Former England Netball Player Tracey Neville wants more emphasis placed on giving young women better opportunities through sport. In response, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, the makers of Lucozade, launched a study to find out how to best improve career prospects.
The current research shows that peer-to-peer coaching ensures improved career prospects when sport is used as the main vehicle. The study launched at Leeds Beckett University included 10,000 young people from deprived neighbourhoods. Coach for Manchester Thunder Netball team Tracy Neville talked about her own experiences, adding:
“I’m lucky that as part of a sporting family, optimism for the future runs in my DNA and I was given many opportunities from a young age. Unfortunately for many young women from socially deprived backgrounds, a lack of opportunity and a lack of confidence often go hand in hand.”
For her, changes must be creative and often start in school. Many girls first experience of sport is at school, so it’s of the utmost importance that this is a positive one. She proposed giving young girls more time to get ready following PE lessons and smaller activity groups sizes that can better build their confidence through coaching and mentorship.
You can find a copy of the study here.
