netball family away from the stresses and strains of normal family life! (Oh how I long for those stresses and strains now!)
It’s the right decision for netball though and if social media reactions are anything to go by, the netball family are in total agreement. It is my opinion, and I do have personal experience, that the people who are now at the top of netball in this country have the absolute best interests of our great sport, at the very heart of their decision making.
The decision to make this call must have been excruciating.
I am sure the players themselves will be feeling all kinds of emotions. There will be up and coming players, who’s break out seasons have been cut short, as well as more experienced players who may well have been considering 2020 to be their last.
These athletes cannot continue in limbo though, their physical wellbeing would have been considered at length. Remember netball has evolved, some of them train full time and the physicality and commitment to training is second to none.
There is a reason elite level sport has ‘cycles’ - allowing athletes to build towards competitions and be at their physical best for those major events.
Social isolation training would have been very challenging on the mind, as well as difficult to modify for a game where working with others is paramount! It’s difficult enough at grass roots!
The actual infrastructure of Superleague teams also varies which would have played its part.
For example I understand there are some franchises that rely on ticket sales to actually put on matches, that would obviously have an impact on playing games without crowds. Venues would have also been a consideration, those within university campus’ may not have anywhere to play, as many unis are closed. Travel would have been another challenge - imagine being in charge of Sirens travel plans during various degrees of lock down guidelines, not to mention the difference between the home nations’ countries!
Just those few considerations (and I am sure there are a lot more - I am by no means an expert!) are major obstacles in putting on a Superleague Competition as we know it. Our only hope now is a switch to a shorter Autumn competition, mentioned in the official statement. ( https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/vnsl-season-update/ )
My main concern, before the official cancellation this morning, was the impact a stopping of our great game may have on the momentum of netball, as well as wider within women’s sport. Without televised games, social media chatter, newspaper and internet coverage does this mean all the good work done in recent years, will be undone?
The obvious disappointment but positive reaction to the news this morning, the consistent approach by shows such as the Netball Nation podcast and ‘Off the Court’ from Sky, as well as a huge effort from netball fans to keep netball in the social media spotlight, I thankfully, think not!
It is up to the netball family to not only maintain momentum but to build on it. Of course, we are netball, this can and will be done. Anyone betting against us are fools!
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