24-05-2025
Ex-Silver Fern Samantha Winders teaches netball injury prevention as ACC claims rise
Winter sports-related injury claims and costs have consistently gone up over that period in Bay of Plenty.
Rugby union led the pack last year, with nearly 5000 claims costing more than $10m.
The 1504 netball claims cost just over $3.2m.
Football, basketball, and netball injuries were most common among 10-14-year-olds, whilst rugby union and rugby league injuries were most common among 15-19-year-olds.
Winders, a former John Paul College deputy head girl, spent nine years with the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and played 47 tests for the Silver Ferns.
She has not hung up her bib yet, playing club netball for Ngongotahā in the Tauranga premier competition.
Winders said she managed to avoid any serious injuries during her professional playing days, when she was an ambassador for NetballSmart.
ACC has partnered with Netball NZ since 1997 to deliver the programme focused on improving performances in sport by preventing injuries.
Winders said her regional development job was about teaching, a vocation she had always felt called to.
'It's very much a teaching role, but not in a classroom setting, obviously in a netball setting, and that's something I feel like I'm a bit of an expert in.'
As the development officer, Winders works with coaches, players, schools, centres and clubs to help develop strategies to improve performance and decrease injury risk.
NetballSmart is an evidence-based framework and includes a revised warm-up that focuses on key game-specific movements such as landings and deceleration.
Winders said she had a responsibility to develop the athletic side of a netball player, setting a good foundation in injury prevention and management.
'Injury management doesn't just happen on the netball court or in prevention. It starts well before that.
'A big part of it is preparation, warming up properly and moving well, but at the same time it's sort of empowering athletes to take responsibility for themselves in the way they prepare for the game.'
She said NetballSmart was about breeding 'good movers' who lived by their principles.
'NetballSmart speaks for itself, it's a smart way to approach netball.
'If you have a good, strong foundation, then you will prevent injuries.'
She was 'very grateful' that netball was and remained such a 'massive' part of her life.
'It's a pretty basic sport, but there is so much room for growth and development within it … it's taken me all over the world."
She could not imagine ever losing her love for playing and competing, but said she also found working with young players very rewarding.
'I really would love to see more players from this region crack it, because they have the ability to.'
Silver Ferns lead physiotherapist Sharon Kearney has driven a revision of the programme.
'Sam's ability to share her expertise directly with players on achieving success, integrated with NetballSmart messaging to minimise injury risk, is invaluable,' Kearney said in a statement.
'That is why Sam was great as a NetballSmart ambassador and now as one of our regional officers. She can help tell the story of what it takes to play netball like she does.'
Winter sports injury claims
ACC data for 2024 in the Bay of Plenty showed:
1504 netball claims costing $3,216,405
2485 football claims costing $3,449,577
4912 rugby union claims costing $10,500,091
995 rugby league claims costing $2,276,739
1721 basketball claims costing $1,719,023.
