/
NETBALLHer ~ "I wish I knew"

NETBALLHer ~ "I wish I knew"

 

 

“80% of women experience female health symptoms without understanding or effectively managing them, indicating a significant gap in education and awareness.” (Wellbeing of Women and Women’s Health survey, 2022) 

In netball, we know there are key life stages where women and girls drop out because they feel held back by their bodies when they are going through changes. This campaign is needed to start changing that narrative and helping women on and beyond the court show up as their authentic selves, at every life stage, through better education and support and keep them playing or involved in netball for longer. Women and girls don’t know what they don’t know so we need to build curiosity about their female health and wellbeing.

  

 I Wish I Knew is a new NETBALLHer campaign designed to spark open conversations about female health, from puberty and periods to breast health, pelvic floor, pregnancy, injury, and menopause; helping to build body confidence and support women and girls to stay active for life.  

Through the campaign we want to: 

  1. Spark curiosity and awareness about female health and wellbeing among women and girls. 

  2. Provide education through the NETBALLHer website, learning offer, events and through collaboration with our partners. 

  3. Empower women and girls to self-advocate, with confidence, knowledge, and support. 

 

Here are some suggestions you could try at your club, league or other grassroots netball organisation. Even just doing one thin from the list, will help spread the word and spark curiosity amongst the women and girls you connect with.

  • Social Sharing: Amplify the I Wish I Knew campaign content by engaging with and resharing social media posts on platforms and on WhatsApp; reshare relevant stories. 

  • Cool-Down Reflections: Invite one person to share their I Wish I Knew during post-training stretches. 

  • Team Huddles: Build I Wish I Knew sharing into weekly pre-match or training huddles. 

  • Newsletter Spotlights: Feature one I Wish I Knew story in your club, league, county, or regional newsletter. 

  • Training Fun: Use sticky labels or masking tape on bibs with short I Wish I Knew statements as conversation starters. 

  • Video: Share the I Wish I Knew campaign video in training or share in WhatsApp groups.  

  • Awards Night: Include I Wish I Knew shares in speeches or before collecting trophies. 

  • School & Community Walls: Create dedicated spaces to showcase I Wish I Knew reflections. 

  • Instagram Q&A: Use story stickers asking “What do you wish you knew about female health and wellbeing?”-reshare and signpost. 

  • Club Takeovers: Let players, umpires, or coaches run club socials for a day to share their I Wish I Knew experiences. 

  • Junior/Senior Pairings: Create buddy systems where older players share I Wish I Knew insights with younger members. 

  • Keep it going. One chat isn’t enough build it into your season, your check-ins, and your team culture so it becomes a normal part of how you support one another. 

  • Training. Learn more about female health with the NETBALLHer Learning Courses which are FREE for Members Learning Offer - NetballHer : NetballHer

 

Reach out to your local Netball Development Officer for support if you are passionate about NETBALLHer think about becoming an ambassador for your local netball community.