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Economic of sport in the NW |
Sport England welcomes extra funds for cycling |
SPORT ENGLAND SHOWS ITS SUPPORT FOR GLASSON RANGERS ARLFC |
Sport England provides boost for sport in Halton |
Sport England encourages Bolton youngsters to Tri Golf |
Olympic champions ride into town to open new cycling track |
HANDS UP FOR SPORTS VOLUNTEERING CONFRENCE |
SPORT ENGLAND NORTH WEST GIVE £250,000 FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA |
SPORT ENGLAND HELPS BURY GYMNASTICS CLUB RISE FROM THE ASHES |
NORTH WEST CELEBRATES REGION'S 2012 SPORTING LEGACY |
SPORT ENGLAND REVEALS SPORTS PARTICIPATION IS INCREASING WITH THE OVER 55S LEADING THE CHARGE |
SPORT CAN CHANGE LIVES SAY NACRO AND SPORT ENGLAND NW |
SPORT ENGLAND AWARD £195,000 TO CLITHEROE SPORT CENTRE |
'Back to Netball' - England Netball Project |
Twenty five North West sporting venues included in London 2012 training camp guide |
Greater Manchesters Volunteers Stand out from the Crowd |
Sporting project provides training and qualifications boost to Hyndburn youngsters |
Olympians make a splash at Aquatics Centre |
Streetgames festival of sport comes to NW |
Community Sports Network - Community Sports Project (STRIDE) |
New Rugby League Volunteering Opportunities coming to the North West!
Netball is the most popular women’s participation sports in the UK.
But many women stop playing as they leave school. The post-16 drop of rate is a significant issue with women and all sports. Encouraging women back to sport is a priority for the governing bodies of sport, for local councils and Sport England.
England Netball is determined to buck the ‘drop off’ trend in the North West. Its enthusiastic and talented coaches are helping women across the region to get back to netball. Sport England went along to the Wirral to find out more.
Liz and Dawn are young, professional coaches from England Netball. They relish the challenge of helping more women back into netball.
The ‘Back to Netball’ project they have been running on the Wirral began in January 2006 and has gone from strength to strength.
Adverts for netball training sessions were placed in the leisure centres, local papers, and community venues - even the hairdressers. The coaches planned to monitor the response for six weeks. Two years later they are very popular and around 26 women attend each session. Teams have been started by the players themselves and many are competing in local leagues. This in turn has boosted the club scene in the local area, and is strengthening the clubs’ offer to new players.
Others play for fun, and to improve their skills and fitness levels. The increase in overall fitness levels has created a wonderful virtuous circle. 15 of the regular players are also running the Race for Life this year, something many admit they might not have had the confidence to do before getting involved in the netball project. One of the teams is looking to set up a junior team for their daughters. Five of the players have given their time to attend umpiring training and some are set to become the coaches of the future.
The positive impact extends beyond sport and fitness. Many of the players explain how getting back into sport has given them precious time to be themselves; it has increased their self confidence and self esteem. For one of the team, who was coaxed into attending by a family friend, it has offered a reason to get out of the house following a terribly sad time.
All agree that the ‘all girls together’ atmosphere lifts their spirits, and many have made new friends.
Warm and welcoming
Not for these players the old school gym knickers and bossy PE teacher. The players meet in warm and welcoming sports centres; and the hall reverberates with the sound of laughter. But they take their sports seriously. The standard is high because the women have had access to professional coaches who have helped them improve their skills at their own pace. For some it has meant rediscovering sporting abilities they had forgotten they had.
The future
There is a real and obvious buzz around the ‘Back to Netball’ project. England Netball has been working hard to roll out the project in other locations in the region, and, as well as in the Wirral, there are successful teams and groups in Manchester; Bury; Salford; Eccles and Wigan.
The success of the Wirral project means there is a possibility of up to 20 sessions in this area alone. For England Netball sports development coaches Liz and Dawn it is hard work but seriously satisfying to have helped such an inspirational project to get off the ground.
The future looks very bright. England Netball is working to attract further partners to help fund the expansion of the Back to Netball scheme. The cost for the players is low; a small contribution for each training sessions means you can ‘pay as you go’ and it covers the cost of the professional coaches who make all the difference.
A weekend of fun and games – netball games – is planned for where players from other areas can meet up, compare notes and compete. Netball was never so much fun.
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