Loughborough Lightning player, Ella Bowen, claims the Netball Superleague being streamed on Sky Sports this year is “massive” for the sport.
Bowen has been playing netball since she was six years-old and said that she started at a local level and her talent developed from there.
The England Roses academy player described how the Sky Sports streaming of netball can help the publicity of the game.
“I think it’s such a massive thing that netball is being streamed regularly on Sky, as it helps to advertise the sport and build its profile.”
Bowen currently plays for Loughborough Lightning U19s and Charnwood Netball Club and has been able to keep up her rehab training five days a week, through NTU facilities.
During this lockdown, she has been able to bubble up with two fellow players which she explained helps keep the motivation during training.
“I think it’s such a massive thing that netball is being streamed regularly on sky, as it helps to advertise the sport and build its profile.”
Ella Bowen, Defender
The 19-year-old Nottingham Trent University student has had a slightly different experience to many other athletes, as lockdown has actually given her time to build strength after an injury.
She said: “For me, not being able to play regularly hasn’t massively affected me as I am currently rehabbing form an ACL reconstruction.”
“It has actually given me more time to focus on my rehab and hopefully return to training as a ‘normal’ athlete when we go back to it.”
She also described how streaming can be a positive for players who may not have been as lucky as her with being able to train through this time:
“I think it is so so important to have netball streamed on tv as not only is it good for advertising but it is also so good for athletes who are unable to train as they can watch and keep on top of their knowledge of the game, especially in these times.”
Bowen was vice-captain at U17 Netball Europe in early 2019, where she represented England and she hopes to get back to regularly playing when she is fully fit and restrictions permit.
The Netball Super League coverage begins on February 12 on Sky Sports, keep an eye out for the action.
By Emma de Duve
