We’re delighted to announce that the England Roses legend, Beth Cobden, has joined Edwin Doran Sports Tours as an official brand ambassador.
Earlier this month, Beth joined us at Condover Hall Activity Centre to run a coaching session for local school. We caught up with her beforehand to discuss the future of girls’ sport in schools and what can be done to support it.
Here’s what Beth had to say:
Becoming a Brand ambassador
“I’m really excited to be working with Edwin Doran Sports Tours this year.
They’re doing so much for Netball at the moment by taking loads of girls on tour, giving them the opportunity to experience sport in new places.
It’s awesome to be a part of the team.”
Getting into sports at a young age
“I started playing Netball when I was around eight years old for a local club called Parkside. I fell in love with the sport immediately and carried on playing throughout my childhood and teenage years, eventually getting to County trials for West Midlands Netball.
After breaking into the West Midlands team, I had an England trial which I was successful in, and I ended up playing for the Under-17s, U19s, and then the U21s.
Eventually I managed to break into the senior side, and I’ve been playing for them ever since. I’m coming towards the end of a long career now, but it’s been brilliant.”
Realising she could pursue a career in Netball
“Growing up, I never considered becoming a pro Netball player, because the option just wasn’t available.”
“It wasn’t until the sport became more professional that I realised I could actually be a full-time Netball player.
Throughout my youth when I was playing, I always thought I’d have to eventually get a ‘proper’ job. At university, I was studying Accounting and Finance so my plan was to get a job in that sector when I finished. Thankfully, I was lucky the sport went semi-pro around the time I graduated. It was the first time that anyone could actually consider a career in Netball.
Growing up, I never considered becoming a pro Netball player, because the option just wasn’t available. It’s so good that younger girls playing the sport now have that path to aspire towards.”
Thoughts on the future of Netball
“I’m incredibly excited to see what the next few years hold. We’re in a really interesting place at the minute with the shift towards a Super League 2.0. We’ve got new teams joining the league and all the squads are smaller than they were last season.
I think the league are hoping these changes will raise standards and make games more competitive. There’s going to be more national attention on the league and better wages for players, which will hopefully ensure the sport carries on growing. Players can now focus on Netball without having to work second jobs which is a massive positive.“
Inspiring the next generation in school
“It’s brilliant that girls now have so many pathways to develop.”
“Since doing my PGCE last year, I’ve been working in Solihull School’s Sports department. It’s a brilliant school to work at, and it’s been great giving opportunities to the young girls to get involved with Netball and enjoy a good level of training.
I was fortunate enough to go to a good school where we got to play a lot of Netball, but the opportunities weren’t as readily available as they are now. It’s brilliant that girls now have so many pathways to develop, play with their friends, and really fall in love with the game. School sport is so important to me.“
The challenges facing girls’ sport
“There are still some barriers we need to overcome. We see quite a high drop-off rate for girls playing sports in school as they get older. People develop different interests, and some kids can end up perceiving sports as less ‘cool’ than other activities.
It’s important that we keep young people engaged and ensure they’re growing and developing in their chosen sports. Making sure that they have readily available access to clubs can go a long way, as can allowing children and their parents some flexibility; people are busy and can’t always fit their schedule around rigid training sessions, so try and be sensitive to your players’ needs.
Role models are also huge. Having someone to look up to can really impact perceptions around girls’ sport.“
“It’s important that we keep young people engaged and ensure they’re developing in their chosen sports.”
The importance of playing sports abroad
“If schools can provide these opportunities for students, they can gain so much.”
“I’ve been lucky enough to play Netball in lots of different countries throughout my career. It’s exposed me to so many different styles of play. Learning what players from other places do well and applying it to your own game makes you better and more versatile, so it’s a really rewarding experience. Immersing yourself in different cultures is also great for character building.
I actually went on a Netball and Hockey tour to Barbados while I was at school and it was the most incredible experience; I’d even say it was one of my best memories from school! If schools can provide these opportunities for students, they can gain so much.“
Stay tuned for more from Beth, including a series on her top Netball coaching tips.
In the meantime, if you’d like to find out how you can run a trip like Beth, get in touch with our team of experts.
Netball
UK
Barbados