Blog Archive: Netball news, tips and sport tour information | inspiresport https://inspiresport.web.wilson-cooke.co.uk/category/netball/ Tours to Inspire the Next Generation Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:07:13 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.inspiresport.com/wp-content//uploads/2016/09/cropped-Site-icon-1-32x32.jpg Blog Archive: Netball news, tips and sport tour information | inspiresport https://inspiresport.web.wilson-cooke.co.uk/category/netball/ 32 32 CAREERS IN SPORT https://www.inspiresport.com/careers-in-sport/ Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:03:43 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=21859 The post CAREERS IN SPORT appeared first on inspiresport.

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What GCSE Subjects Should You Take?

When most people think of a career in sport, their first thought is often about becoming a professional athlete. While that’s one exciting path, the sporting world offers a wide range of careers behind the scenes too – from coaching and physiotherapy to sports journalism, event management, and even data analysis.

If you’re passionate about sport and starting to think about your GCSE options, it’s important to know how the subjects you choose now can help shape your future in this dynamic and rewarding industry.

Why Choose a Career in Sport?

Sport offers more than just competition – it’s about leadership, health, teamwork, and community. Whether you dream of helping athletes perform at their peak, running major sporting events, or working in sports science or media, the industry is full of exciting opportunities that suit all interests and skill sets.

GCSE Subjects to Consider for a Career in Sport

To help set you on the right path, here are some common sport-related careers and the GCSE subjects that can help you get there:

Sports Coach or PE Teacher

Sports Coach or PE Teacher

Useful GCSEs:

  • PE (Physical Education) – Offers a strong foundation in theory and practice.
  • Biology – Helps you understand the body, muscles, and movement.
  • English – Communication is key when teaching and motivating others.
  • Maths – Useful for tracking performance and planning sessions.

Sports Psychologist

Sports Psychologist

Useful GCSEs:

  • Biology – Essential for understanding how the brain and body work.
  • Psychology (if available) – A great introduction to human behaviour.
  • English – You’ll need strong writing and communication skills.
  • Maths – To interpret data and research findings.

Sports Events Manager

Sports Events Manager

Useful GCSEs:

  • Business Studies – Great for understanding how the sports industry operates.
  • English – Important for promotional writing, presenting ideas, and communication.
  • IT or Computer Science – Digital marketing and tech are central to modern events.
  • Maths – Helps with budgeting, planning, and performance tracking.

Sports Scientist or Nutritionist

Sports Scientist or Nutritionist

Useful GCSEs:

  • Biology – Vital for understanding human physiology and nutrition.
  • Chemistry – Especially useful for nutrition and understanding substances in the body.
  • PE – Gives context for applying science to athletic performance.
  • Maths – Used in experiments, data analysis, and research.

Sports Journalist or Broadcaster

Sports Journalist or Broadcaster

Useful GCSEs:

  • English Language and Literature – Crucial for writing and storytelling.
  • Media Studies – Offers insight into production and reporting (if available).
  • History or Politics – Useful if you plan to cover wider sports topics.
  • PE – Helps you speak with authority on sport-specific content.

Performance Analyst in Sport

Performance Analyst in Sport

Useful GCSEs:

  • Maths – A must for data collection and analysis.
  • Computer Science – Essential for coding and using analysis software.
  • PE – Understanding sport enhances the relevance of your analysis.
  • Physics – Helpful for understanding movement and force in performance.

Final Thoughts

No matter what career in sport you’re interested in, combining your passion with the right qualifications is key. Choose subjects that excite you and play to your strengths, and don’t be afraid to explore different areas of sport – sometimes the most exciting opportunities are the ones you hadn’t considered yet.

At inspiresport, we believe in developing the whole athlete – whether you’re on the pitch or planning a career behind the scenes. Our sports development tours can help inspire your journey by giving you hands-on experience with professional environments, expert coaching, and unforgettable opportunities to grow.

Ready to take the first step in your sporting future? Start by exploring your GCSE choices and think about how they connect to your passion. Who knows? Your next school tour might just be the moment everything clicks into place.

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LONG HAUL VS SHORT HAUL SPORT TOURS https://www.inspiresport.com/long-haul-vs-short-haul-sport-tours/ Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:14:27 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=21734 The post LONG HAUL VS SHORT HAUL SPORT TOURS appeared first on inspiresport.

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What’s Right for Your School?

Organising a school sports tour is an exciting opportunity to take your pupils beyond the playing field – and possibly even beyond the UK. However, when it comes to deciding between a long haul or short haul sports tour, the options can feel a bit overwhelming. At inspiresport, we know how important it is to get the balance right between value, experience, and development for your young athletes – both on and off the field.

So, what’s the difference? And more importantly, which one’s right for your school or club?

Let’s break it down.

What are the Benefits of a Long Haul Sports Tours?

Long haul tours are the big adventures – the trips that take you and your team far from home to exciting destinations like Canada, the USA, Argentina, India, Dubai, Australia, or South Africa.

Why Consider Long Haul?

Cultural Exchange & Global Perspective: These tours offer a truly immersive cultural experience. Whether it’s playing rugby in Argentina, netball in Australia, or cricket in India, your students will encounter new customs, traditions, and ways of life that help develop empathy, respect, and a broader worldview.

Athletic Development: Long haul tours often include unique training opportunities – playing against international teams, trying out new drills, and picking up fresh and distinctive techniques from expert international coaches. This kind of exposure builds adaptability and confidence while sharpening skills in challenging conditions.

Team Bonding & Personal Growth: Being far from home naturally brings people together. Students become more resilient, independent, and confident as they navigate new environments together. Moreover, when everyone is out of their comfort zone, real growth (and fun!) happens.

Extra Activities & Charitable Work: With longer trips come more time for excursions – whether that’s visiting New York’s landmarks or heading out on safari in South Africa. Some of our long haul tours also include opportunities for meaningful charitable work, giving back to the communities you visit.

Check out one of our recent tours, where Merchiston School embarked on a long haul adventure to South Africa, it was an experience that went far beyond sports. Their visit to Langa Township in Cape Town became the heart of their journey – a moment of profound impact and global responsibility. Read more…

Why Consider Short Haul?

Cost-Effective: For schools with budget constraints, short haul trips are more accessible. Cheaper flights, coach travel, and shorter stays make them more affordable without sacrificing value.

Cultural Experience Without the Jet Lag: Students still get the chance to explore a new country and culture. Visiting a European destination can also be a great way to inspire interest in foreign languages and history.

Easy Logistics: With less time spent travelling, you can often maximise time on the field and fit a tour into a school week or half-term. Plus, destinations are generally closer to emergency support if needed.

Great Training & Facilities: European sports resorts offer excellent facilities and are perfect for focused training, friendly matches, and team development in a new (but not too unfamiliar) setting.

So… Long Haul or Short Haul?

Here are a few questions to help you decide:

What’s your budget?

Short haul is ideal for lower budgets, while long haul requires more fundraising but delivers big rewards.

How much time do you have?

Short haul works well for 4–5-day tours. Long haul typically suits 7–10 days or more to make the travel time worth it.

What’s your goal?

If you’re looking to challenge your team athletically and culturally, long haul is the winner. If you’re after a quick, impactful experience with great facilities, short haul hits the mark.

Do your students need passports or visas?

Short haul destinations often involve simpler travel arrangements, especially within the EU.

What kind of cultural experience are you after?

A trip to a bustling American city or a remote Canadian resort feels vastly different from a quaint European town both are valuable in their own ways.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re gazing at the rustic mountains of Canada or exploring the charming streets of an Italian village, both long haul and short haul sports tours offer unforgettable experiences that go way beyond sport.

At inspiresport, we’re here to help you make the right choice for your pupils – no matter the distance. We’ll work with you to plan a trip that fits your goals, budget, and schedule, and ensure that every detail is taken care of.

Ready to explore the world through sport?

Get in touch with us to start planning your next school tour – long or short haul, it’s all about inspiring your students to dream big and play even bigger.

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INSPIRESPORT ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF THE TOUR TIME GROUP https://www.inspiresport.com/inspiresport-announce-acquisition-of-the-tour-time-group/ Thu, 05 Oct 2023 12:57:44 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=20457 The post INSPIRESPORT ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF THE TOUR TIME GROUP appeared first on inspiresport.

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INSPIRESPORT ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF TOUR TIME GROUP

 

Inspiresport Group has today announced the acquisition of the Tour Time Group including Tour Time New Zealand Ltd, Tour Time Australia Pty Ltd, Tour Time USA LLC, and Rugby Tours International Ltd (NZ, AUS, USA & Argentina).

 

This acquisition further enhances inspiresport’s expansion on an international basis following the creation of inspiresport LLC as its North American entity in November 2021.

 

Inspiresport are the industry-leading Sports Development Tour Operator, who have offered unrivalled access to world class professional clubs, coaches and facilities to take young players on extraordinary sporting journeys since 2004.

 

Steve Butchart, MD of inspiresport Group, said:

 

Inspiresport has been reviewing opportunities for international expansion over a number of months and we’re delighted to confirm the news that the acquisition of the Tour Time Group is now complete. Our primary focus will be on the creation of outbound tours from New Zealand and Australia into the UK and Europe and generating increased demand for our Pro Club training experiences across football, rugby and hockey.

We are delighted to be able to confirm that Brent Imrie will remain as MD for Tour Time Group, but a special mention should be made to Ron and Beryl Imrie who founded and operated the company for more than 30 years. Their combined dedication, experience, market knowledge and contact network are what made the Tour Time Group the perfect business to accelerate our growth in New Zealand whilst also establishing us as a major player in the Australian market.

Whilst our focus will be on growing the youth sports development business, Tour Time Group will also continue to offer their full range of group tour options.”

 

 

Brent Imrie, MD of Tour Time Group said:

 

“As a family business of 30 years that was started by mum and dad, I am excited to announce the next step of our evolution as we become part of the Inspiresport family of companies. We certainly have exciting times ahead of us with global events happening down under in New Zealand, Australia and in the USA. With Inspiresport and the greater Destination Sport Group truly having a global presence, I look forward to delivering new products and partnerships to our markets whilst continuing to provide the great Tour Time service and family values that we are known for.”

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ACADEMIC YEAR 2021-22: The Story So Far… https://www.inspiresport.com/academic-year-2021-22-the-story-so-far/ Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:34:38 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=18208 The post ACADEMIC YEAR 2021-22: The Story So Far… appeared first on inspiresport.

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January is often a month for reflection – and since March 2020 with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a lot of things to ponder on…particularly in the education, sport and travel sectors!

But did you know that inspiresport were the only school travel tour operator able to get groups away on international trips in the October half-term, just weeks after the Department of Education gave the go ahead for foreign travel?

And that got us thinking about all the other positives from the last five months..so we’ve decided to share the story so far…

The Future’s Bright

And, it seems that with each passing week, the news is improving and restrictions are easing further…which is fantastic news for our customers who have already booked their trips for 2022 and 2023.

We’ve also extended our COVID Commitment which means groups who book before the end of March 2022, will continue to benefit from our range of guarantees and reassurances.

And as fully assured members of the School Travel Forum, we’re able to exclusively offer their Travel Sure Insurance (including COVID cover) with all our bookings.

So what are you waiting for?

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Your 2020 Sports Calendar https://www.inspiresport.com/your-2020-sports-calendar/ Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:36:01 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=16846 Are you wondering what to expect from the world of sports in 2020? Don’t know what to expect from the world of Rugby, Football, Cricket, Hockey, Netball, Swimming and Skiing in the new year? Look no further.   We have taken a look at all the sporting events slated for 2020 and have put together…

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Are you wondering what to expect from the world of sports in 2020? Don’t know what to expect from the world of Rugby, Football, Cricket, Hockey, Netball, Swimming and Skiing in the new year? Look no further.

 

We have taken a look at all the sporting events slated for 2020 and have put together a list of the biggest events to ensure you never miss another update. Read on to find out the best matches and tournaments from the different competitions taking place next year!

 

The new year looks to be a busy one for sports fans in the UK as the action begins from the very first day.

 

January 2020

 

Date Sport Description
1 Football Major match event for English Premiere League, Championship. National and individual teams.
4 Football Weekend FA Cup third round.
6 Football Midweek Carabao League Cup Semifinal first leg
5 – 28 Skiing Alpine Skiing World Cup 2019/2020
20 Football Midweek Premier League games
24 – 26 Swimming British Diving Championships 2020 taking place at the Plymouth Life Centre.
25 Football Weekend FA Cup fourth round.
27 Football Midweek Carabao League Cup Semifinal second leg

 

February 2020

 

Date Sport Description
1 – 2 Rugby Gunnies Six Nations Tournament Round 1 kicks off with a Wales vs Italy match at Principality Stadium.
1 – 29 Skiing Alpine Skiing World Cup 2019/2020
8 Football Premier League matches featuring half of the teams play while the other half rests.
8 – 9 Rugby Gunnies Six Nations Tournament Round 2 kicks off with an Ireland vs. Wales match at Aviva Stadium.
10 Football Midweek Football League games.
17 – 18 Football Champions League and Europa League Round of 16 Leg 1.
22 – 23 Rugby Gunnies Six Nations Tournament Round 3 kicks off with an Italy vs. Scotland match at Twickenham Stadium.
22 Netball Round 1 Vitality Netball Super league
24 – 25 Football Champions League and Europa League Round of 16 Leg 1 AND midweek Football League games.
25 – 27 Hockey Investec Girls’ Schools Championships
27 Football Europa League Round or 32 Leg 2.
29 Netball Round 2 Vitality Netball Super league

 

 

March 2020

 

Date Sport Description
1 Football Carabao League Cup Final at Wembley.
1 -22 Skiing Alpine Skiing World Cup 2019/2020
4 Football Weekend FA Cup Fifth Round.
6 Netball Round 3 Vitality Netball Super league
7 – 8 Rugby Gunnies Six Nations Tournament Round 4 kicks off with an Ireland vs. Italy match at Aviva Stadium.
9 – 10 Football Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2.
12 Football Europa League Round of 16 Leg 2.
14 Netball Round 4 Vitality Netball Super league
14 – 15 Rugby Gunnies Six Nations Tournament Round 5 kicks off with a Wales vs. Scotland match at Principality Stadium.
16 – 17 Football Midweek Football League games and Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2.
19 Football Europa League Round of 16 Leg 2.
20 Netball Round 5 Vitality Netball Super league
20 Football Champions League and Europa League Quarterfinal and Semifinal Draw.
21 Football Weekend FA Cup Sixth Round Quarterfinals.
27 Swimming FINA/CNSG Diving World Series 2020 – London.
28 Netball Round 6 Vitality Netball Super league

 

April 2020

 

Date Sport Description
4 Netball Round 7 Vitality Netball Super league
6 – 9 Swimming British Elite Junior Diving Championships 2020.
6 -7 Football Champions League Quarterfinals Leg 1.
9 Football Europa League Quarterfinals Leg 1.
9 Swimming British Para-Swimming International Meet / WPS World Series 2020.
10 Netball Round 8 Vitality Netball Super league
10 – 14 Hockey Torbay Easter Hockey Festival 2020
13 -14 Football Champions League Quarterfinals Leg 2.
14 Swimming British Swimming Championships 2020.
16 Football Europa League Quarterfinals Leg 2.
18 Netball Round 9 Vitality Netball Super league
18 – 19 Football FA Cup Semifinals at Wembley.
24 Netball Round 10 Vitality Netball Super league
27 – 28 Football Champions League Semifinals Leg 1.
29 Netball Round 11 Vitality Netball Super league
30 Football Europa League Semifinals Leg 1.

 

May 2020

 

Date Sport Description
2 Football Last day for Championship League featuring multiple teams.
2 Hockey 2020 FIH Pro League begins
2 Netball Round 12 Vitality Netball Super league
3 Football Last day for League One featuring multiple teams.
4 – 5 Football Champions League Semifinals Leg 2.
7 Football Europa League Semifinals Leg 2.
9 Netball Round 13 Vitality Netball Super league
15 Netball Round 14 Vitality Netball Super league
16 Netball Round 15 Vitality Netball Super league
16 Football League Two Playoff Finals at Wembley.
17 Football Last day for Premiere League featuring multiple teams.
23 Football FA Cup Final at Wembley.
24 Football League One Playoff Final at Wembley.
25 Football Championship Playoff Final at Wembley.
27 Football Europa League Final in Gdansk, Poland.
29 Netball Round 16 Vitality Netball Super league
30 Football Champions League Final in Istanbul, Turkey.
30 Hockey Netherlands TCR U17 Internationals

 

June 2020

 

Date Sport Description
3 Netball Round 17 Vitality Netball Super league
6 Netball Round 18 Vitality Netball Super league
12 Football 2020 European Championship kicks off.
12 Football 2020 Copa America kicks off.
12 – 15 Cricket Test day matches: England vs. Wales Indies.
14 Hockey Final day of 2020 FIH Pro League
15 Netball Round 19 Vitality Netball Super league
26 – 28 Hockey Barcelona Veterans Cup
27 Netball Semi Final Vitality Netball Super league

 

July 2020

 

Date Sport Description
3 – 16 Cricket England vs Australia – T20.
4 Netball Grand Final Vitality Netball Super league
7 – 8 Football Euro 2020 Semifinals.
12 Football Euro 2020 Finals.
21 Swimming British Summer Championships 2020.
24 – 9 All Olympic Games.

 

August 2020

 

Date Sport Description
7 – 24 Cricket England vs Pakistan – Test Match.
25 All Paralympic games.

 

September 2020

 

Date Sport Description
12 Cricket England vs Ireland – Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham.

 

October 2020

 

Date Sport Description
26 – 7 Cricket T20 World Cup 2020.

 

November 2020

 

Date Sport Description
15 – 22 Tennis Nitto ATP Finals – The O2, London.

 

December 2020

 

Date Sport Description
Nothing scheduled.

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Best School Sports for Boosting Brains https://www.inspiresport.com/best-school-sports-for-boosting-brains/ Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:24:22 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=16706 How important are school sports for overall brain-growth?   Encouraging participation in school sports has a big part to play in keeping children physically active and healthy. Equally as important, studies have shown that sports can also lead to improved brain development and higher cognitive functions in children. A recent report revealed that children who…

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How important are school sports for overall brain-growth?

 

Encouraging participation in school sports has a big part to play in keeping children physically active and healthy. Equally as important, studies have shown that sports can also lead to improved brain development and higher cognitive functions in children. A recent report revealed that children who participated in physical activity had improved attention and ability to focus on a given task[1].

Physical activity was also shown to have a positive role in the development of speech in children, with research showing that “girls who engage in sport for at least one hour per week had significantly better results in maths and reading than girls who did not do at least one hour of sport”[2]. Studies have also shown that children who play sports are less likely to experiment with drugs and disapprove of others who use drugs and smoke cigarettes[3]. Combined with a healthy sleep routine, sports can really help focus those little minds.

It’s no surprise then that quite often, individuals who really push themselves to the limit in school sports carry that energy and determination into their professional lives. If we look at some of the worlds most successful business leaders, we see a very clear trend supporting this idea. PepsiCo CEO, Indra Nooyi, excelled at cricket in school. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was a fencing champion at high school. CEO of Hewlett-Packard Meg Whitman was captain of the college swimming team.

 

So which individual sports are great for training young brains?

 

Football

Football is a competitive and highly active sport underpinned by technical plays and maneuvers. In spite of this, it is a great form of physical activity for children of any age and at any level. With up to 11 players on each side, football requires high-level co-operation amongst team members. Playing with many peers allow for children to develop communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Football can also improve brain function, as a study done on the link between cognitive functions and football showed that “planning processes in children who attended a Football Exercise Program for at least six months were more developed in comparison to a control group of sedentary peers[4]”.

 

Rugby

A physical contact sport involving up to 15 players on each team, rugby is a fast-paced, high intensity sport which helps build cardiovascular fitness and endurance strength in both the upper and lower body. Rugby also helps to build resilience in younger players who quite literally need to get back up after having been knocked over. Like other contact sports, a disciplined, and measured approach to conflict is required to succeed.

 

Hockey

Hockey is an extremely fast-moving game that is played on grass or Astroturf. It is an excellent sport for sharpening up endurance fitness as players are required to move quickly in order to keep up with the rapid ball movement, as well as improving their coordination and balance – it’s not easy hitting a little ball with a three-inch-wide piece of timber. Communicating with teammates in hockey helps build interpersonal communication skills as with any other team sport.

 

Netball

Netball is a team sport where the main objective is to shoot the ball into the opponent’s hoop. Netball helps athletes increase their hand-eye coordination and mental focus due to the requirement of precision and accuracy in order to shoot the ball into the hoop. Learning how to delegate, lead and problem solve effectively are all benefits of this sport as each player has a specific role to play on the court.

 

Cricket

Cricket has had a resurgence of late partly down to a more modernised style of play at international level making it accessible to a more diverse audience. Requiring speed, ability, and strategy for players to succeed, cricket helps develop exceptional hand-eye coordination as well as stamina in order to play 2-3 hour games. The sport is also a great lesson in co-operation as teammates must work together in order to develop winning strategies. Dealing with high pressure situations also builds self-confidence for student athletes.

 

Tennis

Tennis matches can last for multiple hours, so combatants must learn how to apply themselves patiently and effectively. Spotting the opponent’s weaknesses and adjusting style of play accordingly is an advantageous competance in this game, as well as a key skill which can be brought into the boardroom. One on one sports are also great for helping children build up self-confidence and a culture of fair play.

 

Skiing

Skiing comes in many forms such as cross county, downhill, off-piste and adaptive. All of these share the need for several key traits, chief of which is to understand the ideal positioning of different body parts and the effort that goes into moving them, otherwise known as proprioception. Proprioception diminishes with age, and the more one involves themselves in proprioceptive activities, the less it will diminish over time. Other mental benefits include increased problem-solving skills, improved concentration and cognitive capacity.

 

Dancing

Dancing is a great way to improve overall fitness levels while having fun at the same time. Heart health, energy levels, and improved flexibility and balance all benefit from this activity. Dancing can also greatly improve memory as memorizing complicated dance moves and routines give the brain a really good workout. Studies have also shown that dancing can both reduce stress and help fight depression by releasing healthy level of endorphin and encouraging kids to release their inhibitions, especially when giving performances to large crowds.

What the experts say – why are these activities important for child development?

Adele Cochrane from Tafe Courses

“Modern life can be a pretty disembodied experience. Kids spend a lot of time interacting with screens and can forget to pay attention to how their bodies feel and move. Learning dance teaches you body awareness, balance, coordination, and endurance – all skills which help with many jobs, especially in the trades.”

Jane Kilkenny from Fitness Energy

“Kids learn a multitude of skills from playing sports such as teamwork, persistence, patience and collaboration. Team sports such as football and hockey are great for learning how to win and lose with dignity, develop skills over time with consistent practice and how to develop a love of sport and exercise.”

Michael Edwards from Horizons Travel

“Team sports such as Cricket, Football, Rugby and the challenges faced during the course of a game and season with its inevitable successes, failures, disappointments and victories help develop a number of invaluable life skills including Communication, Discipline, Leadership, Resilience and Humility.”

Portia Gunn, Youthrive Occupational Therapist

“The benefits of school sports for childhood development include improved emotional control & regulation, motor outcomes, social engagements & interactions, and a better sense of belonging & self-esteem.”

Sarah Padbury, principal Psychologist at Edu-Psych

“Sport is super important for 2 reasons. Firstly its the social skills development, sharing and working as a team. It builds communication skills and creates friendships which are a priority in primary school. Team sports such as footy, netball, water polo and basketball are fantastic for this.

Secondly, brain development is enhanced by sports that require balance and coordination of the two sides of the body, so both hemispheres of the brain. BMX, mountain biking, swimming, martial arts and gymnastics are ideal for this.”

The wrap

On balance, the more sports we can expose our children to the greater the opportunity we give them to find out which ones really excite them. Aside from instilling a healthy attitude to competition and determination, by encouraging kids to engage in sports from a young age we help develop healthy habits for both body and mind from which they will benefit for the rest of their lives.

Did you know that Inspiresport operates multi-sports tours especially for school children? Find out more here!

 

References

[1] Bidzan-Bluma, I., & Lipowska, M. (2018). Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning of Children: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health15(4), 800. doi:10.3390/ijerph15040800

[2] Bidzan-Bluma, I., & Lipowska, M. (2018).

[3] https://health.gov/news/blog/2012/05/the-benefits-of-playing-sports-arent-just-physical/

[4] Bidzan-Bluma, I., & Lipowska, M. (2018).

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Sun, Sea, Sand and Sport on the Bridgewater Trip to Malaga https://www.inspiresport.com/bridgewater-trip-to-malaga/ Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:21:38 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=16293 During the summer, one of our groups documented their entire tour to Malaga, here’s what they had to say about their time in sunny Spain; On Sunday 16th June, 49 Bridgewater 11-14-year-olds and 5 staff assembled at Manchester Terminal 3, to fly to Malaga for a football and netball based tour. Despite the early start, everyone…

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During the summer, one of our groups documented their entire tour to Malaga, here’s what they had to say about their time in sunny Spain;

On Sunday 16th June, 49 Bridgewater 11-14-year-olds and 5 staff assembled at Manchester Terminal 3, to fly to Malaga for a football and netball based tour.

Despite the early start, everyone turned up in their blue hoodies, and all had brought their passports, EHIC cards, money, and luggage! The dreaded 10kg limit on luggage, fortunately, was not an issue and everyone passed through the automated system successfully and much to our surprise! Fortunately, the extra four sports bags of 20kg each proved to be vital to carry the essentials – football boots, trainers, toiletries and of course hair curlers?! The only real drama was when Dante lost his passport for a few minutes and Lily dramatically slumped to the floor as she boarded the plane.

The flight was easy enough, aided by iPad’s, smartphones, women’s health magazines (thanks for that Mrs. Acton!) and of course a copious amount of sweets and crisps (thank you, Ethan!). Luggage collected, our rep Angelo met, and an hour later we arrived at the Hotel Atalaya Park Golf and Sports Resort. With rooms allocated and bags unpacked there was just time for a bit of a chill out in the splendid pool, before congregating at “the sofas” to meet for tea. It has to be said, the quality and variety of the food on offer was quite over-whelming and everybody filled up on pasta, fish, meats, salad, cakes. Some decided to sample the local paella and others tucked into their first of what was to be a “real of cheese”.

An evening stroll along the beach to watch the beautiful sunset brought to a close a charming first day, and all went to bed to get some sleep ready for day two and the training sessions.

Day 2

Day 2 started with a 7:00 am wake up call for a dozen or so yoga enthusiasts, who met their instructors Acton and Reynolds for a session beside the beach. Following a delicious breakfast, the girls met at the netball courts for their 90-minute coaching session, whilst the boys took a short walk to the picturesque football pitches to meet our Malaga FC coaches, Alberto and Carlos. The boys were put through some passing and control drills with the emphasis on receiving the ball on the back foot to create options for the next touch on the ball. Alberto also introduced the “Pencil Theory” that proved to be a subtle and intelligent way to stress the importance of practice and repetition in developing life-long good habits.

Following a tasty lunch, both netball and footballers were given recovery time around the pool. The girls had an extended break as the two boy’s teams, plus Molly set off to play the U12’s and U13’s FC Sportscab. The opponents were all from local international schools, with English, Irish, Italian, Spanish and Croatian players. They all had one thing in common however they were all well drilled in the Spanish way of playing football, with the ball doing most of the work in the hot conditions. The U13 team started really well and Imran hit the bar early on with the score at 0-0. Imran went on to score four goals with his pace proving difficult to deal with. However, FC Sportscab where the better team and more accustomed to the heat, and despite the heroics of Thomas in goal, a 1-4 loss could not be avoided. The U12 team fared better overall but found the heat hard to cope with as the game wore on. The boys had enough energy left after a delightful tea to join the girls in games of beach netball and rollerball, as the sunset on another lovely day in Estepona.

The next morning, Miss Reynolds led a dedicated small group of girls in a gym circuit at 7:15 am. Following a healthy breakfast, all set off for their respective football and netball training sessions. The Malaga coaches concentrated on making the right decisions during 2v1 and 3v2 attacking situations. The netballers had arranged some extra game sessions later on before tea, giving the boys an extended recovery period around the pool. Another scrumptious evening meal left many feeling pleasantly lethargic, and it was left to the Hotel Magic Show to entertain all before bedtime.

Bridgewater Netball Bridgewater Netball Bridgewater Netball Bridgewater Football Bridgewater Training Bridgewater Football Team at Malaga

Day 4

The intensity of training was stepped up and the program for the day was equally full-on. The netballers had a fabulous day at training and playing against a visiting ISA school from West Yorkshire. A truly amazing performance in our first netball game in Europe resulted in a 9-8 win for the U12 team against Fulneck School. Isabella ran the game from the centre, Grace provided defensive stability, Lily enthusiasm whilst Lola was lethal under the net. Miss Williams had the girls all drilled to perfection during the training sessions and this was clear to see in the games.

The U14 team lost narrowly to Fulneck School in a closely fought match and followed this up with a dramatic 17-14 defeat to Hollywood School. However, the U12 team remains unbeaten in Spain as they battled to a 14-14 draw with the Hollywood School in a thriller of a game that had drama, suspense, action and the odd bit of comedy?!

The two football teams had a shorter training session to loosen up, before games against Fulneck School, West Yorkshire. The teams were mixed up to play 9 v 9 games, and both teams were to experience their first wins on the tour. Imran again scored four and Alfie P and Zane scored to give the team a 6-4 win in the first game.

In the other game, Bridgewater quickly found themselves 2-0 down very early on before goals from Warren (was it a cross or a shot?) and Alfie F levelled the scores at 2-2. However, in the second half, Bridgewater started to put the Malaga coach’s philosophy into play, creating scoring opportunities at will. Alfie F and Warren scored again, whilst Declan scored one and had a brilliant free-kick saved in the last minute. The boys returned to the hotel in high spirits and changed quickly before heading off for a tour of the Rosaleda Stadium, the home of Malaga FC.

A guided tour of the stadium included the history of the club, a museum visit to see the club trophies over the years, a chance to sit in the media area, entrance into the players changing room and a rare opportunity to go pitchside. We also found ourselves sat in the directors and presidents of the club’s seats whilst watching a corporate game involving the ground staff, judging by the pace of the game and the shape of the players. Before returning to Estepona, the club shop provided some shopping respite for the boys, and a meal at a local Spanish restaurant for that famous local dish… pizza.

Day 4 – Game 2

As if this was not enough action and adventure for one day, both teams had a game to play at 6 pm. The U13 team took on Estepona FC and were involved in an end to end thriller that both teams gave their all to try and win. In the end, four more goals from striker Imran secured a 4-4 draw that both teams will feel they could have won, but will be happy with the result. In the U12 game, Bridgewater took on Los Compadres FC. Despite running out of energy in the heat in the dying stages of the game, the team produced a tremendous display that in English conditions would have seen them win the game.

Kynan was a rock at the back, Matthew worked tirelessly in the midfield and Alfie F ran the defenders ragged. The final score was Bridgewater 3, Club 4, with goals from Alfie P and two from Archie, one of which was a rocket of a free-kick from the halfway line, which is one of the best strikes of a ball anyone will ever see!

On day 5 the netball and football training sessions came to an end, with a chance to play against each other in friendly tournament matches. Declan and Thomas took the honours in the “Champions League” style 2v2 competition, whilst the netballers enjoyed their final session in the sun and said goodbye to the other schools and their coaches. That only left the afternoon to fill, and the much-anticipated trip to Aqualand! The coach fell silent as we passed the waterpark in Mijas, but the excitement reached fever pitch when we arrived at the one in Torremolinos. Wave pools, slides, shoots, lazy rivers, waterfalls, swirling basins, donut rides, and kamikaze slides ensured everyone had an amazing time. We did, however, suffer our first injuries of the tour, with Eloise spraining her ankle on a water-slide and a flying tray waking Mr. Smith up… much to the amusement… sorry, the dismay of Mr. Altdorf! Nevertheless, this was another fabulous day and an excellent way to round off the tour.

Final day

On the final day, those who had packed the night before took the opportunity to have a swim in the pool for one last time. There was just enough time for a quick shop at the local shopping complex near to the airport. With a search party gathering to find Mrs. Acton and her group, the happy shoppers returned just in time and we all set off to the airport.

All in all, everybody can safely say that their experience in Spain was a wonderful one and will have memories that will last a lifetime.  The hotel was lovely, the food excellent, whilst the sports and recreation program was well planned out to guarantee sufficient time for work, rest and play. Thank you to the staff, coaches, hotel staff, inspiresport and all Bridgewater students and parents for making the trip happen.

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The impact of the Netball World Cup on young girls playing netball https://www.inspiresport.com/16300-2/ Thu, 12 Sep 2019 13:03:13 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=16300 The post The impact of the Netball World Cup on young girls playing netball appeared first on inspiresport.

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The impact of the Netball World Cup on young girls playing netball

Netball is a growing sports, particularly for the girls game with most schools having competitive teams. For the sport to be played at a higher level, it’s vital to get young girls and women interested in playing sport either for fun or professionally and this passion should be instilled in them at school.

Inspiresport are championing the cause having signed a three-year agreement with Sisters n Sport and provide netball tours. We know how important it is to encourage young women to get involved in sport and raise the profile of a ‘female’ sport in an industry so dominated by male athletes.

Hosted in the UK, the Netball World Cup has increased the profile of netball. We examine how the tournament and the inspirational female athletes taking part are paving the way for future generations of highly skilled and inspirational female athletes.

The effect of the Netball World Cup

Key to any big sports event is the legacy. Sporting organisations from the Olympic committee to the FIFA and the International Netball Association all judge the bids to host the events with this heavily weighted. Expanding grass roots participation is often one of the key objectives.

BBC Sport’s ‘Change the Game’ advert featuring Ms Banks focuses on getting women into the game that would not have considered it an option; “Busting down all the doors we ain’t even putting the keys in”.

Increased exposure and TV coverage through BBC Sport has meant greater advertising revenues and brand sponsorships opportunities like at the fan park set up in Liverpool One. This is all contributing to an increased buzz around the sport, increased exposure for the players and local clubs.

As part of the legacy, the INF launched the NET2019 project in the lead up to the world cup. Part funded by UK Sport, England Netball and the International Netball Association, the aim is to increase participation in around the world, but with an emphasis on Zambia and Argentina. The project involved sending qualified English netball coaches out to work on the participation and skills at a grass roots level. With an investment of £90,000, the focus was on showing what targeted work could achieve with a plan to extend the projects.

Every sports event is remembered for its heroes (and sometimes villains!). The Netball World Cup was no exception. Some of standout performances were

Tharjini Sivalingam, Sri Lanka’s shooter who scored the most goals in the tournament. She also achieved 100 international caps during the tournament.

Laura Langman, who captained the winners New Zealand. Lauran has earned international 151 caps, a record for the Kiwis.

So, what can you do in your school?

Use netball’s history and current situation as a social lens. Key issues are

  1. Establishment of netball as a women’s alternative to basketball
  2. The gender divide in sports and why some sports are deemed gender specific
  3. Funding in women’s sport

Inspire; nothing gets children more engaged than seeing heroes they associate with triumph or cope with adversity and develop. Getting to know some of the key players, and what they have had to do to succeed.

Engage all genders. Netball participation is growing. It is one of the few sports where mixed teams are really taking off.

Arrange a tour. Taking children away together will build camaraderie, a focused camp can also hone the skills for competition and provide a chance to interact with some of the top coaches.

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The changing face of women’s sports https://www.inspiresport.com/the-changing-face-of-womens-sports/ Thu, 03 Jan 2019 12:50:01 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=14587 At the start of 2019, the discrepancy in funding and coverage, and the impact of this on sports participation is once again on the agenda for sports associations nationwide. With many sports suffering from decades of underfunding, the women’s game attitudes are now changing to try to draw in not only young and ambitious players,…

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At the start of 2019, the discrepancy in funding and coverage, and the impact of this on sports participation is once again on the agenda for sports associations nationwide. With many sports suffering from decades of underfunding, the women’s game attitudes are now changing to try to draw in not only young and ambitious players, but also supporters and fans.

“In sport, we need more women that are visible role models. This will only happen if the sport is supported financially to be televised and the players are supported financially to make a career out of it. Once we see more career sportswomen, it becomes more possible for the next generation to aim for it, just like in the workplace. More women in leadership brings more women in through the pipeline.” – Gemma Lloyd, CEO, Work180

Here are some of the key initiatives.

Women in Football

In 2018, there’s been a £1.5m funding boost available for grass roots football clubs. This initiative is provided as part of the Grow the Game programme. This year, the programme is encouraging applications from clubs wanting to focus on starting or growing existing female or disabled teams. This shows that there is more funding opportunities for women at grass roots level. Alongside this, there are also specific male grassroots team funding. The chances of female teams getting funding is rising, yet the gap in funding and funding opportunities remains significant between genders. In 2017 the Football Foundation invested in an impressive 10,016 female footballers, yet this is compared to the 18,941 male footballers that also received investment.

More senior funding is also on the increase. This year, UEFA promised a 50% funding increase for women’s football, which means an extra £2.4m a year going to women’s football. Alongside this, football’s governing body, FIFA, has announced their strategy to double women’s participation in football to 60 million by 2026. Most notably, perhaps, are comments made by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin who stated that “the potential of women’s football is endless.” This shows that attitudes are changing, and in turn, so is the sport.

“The #whatif campaign has also played a fantastic role in promoting the notion that women’s sport is amazing, but how great it would be if it was treated equally to its male counterpart.” – SoHigh Gallery

It is great to see changes being implemented from the top, and this is impacting the entire sport. One example is the number of fans that supported the women’s football team at the European championships. 4 million watched England play the Netherlands in the semi-finals, while 178 million tuned in to watch throughout the championship.

Felicity Dales is the Managing Director of Body Torque, an Australian-based provider of cycling and triathlon gear. She says: “If we look at football (or soccer), the recent Women’s World Cup had some amazing matches in front of big crowds in the stadiums and on television. Football has really led the way in establishing women’s leagues across the US and Europe, and now in Australia too, so young girls can see that if they want to play soccer they can follow their dream all the way through to a professional contract anywhere in the world. I think that’s brilliant!”

Women in Rugby

Women’s rugby only turned professional in 2011, and so it is pleasing to see how much the sport has evolved in such a short amount of time. This shows that the investment of effort, time and money are able to significantly change the sport.

England Rugby launched a women and girl’s action plan in 2017 which targeted the next four years. This put in place a strategic plan and funding agreement with sport England. Since 2013, the number of women and girls playing contact rugby has increased by over 10,000, resulting in 300 rugby clubs providing opportunities to over 25,000 female players per season.

Additionally, the WRU launched a campaign in 2015 to attract young female players to the grassroots game. In just 3 years, the number exploded from 170 to 10,000 throughout Wales. The WRU once again put the emphasis on changing the perceptions of the sport. Fortunately, respect for female players has grown significantly, which is said to have played a large part in attracting more players to the sport.

Reassuringly the increase in female participation is not restricted to the UK. Since 2013 there has been a 60% increase in female participation, and female players now make up a quarter of international rugby participants. Of course, this is still a minority. However, the difference in the numbers and the impressive rate in which the sport has changed is a promising sign.

Furthermore, it is great to see developments in the wider areas of the sport. This year Sara Cox made history by becoming the first female referee to officiate a Premiership Rugby match. Rugby is encouraging and accommodating female participation in all avenues which ignites positive prospects for the future.

Women in Hockey

Hockey has always been a popular female sport. This is arguably due to women getting involved in this sport at a very early point in time. According to Jean Williams, a professor at Wolverhampton University, “women took control of the sport very early – in the 1894-95 season – and this makes it very distinctive within British sport, especially when you compare it with, say, women’s football, which wasn’t organised into a Women’s Football Association until 1969.”

The sport is now securing serious funding. Shane ross, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport revealed this year that the Irish Women’s hockey team, along with other Irish high performance sports, will receive funding of €1.75m. He added that he was “committed to ensuring that Team Ireland will have every possible support on the road to Tokyo 2020”. In addition to this, Team GB funding is also increasing. In Beijing in 2008, the team had £9,882,000, the funding for Tokyo 2020 is currently targeted at £17,125,320.

Alongside securing funding, evidence that women’s hockey is excelling is team GB’s performance in Rio 2016. The British Women’s team brought home gold after beating defending champion, The Netherlands. Women’s hockey is therefore perhaps a perfect example of what a sport can be when funding and time is invested in developing it. As we are over a century into the female sport, maybe this is what we can look forward to in the future of other female sports.

Women in Netball

Netball is a unique sport in the fact that it has remained an almost entirely female sport. The sport evolved from women’s basketball, and the game we know and play today was established in 1895. However, it was only in 1995 that the sport was introduced to the Olympic Committee. In turn, the committee’s objectives were to ensure that the sport kept its statues and remained in the Olympics. Since then, the game has been developed into different versions to cater or different audiences. A faster version of the game arrived in 2008, this then developed into Fast5 in 2012.

So, what can we learn from the female dominated sport? Well, the International Netball Federation places an emphasis on empowerment. This is fully engrained in the sport throughout the world and this is something that has greatly benefited women not just in sport, but in other areas. The INF puts effort into providing great role models for young women, as well as development programmes to empower young women. The INF grant scheme also has the philosophy, “local drive… global impact”, which shows just how important the development of netball internationally is.

It seems that efforts to help netball are efforts to help women, and vice versa. This is a fantastic example of women in sport helping both women and sport.

Women in Skiing

Skiing comes in so many forms that it can appeal to numerous different people for various reasons. Skiing can take the form of alpine, freestyle, ski jump, free skiing, cross country and so on. All these styles require different attributes and skill sets, meaning that there is a style for all. However, certain styles do attract far more men than women. The Ski Club of Great Britain reported that 66% of skiers are men and only 34% are women, with styles such as heli skiing significantly lacking female participants.

However, the world of skiing is changing. The Norwegian Ski Federation has launched an effort to encourage female’s participation in ski jumping and Nordic skiing, two forms that are typically less popular amongst women. In addition to this, gold medal Olympian Lindsey Vonn has repeatedly requested to take on male competitors. Currently, this is not something that is possible under the International Ski Federation. However, as mentioned above, skiing is not a sport that is necessarily better suited to one gender. Men are consistently faster in downhill skiing, though in all other forms of the sport there is not a clear leader. Therefore, development in this area may very well lead to skiing being the first sport in which individual men and women could compete for the same prize.

Women in Extreme Sports

People often view adventure sports as the realm of men with an excess of bravado who dive head first into danger.

“It’s increasingly clear that success in adventure sports actually requires a range of deeper personal attributes, an important one being the emotional intelligence to deal with both your own and your teammates’ responses to adverse conditions.” – Total Kayak & Fishing

“Women excel in this domain, and often thrive on the challenges that adventure sports provide.” – Andrew DawsonUnleashed-Unlimited

Women in Tennis

Tennis has for a long time been regarded the most gender-neutral sport. In 2012 it became the first sport in which women could take part in all categories. In addition to this, Serena Williams is the only female to be named on the Forbes top 100 highest paid athletes list, coming in at number 51. What does this indicate? It shows that Serena Williams is arguably the most successful women’s athlete of all time, coming far above numerous male athletes from multiple sports. However, Williams is the only woman on this list, signifying that 99 out of the 100 highest paid athletes are men, with the highest male earning £50m more than the highest female. This is certainly a pay gap that can’t be ignored.

“However, success and equality cannot (and therefore should not) be measured using money. Serena Williams, aside from money, is one of the most successful athletes of all time regardless of gender.” – Detail Central

This is something that is certainly a long way from many other sports, as well as the state of sporting achievement a decade or two ago.

What does this show?

“Evidently, female sport has evolved greatly in recent years. We now have a vast number of female athletes competing in a wide range of sports.” – Bepoz

“Additionally, fans are now supporting these women as the athletes that they are. This highlights that attitudes are gradually changing, which is pleasing due to knowing that changing attitudes is a wide spread sporting objective.” – Showtime Digital

Moreover, female participation in sport is going up at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, though, there is still a significant gap in participation throughout most sports. In the UK, by the age of 14, only 10% of girls are participating in enough sport to benefit their health. This is why Scotland has started the Sporting Equality Fund to reduce the gap between the 71% of boys and 51% of girls participating in sport in their teenage years.

Along with the gap in participation we also see that at the highest level of women’s sports many of the support and buzz around the game simply doesn’t match the men, or the female performance. Emma Rémond has written a great piece looking at some of the pitfalls of women’s cricket and how although female sport has really progressed there is so far to go in certain sports in certain country’s and areas.

Moreover research carried out by Michelle Redfern highlights the fact that “currently only 3.7% of CEO’s in the sporting industry are women. More women in leadership roles within the sporting sector will mean more female role models in sport for young women, leading to their increased participation in sport. Girls’ and women’s participation in sport has not only been found to enhance their mental, social and physical health and wellbeing, it has also been linked to their development of skills for personal and professional progression, leading to higher levels of educational and occupational achievement and personal wellbeing.”

Gemma Kane from Brazilian Jiujitsu Girls adds: “In 2018 we have seen a huge rise in female participants and competitors of Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) and this is a trend we expect to see grow in 2019. More specifically we have seen a rise of older women (Masters 30+) starting the sport for the very first time and signing up to competitions.

“Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. It started out as a predominantly male sport but over recent years the number of women taking it up has increased. Although it is full contact as a sport it is actually low impact and you can move at your own pace, this may go part way to explaining its popularity with women looking for a new and empowering hobby in later life.”

Joanna at taylorwells.com.au – a pricing business that helps many women gain management roles in traditionally male dominated industries – points out that female sport is now seen as a real plus in the corporate world. Whereas ex male sports stars could get a good corporate job after a rugby career for example – now womens sports is seen as a real plus on a CV.

Additionally, Merissa Forsyth the Founder of Pretty Foundation is on a mission to make girls feel confident in themselves. This is a two way street, girls feeling confident enough in them selves to participate in sport, and girls taking part in sport with a team of powerful women in turn boosting their confidence. Merissa has used research to make a number of children’s books that aim to give young girls confidence and a love for themselves. She states “it is everybody’s mission to empower girls with the perspective, skills and support to develop and nurture a positive body image for themselves and others throughout their lives. The changing face of women’s sport is certainly helping to do this.”

Aodhan at waster.com.au – a waste and recycling business is investing in sponsoring local female sport this year – as it appeals to a very wide audience – and shows potential customers that you are a company that values womens contribution.

Finally, we can see that funding and money in general is going into women’s sport. This is really helping to boost female participation and change perceptions. We have also seen changes to the money that female athletes are receiving. The average prize money for men and women in tennis is equal at £1,452,022. This is now the case for 83% of sports, according to The Telegraph.

“Unfortunately earnings and prize winnings in general are still heavily swayed towards men receiving more.” – Universal Finance

Therefore, women’s sport has changed for the better and with increasing funding, acceptance, interest and participation, it is only going to improve. However, this is the point; female sport of all types still needs improvement, while the women in them are still fighting for sporting equality.

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All the fun we had at the Manchester Thunder Rally https://www.inspiresport.com/all-the-fun-we-had-at-the-manchester-thunder-rally-netball/ Fri, 30 Nov 2018 16:06:43 +0000 https://www.inspiresport.com/?p=14420   This month we were excited to organise the Thunder Rally netball tournament in association with our exclusive partners, Manchester Thunder. We got to welcome young players from all over the country – special shout out to Thurso High School who drove for 12 hours from the Highlands of Scotland! To find out more about…

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This month we were excited to organise the Thunder Rally netball tournament in association with our exclusive partners, Manchester Thunder. We got to welcome young players from all over the country – special shout out to Thurso High School who drove for 12 hours from the Highlands of Scotland! To find out more about the highlights of the tournament we spoke with our experienced team experts who were on hand for the whole the event.

 

The event was initiated by Regional Sales Manager Lynda Merryweather, who came up with the idea to organise a netball tournament and got in touch with schools from regions all over the country. She arranged to have the first day at Sport For All Centre in Philips High School and the second to be held at the Armitage Centre in Manchester University Sports Complex. She then turned to the account manages to handle the itineraries of each school.

 

To ensure that everyone got to enjoy the weekend and get as much of it as possible each itinerary was personalised to the school. That way schools that were traveling from further away could arrive a day early and have a proper rest before the tournament, one school stayed an additional day after it to recover and see Manchester. Schools that had their own transport got to only book accommodation and those who didn’t had coaches arranged for them.

 

Day one began with a masterclass delivered by Manchester Thunder coaches which was followed by all day friendly fixtures. The schedule was strict and teams had 10 minutes to play each other with a minute to rest in between games. The first day finished with dinner and an early night in the Hallmark Inn Hotel in Manchester.

 

By the time the second day started each team had a good idea of who they were going to play against. The Manchester Thunder coaches delivered two masterclasses in the morning – one for under 14s and another for under 13s.

 

The games on the second day were much tougher, every team was giving one hundred percent and some of the final games were nail-bitingly close. The second day came to an end with a presentation ceremony. Congratulations to St. Mary’s Menston School who brought home the winning trophies for both categories. All players that participated were awarded a medal and received gifts from Manchester Thunder. Most importantly though every player went home with wonderful memories and even better sporting skills.

 

“I knew we had done a good job when every single child came to thank us personally at the end of the second day. I was really impressed with how polite they were and beyond excited to have contributed to a weekend that made them so happy!” – said Shaun who was part of the team organising the event and was present for the whole weekend.

 

To find more about how we engage with netball, head to our blog where we talk to the Party Leader of Francis Holland to find out what impressed them during their netball tour to Sri Lanka: https://www.inspiresport.com/an-unforgettable-sri-lanka-tour/

 

Or find out what other netball tours we can offer for your team: https://www.inspiresport.com/tours/netball-tours-in-uk-and-europe/ 

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