Last month six North Shore United (NSU) Premier League Players gave up their own time to inspire the next generation of rural players with the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NAIS) Netball Squad in Tamworth.
Driven by NSU player Charlotte Raleigh the initiative saw the team run through a netball session focusing on technical skills, drills and agility, followed by an education session involving speakers on their own individual pathways, how to be a leader and promote inclusivity in the community. There was also a focus on how to overcome barriers and setbacks and how to own your strengths.
‘It was great to see the girls all embrace every moment, take pride in their strengths and enjoy the game. We finished with some match play where we put all the learned skills and mindset tools onto the court.’ said Charlotte ‘The energy of the NIAS girls was amazing, their willingness to take on every challenge and every opportunity to learn was exciting, there is so much potential in the NIAS squad’.
Charlotte is currently living the experience of playing and commuting from a regional area. Progressing to the next level, and being a long-standing NSU player, she saw it as an opportunity to inspire the next generation of rural players and encourage them to think of options beyond State level representation alone.
‘I just thing visibility of inclusivity (uniform, age, gender, identity) and pathways is so powerful especially for a rural athlete’ said Charlotte ‘And if all Premier league teams could invest in showcasing their strong female athletes (and male Training Partners) to an academy rural or metro, I think the visibility would not only inspire someone to pursue the sport, but maybe reignite a love for the team sport, or embed confidence in someone to see netball as a safe and fun environment so they keep playing!’
NIAS praised NSU for providing such a positive experience.
‘We have received so many positive pieces of feedback and are so very grateful to the NSU girls for all their outstanding efforts in empowering the next generation of Netballers, and hope to continue our connection in the future’. said Chief Executive Officer of NIAS Shona Eichorn
A sensational effort from NSU players Ash Fong, Amelia Basheer, Sarah Corfield, Jordyn Chue, Sabina Gomboso and Charlotte Raleigh.
