When surveying our QDNC members, we were not surprised that the number one reason people register to play netball is for health benefits, both physical and mental.
The club has observed more teenagers than ever claiming that netball helps them to "stay sane", it "gets them through their WACE", it helps them "forget about their anxieties".For parents enrolling their child in team sport, they know netball helps kids build different social networks than those at school and it keeps them away from devices and social media. Playing in a team helps younger kids to develop self confidence, to work as a team and have a sense of belonging.
Our aim is for all our players to "Feel Good". We strive to lead by example, to educate on diet and mental health, to provide a nurturing environment and a place for our players to develop greater self worth as their skills grow. Netball can help build strong and healthy bodies which in turn builds better netball players, which in turn makes happier netball players. You really can't lose!Please find some research on the benefits of team sport belowBenefits of Team Sport on Mental Health
Exercise promotes chemicals in the brain that improve your mood and make you more relaxed.
Specifically, the brain releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins throughout the body.
Physical activity reduces anxiety and depressed mood, and enhances self-esteem.
Playing in a team helps children to develop many of the social skills they will need for life. It teaches them to cooperate, to be less selfish, and to listen to other children. It also gives children a sense of belonging. It helps them make new friends and builds their social circle outside school
Recently, Anxiety.org had the opportunity to work with ten year's worth of data on the types of sports and physical activities in which youths participated over a span of five years. This NDIT study provided data that helped observe the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression four years later, when participating adolescents (12-17 year olds) became emerging adults (18-22 year olds).
Move Now to Ward Off Depression Later
They found a surprisingly strong relationship between higher physical activity and lower symptoms of depression. In fact, the study shows that:
Furthermore, they looked at the effects of school sport participation on future symptoms of depression and stress, as well as self-rated mental health. In this study, they found that:
Based on these findings, participation in sporting opportunities offered at school stands out as a proactive way for adolescents to lessen the likelihood of future depression.
Team Sports Prevent Depression Best
Now, you may ask, does it really matter if an adolescent joins the school basketball team or competes as an individual in judo? The research team found that in combating symptoms of depression, there were clear positive benefits from team sports like netball, basketball, soccer, football, and hockey. Conversely, they found that there were fewer benefits from participating in individual sports like dance, wrestling, and swimming. Note: These findings took into account the context of the sport (i.e., whether participation was during school or outside and unrelated to school)
We think team sports combat future depression better than individual sports for a few reasons. Team sports offer heightened emphasis on group goals, social support, and sense of connection that provide more opportunity for learning adaptive coping strategies that can be essential for long-term mental health.
Many of our players suffer from mental health challenges and we need to all ensure that kids have access to the right resources and support to help them through. The Good Sports program helps to keep the club educated, and at QDNC we want to ensure that if we are in a position to help, that our team know how to point our members in the right direction. Improving our ability to affect Mental Health and Wellness was signed off as one of the 3 strategic goals we have as a club and we will have new investment in this area. Please keep an eye out on our social channels for how we aim to deliver on our 3 strategic aims.
Emergency Services
Lifeline: is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14.Headspace 1800 650 890 – This service provides online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12-25 and their family and friends. They can help you deal with a broad range of issues like bullying, drug and alcohol issues, depression and anxiety, relationships, concerns about a friend, fitting in and isolation.Crisis Care: is a telephone information and counselling service for people in crisis needing urgent help. (+61 8) 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008 (country)Qlife (LGBTI): 1800 184 527 – Counselling and referral service (3pm – midnight)1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) – National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling ServiceSuicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 – This is a nationwide service that provides 24/7 telephone, video and online professional counselling to people who are affected by suicideAdditional Mental health support services
More than 75 per cent of mental health issues develop before a person turns 25.
There is so much help at hand - for individuals suffering from mental health issues, for parents, for schools and for the community. Here are some useful organisations and support services
headspace
Each year, headspace helps thousands of young people access vital support through our headspace centres in 124 communities across Australia, our online and phone counselling services, our vocational services, and our presence in schools. headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health) alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.Find out more here headspace who we are
Livewire
Livewire supports kids/teens who have all types of illness and disabilities.Livewire is a free online community connecting teens living with illness or disability, & their siblings, in Australia or New Zealand.Find out more here discover livewire
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live. It provides suicide and crisis support.Find out more here beyond blue immediate support
Importance of Diet
Diet and health go hand in hand and fueling kids and ourselves properly to perform and feel our best is key. The foods and fluids consumed by netball players of any age can have a big impact on their ability to train, play and recover well. Food provides fuel to exercising muscles and nutrients for growth, recovery, cognition (ability to think well) and the immune system. It makes sense then that choosing foods and fluids that provide the optimal amounts of nutrients, can help ensure a fit, strong and healthy young athlete.Sports Dietitians Australia have some useful tips and factsheets here.... Sports Dietitian factsheetsNetball Australia and Woolworths have partnered to bring us the "You Grow Girl" initiative which also focuses on good food choices. Click here for some recipes created by our favourite Australian Diamond stars.... You Grow Girl recipes
