The Netball Show
S7 Ep92: Team Bath Nxt Gen (05th Dec 2024)
(upbeat music) - Hi, this is Nat Metcalf. Flyhawk have developed a unique 3D kit designer that's fully customizable. So if you're looking for a new kit for your team for the new season, visit flyhawk.com or email info@flyhawk.com with your ideas now. - Nation Player is the easy to use, one-stop radio and audio app. Download Nation Player now on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Nation Player, where on are you? - The net will show with Flyhawk, raising the bar for netball and winning sports. - It's a netball show with Flyhawk, no doubt was seeing the great news at next generation here for 2025. More importantly, team bath are gonna be part of the league and I for one am delighted to see their inclusion. On the line now is, Academy head coach Natalie Roddy, Anion, the monia who's gonna be co-leading the side along with somebody who's gonna be part of the team, Phoebe Maslan. First, I suppose we needed that team bath name to be included as part of this, didn't we? - And to say that we, you know, we fought for that over the summer and just delighted that it was, we're still here, you know? And our pathway has been growing and it's healthy and it's strong and the support across the Southwest from all of the counties, all of the coaches, clubs, it's just the outpouring of support was unbelievable. So it was a real happy day when we could literally go back out to people and say, okay, almost business as usual, the Academy part at least will continue and is continuing to grow. So it's exciting, yes. As with all of our squads, actually, we ran open trials and we, this year, we didn't know what the response would be in terms of people's interest in continuing to be a part of Bath. And if they, you know, whether we would see a dip in terms of interest in applicants and that kind of thing, but the opposite, which I'm delighted about, we were completely inundated with applications. And because we'd waited to kind of launch everything, we trialled everything in the first few weeks in September, I wouldn't choose to do that again. I have to say, it was brutal, but that's including our complete development centres across the Southwest and all of our performance age groups. And, you know, the response to the expression of interest to trial was we were inundated. So surpass anything we've ever had before. And in the same way, we had more applicants for our next-gen squad than we have, I guess it's the first time. So, you know, obviously we've not had next-gen until this season, but as a comparison, it will surpass anything we've had in the past around the 21s. So, you know, we were delighted, basically. - I was really pleased as well that FlyHawk, obviously, continuing to support Team Bath as well, which shows how companies are there for the long-term, really. - Yeah, I mean, they've been amazing. And Steph, you know, she's passionate about it and so supportive and was one of the first to come back round and say, we're still here and we're still behind you. So, and other sponsors as well. So, you know, it's been the... It's really encouraging and heartening to see how much support and encouragement we had, particularly over that summer. It was, you know, there's no two ways about it. It was a really tough summer for everybody. Players, coaches, everyone. And, you know, we come out the other side of it and we're healthy and strong, which is great. And you, what's it going to be like for you, obviously, having that competition in its own right, running alongside the Super League, that's going to be important. - Yeah, massively. I mean, it creates another place that these young players can get exposed to really high-level netball, high-level competition across loads of months of the year. And a lot of them are going to be curtain raises, obviously, for us, Team Bath, are 23s of our flagship squad. So, they're going to be, you know, getting all that game day experience around them and hopefully getting a big home crowd in. But when we go away to other teams as well, they're going to be curtain raising. So, it's a great experience for those players with the high level that they'll be playing against, but also, you know, playing in front of crowds, getting that kind of professional experience around it. - Phoebe, we touched on it earlier, but obviously you were part of the Super League last season, as well. How important is it for you that Blue and Gold continues in next generation form? - Yeah, yeah, it's massively important. I think when I heard the news that the 23s was going forward, was really exciting because, obviously, as you mentioned, I was part of the Super League last year. And to hit, like, the day that we found out wasn't going to be part of the Super League next year was really, really sad. But to know that we've still got a really exciting team and a really exciting league coming up is really good, especially 'cause it's my last year of uni as well at Bristol. So, it just, it all makes sense. And I'm really, really looking forward to it. I think we've got a really strong squad this year. And looking at all the other squads, I think it would be a really competitive league, which I'm really looking forward to, to get started. - Yeah, definitely. I mean, when you see people like Jude Clark and the mix of Thunder, George Ingor, as well, for Mavs, were you equally surprised when you saw them, names of that standard been announced? - Well, obviously, we knew that there were going to be a few players above the kind of under 21, under 23, sorry, bracket. But yeah, hearing Jake Clark's name was a bit of a surprise. But I think it would just bring that competitiveness to the league. And it makes it even more exciting, like coming up against the, you know, England's most capped players going to be really, really great experience for everyone. So yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. Not only maybe one for you, it's important that we still recognise those players that play in-prem, week in, week out. How will their possible inclusion, or can they equally be included in future next-gen sides? - Oh, I think, I think there's a whole wealth of next-gen players who are playing Prem, because if you look at how the season aligns, you're almost at the end of the national Prem season by the time next-gen starts. So it's a great opportunity for them to get court time and to be in that sort of regular playing environment before they even hit the next-gen court. And I think, I think there's a lot, there's a big crossover right across. And, you know, I think that combination of older players within, as Phoebe's already mentioned, with the younger players, you can see that it will be a real development environment, which I know is England that was in tension. I think the league's going to be really exciting. And I think you've got, hopefully, loads of emerging talent that are, you know, I've been cutting their teeth in that Prem environment. Being supported and hopefully mentored and, you know, developed with the older players included, that will take them into that kind of, hopefully, a really competitive next-gen league. - I knew we spoke a couple of weeks ago about the recent coaching camps as well. They were no doubt a great success. So good to see that that passion for Nepal and the Southwest is still there moving forward. - Yeah, definitely. The coach education series we did over the summer was really successful. We visited six sites across the Southwest and we had great attendance at all of them. So it was great to see that, you know, we knew people still want netball in the Southwest, want opportunities to see netball, play netball, but also develop themselves as coaches, umpires and everything else. So it was great to be able to get out and provide that. And it also, it gave us a really good touch point as the coaches of Team Bath netball to connect with those other coaches, you know, that were still going, you know, is there going to be opportunities for me to develop my coaching in a pathway program? So it was really exciting and kind of beyond that coach education series, the, you know, the support we've been shown and the kind of demand for netball in the Southwest has been huge since the news. So it really highlighted, you know, the importance of what we're doing and continuing to do that to make sure people have access to great netball, great development opportunities and everything beyond that. - Natalie, Phoebe is obviously part of the side, alongside Ellie and Lily. What can they bring to the side? - Oh, the, that exposure to Super League, I mean, we're lucky. We're delighted that they were in our squad. But they, you know, we want to, and you've already mentioned that they are kind of our flagship squad because we, of course, don't have that Super League sitting up above. So we want to really showcase these guys and hopefully give them a platform to build their Super League careers for the future. And, you know, as a result, we're going to do ticketed games and, you know, there's, we're asked regularly, and I'm really mean that regularly, where, you know, it will there be an opportunity to watch netball in the Southwest? Well, the answer to that is yes. But that, that kind of playing in front of a crowd, it's, can be nerve-racking, intimidating, all of those things. And the sort of experience that Phoebe, Lily, Ellen, that they bring into that environment will be fantastic. And I'm sure, well, hopefully, Phoebe, you'll be sharing that, you know, voice of calm so that they can sort of pull on hopefully their experience and they can, you know, guide and lead this team. Two names that were also on there. Daniela Carr and Catherine Mansfield, daughter of Mel Mansfield. That game is going to be fun. Yeah, exactly. Ironically, I played with Mel about 100 years ago for Middlesex and we've messaged, you know, and, you know, Catherine's a real talent. And I think, really exciting. And I think hopefully this will be, you know, a great platform for her. And obviously she's, she's coming across some Cardiff couple of times a week. And yeah, she's thriving and it's fantastic to have her in this squad. Similarly, Dani, who's at the uni. And Dani has, you know, she's, she's another big talent. And she can play either end of the court. She's, yeah, an imposing character on the court. So yeah, we've, I feel we've pulled together a really exciting combination of athletes. - I know one science of this, but how much potential do you think that side has? Quite a lot. - Yeah, I think so. You know, we're in it to compete. And, you know, we're, I'm quietly ambitious. I don't want to oversell this because you'll be calling me in six months time going. - Exactly, playing the best. - Yeah, exactly. But I mean, we are, you know, we're there, we're there to be really competitive is what I would say. And, you know, I'm, I'm quietly confident, maybe not so quietly behind closed doors, but quietly confident about what this squad is capable of. There's some enormous talent in amongst that group. And, you know, and just the training environment alone is challenging, they're pushing each other. I mean, you couldn't ask for more really in the commitment to be better and to be the best they can be collectively. Yeah, it's inspiring. It's going to be exciting. - Baby, a real quick question on England. How are things with them at the minute? How are things going? - Yeah, really good. Thank you. We've, yeah, we've had quite a heavy block of futures camps at the moment, but yeah, it's been a pretty intense few months, but yeah, we've got a bit of a break now until under 21 starts off again. So yeah. - And, and you're finally, obviously, Blue and Gold would play six home matches at the Team Batherina. Stand at the season opener on the 7th of February against Knott's Forest. Two for the home. Games is all going to be at the new Silly Drum Sports Complex in Bristol. It's about taking the game to new fans and yet keeping existing fans on board as well. And really exciting times. - Yeah, definitely. I mean, we're here to keep Knott ball in the Southwest and make it accessible for everyone to come and watch. And we're really, I mean, like Nat said earlier, we've had great response from everyone wanting to come and watch Netball, seeing the really exciting names in this squad and knowing what this team is about to put together on court and knowing it's going to be a great standard and a replica of Super League, really. So getting out and making sure it's accessible to our fans is important. Of course, we're going to be in the Team Bath arena staying with our, you know, real home games there. But getting into Bristol as well is really important for us to make sure that everyone has access to come and watch us different schools, different young girls that will hopefully be inspired by watching our amazing athletes out in court. - Morning for on news about Team Bath. Pick your information as well. netball.teambath.com and I don't know about you three, but I can't wait for this next generally to start and run alongside Super League. Thank you so much for your time, everybody. - Andy, thank you. It was great. - Thank you so much. The netball show is now also available via SkyQ and Sky Glass. Select sport and we're on the podcast's rail.
Natalie, Anya and Phoebe joined us to celebrate the fact that the Blue and Gold Team Bath name will be part of the NSL Nxt Gen League