As the Netball World Cup approaches, the spotlight is shining on the talented athletes who will be competing on the international stage. One name that stands out among the rising stars is Emily Nicholl, Scottish international netballer known for her relentless playing style and unwavering determination. In an exclusive interview, Emily reveals her insights and experiences, offering a glimpse into her development as both an athlete and a person.
Reflecting on the opportunities that have shaped her career, Emily acknowledges the significance of major competitions such as the Commonwealth Games. “I think a lot of the girls have now been to a Commonwealth Games, which is a really good opportunity,” she shares. “But the World Cup is different. All the focus is on netball, and there are lots of fans who just want to see the netballers. It’s important to stay within your group and focus on the day-to-day tasks, rather than getting ahead of yourself and thinking about who we might be playing.”
When asked about her growth as an athlete, Emily emphasizes the profound impact of mental changes alongside the physical ones. Her journey began with a pivotal moment when Tamsin Greenway, head coach for Scottish Thistles, urged her to introduce herself as an athlete first. “That totally flipped a switch for me and changed the way I live my life,” Emily reveals. This change in perspective drives her standards day in and day out, empowering her to become a formidable force on the court.
Emily also highlights the growth in game intelligence within the Scottish squad. Drawing on the lessons learned from the Commonwealth Games, she expresses pride in the team’s progress. “We’ve become a lot smarter in how we play the game,” she states confidently. The combination of experience and learning has equipped them to excel in pressure moments and make strategic decisions on the court.
In a rare opportunity, Nicholl spent 3 weeks training with SSN Champions West Coast Fever at the end of last year. From her time with the Fever, she absorbed the importance of intensity and training at 100% in every moment. The dedication of her teammates, always pushing themselves to the limit, made a lasting impression. Emily admits that she and her Scottish teammates are striving to bring this level of intensity into their own environment.
From a coaching perspective, Tamsin Greenway has instilled in Emily the value of being a student of the game. The relentless pursuit of improvement and the understanding that success is not solely based on physical abilities have transformed Emily’s approach. The strength of the team lies not only in individual talents but also in the unity and strategic planning that Tamsin emphasises.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Emily conveys the squad’s aspirations. Although it is the first World Cup for many, it marks the second major championship under Tamsin’s guidance. With a competitive mindset, the Scottish team is determined to challenge the 5th-8th bracket. “There’s no reason why we can’t do that,” Emily asserts confidently. Their journey begins with a match against Malawi, where they aim to showcase their prowess and secure a victory.
Emily Nicholl represents the future of Scottish netball, a determined athlete committed to continuous growth and success. As she prepares to take the court at the Netball World Cup, all eyes will be on this rising star, whose unwavering spirit and dedication serve as an inspiration to aspiring netballers worldwide.
Netball Scotland is delighted to announce its partnership with KitQueen, a leading online retailer of women’s team wear. KitQueen will be the Official Partner of the Scottish Thistles as they embark on the Netball World Cup 2023, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa from 28th July to the 6th of August.
Netball Scotland and KitQueen have a shared vision and ethos of empowering women and girls in sport and understand the importance of inclusive, functional teamwear when it comes to keeping women and girls engaged in sports and physical activity, through all stages of life.
Lucy Faulkner, Chair of Netball Scotland, commented, “We’re delighted that KitQueen has become a Netball Scotland partner. We love the way they champion diversity, inclusion, and body confidence in HER and this perfectly aligns with our approach to supporting women and girls to love their bodies, be physically active, and enjoy netball at all levels. We welcome KitQueen to the Netball Scotland family and look forward to working with them.”
The partnership will see the KitQueen logo take pride of place on the Thistles World Cup dress. As the official sponsor, KitQueen has worked together with Nike to design the dress by combining the elite functionality and performance of the Nike dress, with the heritage and pride of the Scottish Thistle and luck and positive energy of Scottish marble.
Scottish Thistles players were presented with their personalised ‘Kitmas’ boxes containing their official NWC dresses, and a special gift of Scottish Marble by KitQueen co-founder Parisha Patel © Craig Watson
“We are so honoured to be partnering with the Scottish Thistles in the lead-up to the momentous Netball World Cup,” says Parisha Patel, Chief Consumer Officer at KitKing and Co-founder of KitQueen. “As a passionate netball player myself, I know what this World Cup means to the players, and to be able to work with Netball Scotland to design this dress has been a real achievement for KitQueen. Together we have created a dress that brings pride to the players, unites them as a team, and inspires them to excel on the court and achieve great success during the tournament.”
Currently ranked 10th in the world, the Scottish Thistles will travel to South Africa to kick off their Netball World Cup 2023 campaign with their opening game against sixth-place-ranked Malawi on 28th July. Alongside them in Pool B of the competition is also Barbados, currently 14th in the world, and England, ranked 3rd in the world. Sixteen teams will be battling it out across the ten days, in the hope they will be crowned champions in netball’s most prestigious event.
About
KitQueen is the world’s first multi-sport teamwear specialist for HER, supplying and customising teamwear for girls and women.
Co-founded by Parisha and her husband Dips owners of Kitking, KitQueen has now established itself as the forefront leader in Her team wear. KitQueen’s mission is to champion inclusivity, diversity, and body confidence in HER team sports, and believes that providing the right education and information on how team kit should work for her, fit her, protect her, support her, give her confidence and make her feel like she belongs. All so she can focus, enjoy, and win her game!
To find out more about the partnership and view KitQueen’s large selection of teamwear, visit https://kitqueen.co.uk/
When it comes to preparing for a Netball World Cup, the significance of training and match play cannot be overstated.
Training camps are well underway for Scottish Thistles as they look at honing their skills, improving fitness, and developing on-court connections.
Meanwhile, match play offers a crucial testing ground to assess strategies, refine gameplay, and build the resilience necessary for success on the global stage.
Head Coach, Tamsin Greenway, and assistant Sara Francis-Bayman have put together an intense and exciting training schedule in the lead up to the teams’ departure to Cape Town at the end of July.
“We wanted to make sure we have the best possible prep heading into the Netball World Cup and match play is a huge part of that. We have the All Stars game 1st July in Glasgow and now the training match against Wales which will be really big for us. We are so evenly matched with them in lots of ways but we also want to expose ourselves to different styles so we will also have some warmup games when we get out to South Africa too.”
Scottish Thistles will play off against a selection of Netball Super League All Stars in an exclusive training match hosted by Netball Scotland 1st July at Emirates Arena. Limited tickets are still available HERE.
“Making sure that players are prepped and ready for high intensity games is huge.
One of the big things we are trying to do with Wales is play them more regularly so it’s not such a big deal when we come into World Cup Qualifiers and we have more familiarity around them so that is another big part of the decision to play them.”
“It will show the players where we’re at, we are putting in some different tactical elements as we move into World Cup. We have such a wide array of teams we are going to be playing with Malawi, Barbados and England and they are all going to offer different things so it’s really important that tactically we are able to practice things against tough opposition.”
“The goal is always to perform, it’s never about winning at this stage, I mean the win is nice but we are going to be trying combinations, we are going to make sure tactically that we’re practicing some things and as long as we are performing on the things we are working on then I’ll be happy.”
“There is always that added pressure of playing in front of a crowd as well and I think that is so important for the players. When we get out to the World Cup it’s not behind closed doors so making sure they can step up and perform under pressure is a big area we have been trying to work on and you can’t just talk about that, you have to actually put them in environments where that happens.”
“We know Wales will be a tough game, we know historically what it means Scotland playing Wales and we know it will be in front of a crowd so all those things tick a box for us of feeling the pressure.”
Scottish crowds have the opportunity to see the world cup squad take to court in their training match with NSL All Stars.
In the ever-evolving world of sports, the role of video analysis has become increasingly vital in enhancing team performance and coaching strategies. Netball Scotland has recently launched a coaching workshop, where renowned netball coach Tamsin Greenway will share her insights and experiences of video analysis. The event is set to be a game-changer, empowering coaches, and athletes to leverage the power of video analysis in their pursuit of excellence.
WHEN: Saturday 1st July 2023, 11 am – 1 pm
WHERE: Emirates Arena, Glasgow
WHO: Open to coaches of all levels, NS and non-NS members.
COST: £28.50 – NS Members / £32.50 non-NS Members – price includes ticket to watch Thistles V NSL All Stars at 3 pm!
The Rise of Video Analysis in Sports
Video analysis has revolutionized the way sports teams review and analyse their performance. It allows coaches and athletes to dissect crucial moments, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions. With advancements in technology, video analysis tools have become more accessible, enabling teams to gain a competitive edge by fine-tuning their strategies and addressing weaknesses.
Tamsin Greenway, a former English Rose and highly successful coach, recognises the immense value of video analysis in her own career. As a regular host on Sky Netball, Greenway shares her experiences and strategies for incorporating video analysis into coaching methodologies.
Key Highlights and Insights
1. Performance Review and Player Development: Tamsin Greenway champions the importance of using video analysis as a tool for reviewing individual and team performances. By breaking down game footage, coaches can identify areas of improvement for individual players and the team as a whole. This process aids in player development, enabling athletes to refine their skills and enhance their overall performance.
2. Tactical Analysis and Game Strategy: Analysing opponents’ gameplay is a crucial aspect of sports strategy. Video analysis allows coaches to dissect opponents’ tactics and devise effective countermeasures. By identifying patterns and tendencies, teams can make informed decisions on positioning, defensive strategies, and attacking techniques.
3. Effective Communication and Feedback: Video analysis provides a visual medium for coaches to communicate with their players more effectively. Greenway regularly uses video clips to demonstrate specific techniques, tactics, or areas for improvement. This visual feedback enhances player understanding and accelerates skill development.
4. Data-Driven Decision Making: By combining video analysis with statistical data, coaches can make data-driven decisions regarding game strategies, player selection, and training plans. Greenway encourages coaches to embrace the analytical aspect of video analysis, enabling them to leverage objective insights and enhance their decision-making processes.
5. Mental Preparation and Psychological Analysis: Video analysis not only focuses on physical aspects but also plays a crucial role in mental preparation. By reviewing game footage, coaches can identify psychological patterns, assess mental resilience, and develop strategies to optimize players’ performance under stress.
Coaches can expect to gain invaluable insights into the various ways video analysis can be incorporated into training sessions and match preparation, equipping coaches with innovative ideas and techniques to optimize player performance and gain a competitive advantage.
Places are limited so book now here.
Want to get involved in social netball this winter? Entries to All Nations mixed and ladies leagues are open to teams, small groups and individuals. Everyone is welcome, regardless of netball experience.
GLASGOW
• Mixed netball leagues
• Free mixed taster sessions
• Tuesday evenings at Glasgow Club Tollcross
EDINBURGH
• Ladies and mixed netball leagues
• Monday and Tuesday evenings at Westwoods Health Club
If you’d like to join any of the above just drop them an email at allnationsnetball@gmail.com.
