Latest news with #BirminghamPanthers
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Why netball must learn from rugby when it comes to concussion
Gabby Marshall was watching the British and Irish Lions' squad announcement from her sofa earlier this summer when it dawned on her that her career was over. She should have been preparing for the business end of the Netball Super League season, but instead Marshall was still coming to terms with having to retire from the sport on medical grounds after suffering two concussions in a matter of weeks. 'I watched Maro Itoje being named as captain and it hit me,' Marshall tells Telegraph Sport. 'I thought, 'They're preparing for a tour and I'll never be preparing for a game again'. It made it feel real for some reason.' Marshall was making her debut for Birmingham Panthers on the opening day of the NSL's revamped season in March this year when she collided with Geva Mentor during the second quarter of the match. The former England goal keeper's shoulder clipped Marshall's head in a mid-air challenge before she smacked her head on the court as she fell. Incredibly, Marshall was deemed fit to continue after a SCAT test – the standardised tool to evaluate suspected concussions in athletes which includes assessing balance and asking questions to check memory. 'It wasn't until later on that I didn't feel quite right,' says Marshall, who was eventually substituted. After completing return-to-play protocols, she lined up to face eventual NSL champions London Pulse on April 13, but another head collision ended her game and ultimately spelt the end of her 12 years as a top-flight netball player. She was left with a lip laceration and carried off court on a spinal board after clattering into the goalkeeper. 'It looked like I had fillers on this side for a little while,' says Marshall, who endured lingering, post-concussive symptoms. 'I didn't really move out of bed for 10 days. I couldn't really do too much at all. I was just exhausted. The fatigue was a big one, like I would come and sit downstairs for 10 to 15 minutes, and then could feel myself kind of spacing out. I would go back upstairs and then just fall asleep for two or three hours.' Netball's new-look NSL has drawn higher crowds this season – London Pulse's 53-45 victory over Loughborough Lightning in the Grand Final on Sunday attracted a record number of fans to London's O2 Arena. But off the court, the pace of change feels slow. The NSL still relies heavily on volunteers, while physios attached to clubs are often not employed on a full-time basis. 'Quite a lot of teams will have sport therapists or physios who need to do their hours in training that might not pick up head injuries, so we're not getting to the top-tier level that we should,' says Rebekah Airey, another player who had to stop playing in the NSL after suffering five concussions in 20 months. One was so bad that she was hospitalised after being taken out in the air and hitting her head on the court. Severn Stars, her former club, were 'hugely supportive' and connected her with Professor Antonio Belli, an expert in acute brain injury at the University of Birmingham. 'The first thing he asked me was, 'Do you play rugby?' And I was like, 'No. I play netball,'' says Airey. 'He said that he would have told me to stop playing after three concussions.' Like in elite rugby, head injury assessments (HIAs) can be carried out at NSL matches, but only if a doctor is present – otherwise players with suspected concussions undergo a SCAT test. Airey, as she puts it, 'learnt how to play the system'. She says: 'It's the same SCAT test. My cognitive function was fine, but my motor control was off. I cry at everything now and I never used to be like that. I do think there's a lot the sport can learn from rugby.' England Netball already mandates all club staff in the NSL to complete the Rugby Football Union's 'Headcase' online learning module on concussion annually, but Airey believes the sport could do more. At present, it is not mandatory for match-day doctors to attend NSL games, meaning an HIA cannot be carried out straight away, while England Netball is yet to employ a chief medical officer. 'The sport doesn't have that infrastructure around concussion,' says Airey. 'It is getting better. People who take others out on court are getting sin-binned, which is an improvement, but the player in the sin-bin doesn't get to play [for two minutes] and the player who gets taken out might miss an entire season.' It is a sentiment echoed by the Netball Players Association, which is calling for greater vigilance around head injuries in the NSL. 'As a sport we all need to ensure good injury surveillance, that HIAs are done consistently and that there is good care and follow-up for all players,' says Liz Bloor, the chief executive of the NPA. 'Recognition of the potential accumulation of minor head injuries needs to be considered.' In netball, a player can receive a two-minute suspension for dangerous play – while players can be sent off for serious infringements – but do those rules go far enough? 'If there's ever a time to look at the policies, it's maybe [to] look at what we're doing to deter defenders from challenging for the ball or protecting players' heads,' says Marshall. 'The way in which netball is progressing in terms of the athleticism, the speed, the stakes as well, because I think that's a really important part of the game in terms of defenders going to try and win the ball.' Head injuries might have become synonymous with sports such as rugby, but in netball, Marshall's and Airey's stories should serve as cautionary tales. London Pulse beat Loughborough Lightning in the Grand Final at the O2 Arena to win their first Netball Super League title on Sunday. Lightning had been chasing their third title in a row but fell to a 53-45 defeat against a side who had already beaten them twice this season. Sam Bird's Pulse side, who had topped the NSL table, five points ahead of second-placed Lightning, established an early lead and never relinquished it, with Funmi Fadoju being named player of the match for her efforts in the heart of defence. 'I'm so happy for the club, the girls, our sponsors, our fans,' Bird told Sky Sports. 'It is such a great day. It was such a hard game. It was like a game of chess. The strategy involved was really tough and I'm just really proud we got across the line.' Fadoju added: 'It feels so amazing. I am so proud of the girls. We went out there and did what we had to do.'
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pulse secure Netball Super League top spot
London Pulse secured top spot at the end of the Netball Super League regular season - and with it home advantage for the major semi-final in the led Loughborough Lightning by two points going into the final round of games and were given a helping came from Birmingham Panthers who caused a surprise in their coach Jo Trip's final game in charge by achieving a 67-58 success over Lightning, who have won three of the past four Grand Finals, to ensure Pulse finished Mitchell had 42 goals for Panthers who pulled clear in the second quarter against a Lightning side who lacked fluency and will have plenty to think about before the then ensured they go into next weekend's game against Lightning on a high with a comfortable 67-44 victory over bottom side Cardiff Dragons, helped by 36 goals from Olivia winner of the major semi-final goes straight to the Grand Final while the loser will face the winner of the minor semi-final between third and fourth - Manchester Thunder and London Mavericks - to determine the other and Mavericks lined up for a dress rehearsal on Saturday with the Manchester side winning 67-45 at Wembley Arena, led by 50 goals from Elmere van der the weekend's final game on Sunday, the sport will say farewell to one of its greatest England star Geva Mentor takes to the court for the last time before she retires as she lines up for Leeds Rhinos against Nottingham Forest (16:00 BST) in a match you can watch live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lightning beat Mavericks to go top of Super League
Loughborough Lightning produced a dominant display to beat London Mavericks 79-58 and move top of the Netball Super who have won three of the previous four Grand Finals, were in control throughout and opened a 23-12 lead at the end of the first set the tone for the contest, with Samantha Wallace-Joseph finishing with 24 goals for the victors, and Ella Clark and Berri Neil also impressing with 14 and 13 goals Andrew contributed 24 goals for the Mavericks, who remain fourth with one round of fixtures remaining before the play-offs. Birmingham Panthers won 75-69 in the opening match of the round on Thursday, with third-placed Manchester Thunder hosting second-placed London Pulse on Saturday (17:00 BST).
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Panthers head coach Trip to leave at end of season
Birmingham Panthers head coach Jo Trip is to leave the club at the end of the Netball Super League 34-year-old Kiwi was NSL coach of the year in 2023 and 2024 but has "decided to explore new opportunities".There are three rounds left in the NSL season but Panthers have already been ruled out of play-off contention."As the club continues to grow and we make plans for the future, this decision follows the natural conversations that happen at the end of a season," read a club statement."Jo has decided to explore new opportunities and will leave with our huge gratitude and respect. Her drive and leadership have been felt by all involved with the club."This is Birmingham's first season, having been formed from the ashes of Severn Stars - where Trip was player-coach in the past two seasons, leading them to a top-four finish in has focused on coaching this year, with Panthers winning three and losing eight of their 11 games in an injury-hit Gabby Marshall was forced to retire after suffering two concussions in a month, and last week they lost star shooter Sigi Burger to a season-ending medial collateral ligament exec-chair Alison Kay said: "Her energy and commitment have left a lasting impact on all who worked with her. We wish her every success in the next chapter of her journey."Trip added: "Being part of the Panthers' journey as the club's first-ever head coach has been a privilege. With two home games remaining, we're focused and determined to finish this campaign strong and do you [the fans] proud."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gabby Sinclair encouraging others to speak up and seek out on women's health issues
By Milly McEvoy, Sportsbeat Gabby Sinclair knows what it is like not to be listened to when it comes to women's health issues, now she is speaking up so the cycle is not repeated for others. The Birmingham Panthers shooter experienced heavy periods as she was making her way in netball, but found her concerns were not always taken seriously. The Australian wants to use her platform as a Netball Super League player to encourage others to seek out and speak out. 'I'm interested in a lot of things to do with women's health,' she said. 'There are lots of different spaces. I do think there is a big gap in education for women and young girls surrounding a whole variety of women's health issues, whether that is the menstrual cycle, contraception, you can go on for ages. "Within sport, there is still a big gap in regards to how we should train around our menstrual cycle, supporting athletes who might experience severe pain during their period. 'I think that is a space that can be really developed and something potentially in sport or education in schools that I'd like to get into post-netball. 'There has been a shift now in women speaking up about their experiences, women actually being heard and listened to. 'Netball is getting there, but there is more that we can do. We've been offered webinars or information sessions around fertility or the menstrual cycle and things like that, but I think there is a gap that could be improved.' While Sinclair is coming at this from lived experience, it is also from learning too – the 31-year-old is a registered nurse and is studying for a master's in women's health. She is now planning for a post-netball role helping educate women and girls around various health topics. Sinclair added: "I have always had very heavy periods, and it is something that I thought was just normal, but as I got older I realised how it was actually affecting me. 'I then started to question it; 'I don't think this actually is normal.' I went to a few doctors who said it was just my period, or said go on the pill and it will decrease your bleeding, but it took me a while to actually be fully listened to and work out a plan. 'It has challenged me in games, I remember I was playing a grand final at age grade level, and I had my period and was bleeding very heavily and felt so exhausted. NSL Unwrapped: Lightning join Pulse at the summit 'Now looking back at that and the interventions that I have got in place now, I would like to see that for a lot of other young girls coming through and feeling like they know what is normal and what is abnormal and feeling confident in reaching out for help. 'This is something that needs to be spoken about too; it is important for young girls to see elite athletes who have it. 'I thought when I was going through it at 15, 'Do other elite athletes have their periods and go through what I am going through?' You can feel quite alone, so it is important that it is spoken about." A golden goal for a golden girl 🏅Cool, calm and collected was Gabby Sinclair to get the win in tonights game for @PanthersNball 😅 — Netball Super League (@NetballSL) May 4, 2025 Sinclair has returned for a second stint in the Super League, having previously featured for LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons in 2023. She then returned Down Under to play for new team Melbourne Mavericks in the Suncorp Super Netball. Despite an impressive season, Sinclair was not offered another contract in Australia but jumped at the chance to join Birmingham Panthers. After missing the early round of Panthers' inaugural season through injury, Sinclair has made an impact for the West Midlands team, particularly with the Soft & Gentle Super Shot. Panthers' Gabrielle Coffey proud to represent First Nations on NSL stage 'It is something that is quite natural from a very young age,' she said. 'I would shoot from anywhere, anywhere I got the ball in the circle, I would just turn and shoot. 'I feel like I have always been a bit more of a long-range shooter. 'I do practice a lot! But it is probably more of a natural ability for me that I have had from a very young age.'
