If you’ve recently started going to Putney netball lessons, were you inspired to get back on the court by the performance of the English netball team at the Commonwealth Games last year?
If you were, you certainly aren’t alone in having been encouraged to get involved with netball due to the success of the Vitality Roses. New research from England Netball has revealed that more than 130,700 people were inspired to play netball after the women won Gold for England.
What’s more, 80 per cent of those who engaged with the sport as part of the Back to Netball campaign following the Commonwealth Games victory were new to the activity.
There was also a 106 per cent increase in participation in walking netball between April 2018-2019, compared to the previous 12 months.
Chief executive at England Netball Joanna Adams commented: “It is fantastic to see that more women than ever before are playing netball each week because we know it can make such a positive difference to people’s lives.”
She added that she “can’t wait” to see how netball’s popularity may surge further when the UK hosts the Vitality Netball World Cup later this year.
It’s important to encourage people of all ages to take part in sports, and 77 per cent of those surveyed by the organisation believe the England Netball team are an inspiration to young girls.
Encouraging more girls to get involved in sports like netball is important, not only for their physical health but also to help improve their life skills. New research recently revealed that children who take part in sport are not only more likely to have good life skills, but are also more likely to feel empowered, have high self esteem and be good leaders.