Latest news with #EnglandNetball
South Wales Argus
31-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Lightning captain Nat Panagarry urges women to 'know their normal'
The Loughborough Lightning captain is determined to continue building greater awareness around women's health, having realised how little she knew about her own body following her wife Katie's cancer diagnosis three years ago. Panagarry has hit new heights on the court, leading Lightning to back-to-back Netball Super League titles, and one of the league's most recognisable faces wants to use her platform to help improve knowledge and education within the sport and beyond. 'I just want to keep being as open and honest as I can,' she said. 'Going through Katie's journey has made me more self-aware about what is going on with my body. 'We are so in tune with her body and what her normal is, it made me thing 'Do I know what my normal is?' 'It has made me more in tune with that, and that is something I want to keep putting out there especially to young girls and young women; how important it is to know your normal. 'Sometimes we think it's just happening, and everyone is going through it, but that is not always the case. 'I have grown up over the years where it was whatever was going on, you just had to get on with it. "Periods and menstrual cycles are such a natural process, but I was taught to just manage it, go on the pill, and if you are going through certain symptoms it is really normal, when that's not the case. 'Over the last few years, you are seeing players step up and talk about the situations they are going through. "Not just female health, but things like grief, and how they are balancing it all. The more open and honest we are as players; I think fans really connect to that.' Support for female-specific health issues has improved dramatically over the course of Panagarry's career, with Lightning now able to provide support around the impact of players' menstrual cycles alongside greater awareness of other issues such as pelvic floor health. England Netball also launched NETBALLHer to provide greater information and support around issues such as sports bras, menopause, menstrual cycles and pelvic health. But the 34-year-old believes there is still more that can be done to support players at both the elite level, and those coming through pathways. 'Through England and through Lightning we fill something out daily called PDMS, which is how tired you are, how sore you are and also tracking your period,' she added. 'For staff and coaches, that helps them offer support. 'The next step for me is tailoring training, if there is a high chance of injury. It is being able to have that support financially to offer that. We are in a great space in netball, but there are still steps we can take such as training programmes being more personalised. 'Knowing what your cycle look like is really important, I wish I had tracked it when I was younger. I don't think I ever knew what was truly happening to my body each week. I could have spoken to my coaches and been more honest with them and they could have helped me.' On the court, Panagarry's focus is on reaching another Grand Final as Lightning chase an unprecedented hat-trick of Netball Super League titles. With this year's Grand Final hosted at London's O2 Arena, Panagarry is ready to chase history in a number of ways having already sealed a top four spot. 'We have had quite a few arena games that have been amazing, it is really building,' she said. 'As a player, to be in the O2, in an arena we have never played at before and how iconic it is, it is really motivating to be on that court. 'The O2 this season has been on everyone's minds, to say you have done it and been there for the first time. It is definitely a motivator for me. 'We would love to be there; we will give everything we can. We don't get carried away with ourselves, but we did celebrate getting that top four spot and getting it early. Those are the little wins.'
Leader Live
30-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Lightning captain Nat Panagarry urges women to 'know their normal'
The Loughborough Lightning captain is determined to continue building greater awareness around women's health, having realised how little she knew about her own body following her wife Katie's cancer diagnosis three years ago. Panagarry has hit new heights on the court, leading Lightning to back-to-back Netball Super League titles, and one of the league's most recognisable faces wants to use her platform to help improve knowledge and education within the sport and beyond. 'I just want to keep being as open and honest as I can,' she said. 'Going through Katie's journey has made me more self-aware about what is going on with my body. 'We are so in tune with her body and what her normal is, it made me thing 'Do I know what my normal is?' 'It has made me more in tune with that, and that is something I want to keep putting out there especially to young girls and young women; how important it is to know your normal. 'Sometimes we think it's just happening, and everyone is going through it, but that is not always the case. 'I have grown up over the years where it was whatever was going on, you just had to get on with it. "Periods and menstrual cycles are such a natural process, but I was taught to just manage it, go on the pill, and if you are going through certain symptoms it is really normal, when that's not the case. 'Over the last few years, you are seeing players step up and talk about the situations they are going through. "Not just female health, but things like grief, and how they are balancing it all. The more open and honest we are as players; I think fans really connect to that.' Support for female-specific health issues has improved dramatically over the course of Panagarry's career, with Lightning now able to provide support around the impact of players' menstrual cycles alongside greater awareness of other issues such as pelvic floor health. England Netball also launched NETBALLHer to provide greater information and support around issues such as sports bras, menopause, menstrual cycles and pelvic health. But the 34-year-old believes there is still more that can be done to support players at both the elite level, and those coming through pathways. 'Through England and through Lightning we fill something out daily called PDMS, which is how tired you are, how sore you are and also tracking your period,' she added. 'For staff and coaches, that helps them offer support. 'The next step for me is tailoring training, if there is a high chance of injury. It is being able to have that support financially to offer that. We are in a great space in netball, but there are still steps we can take such as training programmes being more personalised. 'Knowing what your cycle look like is really important, I wish I had tracked it when I was younger. I don't think I ever knew what was truly happening to my body each week. I could have spoken to my coaches and been more honest with them and they could have helped me.' On the court, Panagarry's focus is on reaching another Grand Final as Lightning chase an unprecedented hat-trick of Netball Super League titles. With this year's Grand Final hosted at London's O2 Arena, Panagarry is ready to chase history in a number of ways having already sealed a top four spot. 'We have had quite a few arena games that have been amazing, it is really building,' she said. 'As a player, to be in the O2, in an arena we have never played at before and how iconic it is, it is really motivating to be on that court. 'The O2 this season has been on everyone's minds, to say you have done it and been there for the first time. It is definitely a motivator for me. 'We would love to be there; we will give everything we can. We don't get carried away with ourselves, but we did celebrate getting that top four spot and getting it early. Those are the little wins.'
Powys County Times
30-05-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Lightning captain Nat Panagarry urges women to 'know their normal'
The Loughborough Lightning captain is determined to continue building greater awareness around women's health, having realised how little she knew about her own body following her wife Katie's cancer diagnosis three years ago. Panagarry has hit new heights on the court, leading Lightning to back-to-back Netball Super League titles, and one of the league's most recognisable faces wants to use her platform to help improve knowledge and education within the sport and beyond. 'I just want to keep being as open and honest as I can,' she said. 'Going through Katie's journey has made me more self-aware about what is going on with my body. 'We are so in tune with her body and what her normal is, it made me thing 'Do I know what my normal is?' 'It has made me more in tune with that, and that is something I want to keep putting out there especially to young girls and young women; how important it is to know your normal. 'Sometimes we think it's just happening, and everyone is going through it, but that is not always the case. 'I have grown up over the years where it was whatever was going on, you just had to get on with it. "Periods and menstrual cycles are such a natural process, but I was taught to just manage it, go on the pill, and if you are going through certain symptoms it is really normal, when that's not the case. 'Over the last few years, you are seeing players step up and talk about the situations they are going through. "Not just female health, but things like grief, and how they are balancing it all. The more open and honest we are as players; I think fans really connect to that.' Support for female-specific health issues has improved dramatically over the course of Panagarry 's career, with Lightning now able to provide support around the impact of players' menstrual cycles alongside greater awareness of other issues such as pelvic floor health. England Netball also launched NETBALLHer to provide greater information and support around issues such as sports bras, menopause, menstrual cycles and pelvic health. But the 34-year-old believes there is still more that can be done to support players at both the elite level, and those coming through pathways. 'Through England and through Lightning we fill something out daily called PDMS, which is how tired you are, how sore you are and also tracking your period,' she added. 'For staff and coaches, that helps them offer support. 'The next step for me is tailoring training, if there is a high chance of injury. It is being able to have that support financially to offer that. We are in a great space in netball, but there are still steps we can take such as training programmes being more personalised. 'Knowing what your cycle look like is really important, I wish I had tracked it when I was younger. I don't think I ever knew what was truly happening to my body each week. I could have spoken to my coaches and been more honest with them and they could have helped me.' On the court, Panagarry's focus is on reaching another Grand Final as Lightning chase an unprecedented hat-trick of Netball Super League titles. With this year's Grand Final hosted at London's O2 Arena, Panagarry is ready to chase history in a number of ways having already sealed a top four spot. 'We have had quite a few arena games that have been amazing, it is really building,' she said. 'As a player, to be in the O2, in an arena we have never played at before and how iconic it is, it is really motivating to be on that court. 'The O2 this season has been on everyone's minds, to say you have done it and been there for the first time. It is definitely a motivator for me. 'We would love to be there; we will give everything we can. We don't get carried away with ourselves, but we did celebrate getting that top four spot and getting it early. Those are the little wins.'
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Skorts-v-shorts row shows clear disregard for players' voice
I assumed the victory would have meant other sports would follow suit, but the camogie saga shows how far we still have to go. The issue is not that the camogie policy is skirted items – because that has a legitimate historical reason. It is a remnant of Victorian times, when women needed to prove femininity in the safety of skirts to be allowed to play sport. No – the issue is that choice was asked for by the players and then ignored by the Camogie Association. Comfort is a performance margin. But what seems to matter to the rule-makers is only 'tradition'. Tradition can be important, but if it is damaging or discriminatory, is it worth the nostalgia? The evolution of women's sports kit has moved from long dresses to skorts and I see no one reminiscing about the days of floor-length tennis dresses. To disregard player comfort is to completely miss the point of sport. The concluding statement of my research points to the need for sports-kit policies to evolve so that they 'enable' participation, performance, enjoyment and belonging. Incidentally, this became the first principle of the Inclusive Sportswear Charter, which I built after the hockey campaign because it was evident the industry needed a north star. The Inclusive Sportswear Charter is the first sports-kit-policy standard based on choice and inclusion. It is signed by England Hockey, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and England Netball. And last week, I publicly offered the Camogie Association to sign it, too, going live on Irish radio to propose this as their 'get-out-of-jail-free' card. A special congress will vote on the issue on Thursday and I hope, this time round, players' voices are heard. I hope soon that a pair of shorts can just be a pair of shorts.
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Empowering women and girls through netball
Netball holds a unique position as one of the most popular team sports for women worldwide, yet its impact and reach in Scotland remain underwhelming compared to England. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This disparity calls for urgent attention, especially considering the role netball plays in fostering empowerment community, and physical activity among women and girls. Foysol Choudhury MSP Netball, a fast-paced team sport involving two teams of seven players, was originally adapted for female students with the intention of maintaining "female etiquette." Over the years, however, it has evolved far beyond its origins, becoming a tool for empowerment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Today, initiatives like England Netball's aim to tackle challenges such as the 65 per cent dropout rate of girls from sports during puberty, offering resources and encouragement to ensure women and girls thrive at every stage of life. Local team the Fill Ins won the All Nations Mixed Adult League Despite its widespread appeal, netball in Scotland has yet to achieve the same level of support. Many aspiring players face long waiting lists to join clubs outside of school and the professional opportunities within Scotland are limited. In contrast, England boasts a thriving netball ecosystem with better funding, more professional roles and higher salaries, pushing some of Scotland's most talented players to seek opportunities elsewhere, particularly in Australia. Netball Scotland has made strides in promoting the sport through various leagues and training programmes to develop players and coaches. However, the existing resources and support systems are not sufficient to meet the growing demand. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The dominance of football in Scotland, coupled with the perception of netball as a "women's sport" has further hindered its development. A stronger professional league structure is necessary to provide local talent with opportunities to shine on home soil. Scottish players say that education is the main pathway to improvement for the sport, as it plays a critical role in bridging this gap. Schools should be encouraged to integrate netball into their curricula, emphasising its role in fostering teamwork, confidence, and physical health. Combating toxic narratives around femininity in sports is also essential and netball allows women and girls to embrace their femininity while challenging stereotypes. Additionally, there is a plethora of evidence that physical activity and team sport assist with mental health. Having a strong social connection can improve well-being and mental challenges, especially in younger years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Team sport correlates with fostering long-term friendship, reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood, and building resilience, all while promoting a sense of belonging and accomplishment. With netball's inclusion in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, there is a golden opportunity to inspire a new generation of players and fans. This event can serve as catalysts for increased funding, community engagement, and media coverage. I am calling for increased support for netball in Scotland. By prioritising netball, Scotland has the chance to foster an inclusive sporting culture that celebrates women and girls. Netball offers more than just a game, it provides a sense of belonging, empowerment, and resilience. Active players in Scotland have voiced the difficulty they face due to the gap in the sport's popularity, which affects opportunities and professional pathways. Closing this gap between Scotland and England is not only an investment in sport but also an investment in the empowerment of women and girls across the nation.
