Netball Super League side Birmingham Panthers has launched its first schools’ development programme in partnership with our Gateley Gateway to Netball programme.
The Gateley Gateway to Netball will see Birmingham Panthers’ players and coaches deliver elite on-court training sessions combined with expert guidance on nutrition and fitness to hundreds of children, starting with five underserved schools across Birmingham, Worcester and Coventry, reflecting the venues for Birmingham Panthers’ home fixtures this coming season.
The programme will give many pupils their first exposure to netball and aims to inspire a new generation of players as the sport continues its rapid growth following the restructure of the Netball Super League.
The first Gateley Gateway to Netball session was delivered today at Welsh House Farm Community School in Harborne, Birmingham, by Birmingham Panthers stars Gabby Coffey and Charli Fidler. Pupils were able to quiz team nutritionist Caroline Tarnowski who shared expert tips on nutrition to get them fuelled for sport and to help them make the right food choices more generally, before being given a masterclass of different netball drills and skills to fast-track their game.
The programme was also supported by the Pakistan Netball Academy, which was set up two years ago to tackle under-representation and offers help, support and advice for girls who want to enjoy the sport. 56% of pupils at Welsh House Farm Community School have a first language which is not English, whilst 71% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
