Vitality Netball Nations Cup 2025: can the England Roses go all the way?

The Vitality Netball Nations Cup kicked off on 1 February 2025. Find out more in this article.

By Dr Helen Owton

Find out more about The Open University’s Sport and Fitness courses and qualifications.

The weekend of 1/2 February 2025 saw the start of the Vitality Netball Nations Cup, hosted by England and held across venues in Nottingham and London. The England Roses  are looking to build on their successes during the event and are in prime position to challenge for victory at the event played across two weekends.

On Saturday 1 February, in their opening game, they defeated Malawi 62-36. The following day, despite playing better as a team, and being neck and neck with them at the end of every quarter, South Africa just clinched the victory at the end winning by 2 points 59-61.

Paige Reed of the Roses battles with Martha Dambo of Malawi, 1 February 2025

The fast-paced invasion sporting competition is being aired live on Sky Sports  and should be a thrilling showcase of global netball talent.

Netball is a team sport played primarily by women, where two teams of 7 players each compete to score goals by shooting a ball through a hoop. The court is divided into three sections, and each player is assigned a position which dictates a designated area where they can move and play:

  • Goal Shooter (GS)
  • Goal Attack (GA)
  • Wing Attack (WA)
  • Centre (C)
  • Wing Defence (WD)
  • Goal Defence (GD)
  • Goal Keeper (GK)

Only two of the players above can score goals – Goal Attack (GA) and Goal Shooter (GS). The game is non-contact, with players required to pass the ball to teammates within a few seconds, aiming to create space and opportunities to score. It’s a highly strategic sport that combines athleticism, teamwork, and precision. As one of the world’s top teams, the Roses’ chances of lifting the trophy were high , thanks to their recent form, experienced players, and strong leadership under Head Coach – Jess Thirlby.

In 2023, the Roses secured an impressive bronze medal at the Fast5 Netball World Series  and silver in the Netball World Cup, showing their ability to compete against the best in the world. In 2024, England won the Taini Jamison Trophy Series  for a second time. For 2025, the 10-strong  squad is quite a new team and has the potential to build on their games this weekend.

With the high-performance training programs and elite level resources, the team is primed for 2025 to take on the world’s top netball nations, including Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica.


England v South Africa, 2 February 2025

Not only have England Roses been among the most talented teams in the sport, but their dedication to women’s sport represents a growing movement in the UK. Netball is unique in that it doesn’t need to be compared to a men’s sport: it stands as a tactical, high-energy and skill-intensive game in its own right. It’s not surprising that it’s experiencing a surge in popularity, and supporting the Roses is an investment in women’s sport, showing that the UK is backing a team capable of making history. You do not want to get left behind in such ‘an exhilarating time for fans and a critical moment in the history of women’s sport’.

With strong squad dynamics, a history of podium finishes, and the passion of fans behind them, the Roses’ future of netball is bright, and with England hosting the Cup, now is the time to rally behind the Roses as they build on their experience on the world stage.

On Saturday 8 February, the Roses take on Uganda at the Copper Box Arena in London and on Sunday 9 February will see the play-offs for the Final and third place.

Find out where to watch the Vitality Netball Nations Cup .

The trailblazers of 2024 launch women’s sport into an exciting 2025

Women’s sport continued to rise in popularity in 2024. Review the key players for 2024 and explore the potential up-and-comers for 2025 in this article.

By Helen Owton

Originally published on OpenLearn

Keely Hodgkinson’s triumph as the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year underscores the compelling nature of women’s sports. Her exceptional achievements, most notably clinching the Olympic 800m gold medal in athletics, have captivated audiences and demonstrated the high level of talent and dedication present in women’s athletics. Hodgkinson’s success not only elevates her sport but also inspires a new generation of athletes and fans, reinforcing the significance and excitement of women’s sports on the global stage . Here’s why women’s sport not only deserves your attention but also enriches the sports world.

Keely Hodgkinson

Once relegated to the sidelines of mainstream attention, women’s competitions are now commanding global audiences, filling stadiums, and shattering records across the sporting world. Gone are the days when women’s sports were unfairly criticised for being ‘less exciting’ or ‘less competitive’ than men’s sports. The past decade has proven that female athletes are just as capable of delivering awe-inspiring performances. This surge in popularity makes 2025 an exhilarating time for fans and a critical moment in the history of women’s sport.

Take women’s football, for instance. The Women’s World Cup 2023 was a watershed moment, breaking attendance records and drawing over two billion viewers worldwide. Players like Alexia Putellas and Sam Kerr captivated audiences with their technical brilliance. Again, thus proving that women’s football offers just as much – if not more – flair and unpredictability as the men’s game . Similarly, the WNBA has reached new heights, with stars like A’ja Wilson redefining basketball excellence and viewership  surging by 40% over the past two years, massively snowballing revenues.

Alexia Putellas 

 

Pushing through the speed barrier

Susie Wolff has played a pivotal role in advancing the achievements of women in motorsports  by paving the way in her achievements and creating the conditions through her role as Managing Director in the F1 Academy. For example, Abbi Pulling dominated the F1 Academy season , clinching the title with 9 wins and 14 podiums, and has set her sights on the 2025 British GB3 Championship. Bianca Bustamante made history as the first female in McLaren’s Driver Development Programme. These achievements underscore the growing impact of women in motorsport, and justify the increasing prize funds for 2025 .

In Motorcycling, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) launched the inaugural Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship , marking the first global platform exclusively for female riders.

Women’s sport often emphasises technical skill, strategic gameplay, and creativity, offering a fresh perspective compared to the power-driven approach that dominates some men’s leagues. For fans who value a balance of finesse, athleticism and heart, women’s competitions are unmissable. Women’s sports stories can go beyond the action on the field – they tell stories of resilience, empowerment and progress. Female athletes are often trailblazers, breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated spaces. Watching women’s sports isn’t just entertainment, it’s witnessing history in the making. As well as Keely Hodgkinson’s accomplishments in athletics which have garnered widespread recognition, highlighting her as a leading figure in women’s sports, there are many athletes who have not only excelled in their respective sports but have also played pivotal roles in advancing women’s athletics on a global scale.

Trailblazing women in 2024

Coco Gauff’s meteoric rise  from teenage prodigy to Grand Slam champion symbolises the next generation of unstoppable female athletes.

Coco Gauff

Simone Biles : Recognised as Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year, Biles’s exceptional performances at the Paris Olympics 2024 have further solidified her status as a gymnastics icon.

Caitlin Clark : The WNBA star has made a remarkable impact in her rookie season, showcasing outstanding skill and contributing to the growing popularity of women’s basketball. Awarded Athlete of the Year 2024 by Time.

Napheesa Collier : Beyond her on-court achievements, Collier co-founded ‘Unrivaled’, a three-on-three basketball league aimed at providing WNBA players with domestic opportunities during the off-season, reflecting her commitment to advancing women’s basketball.

Arisa Trew : Became the first female skateboarder to land a 900 in a half-pipe, achieving this feat on 29 May 2024.

Watch the following video on top stories about women trailblazers in 2024 .

Women also achieved remarkable milestones in adventure and exploration, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations:

Cole Brauer : Became the first American woman to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world, completing her journey in March 2024.

Cathy Babis : Achieved the first solo circumnavigation of Australia in a seaplane, showcasing exceptional skill and determination.

Annie Wilmot and team : Alongside Olivia Price, Laura Harding and Lisa Darmanin, Wilmot made history as part of the first Australian team to compete in the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup, marking a significant step toward gender equality in competitive sailing.

Shanda Hill : On 12 October 2024, Hill became the first woman to complete the Triple Deca Ultra Triathlon, demonstrating extraordinary endurance and resilience.

These pioneering women have expanded the horizons of adventure and exploration and can inspire others to pursue their passions and challenge the limits of possibility. These narratives inspire not just young girls but everyone who believes in overcoming adversity. The visibility of women excelling at the highest level motivates future generations, creating a virtuous cycle of inclusion and participation in sport.

Putting their money where their mouth is

Indeed, one of the most compelling reasons to support women’s sports is the direct impact of increased investment. Broadcasters, sponsors, and leagues are finally putting their money where their mouth is, leading to better facilities, higher salaries, and improved competition. For example, Barclays’ sponsorship of the Women’s Super League (WSL) in England and Visa’s partnership with UEFA Women’s Football have helped professionalise the sport, making it more competitive and attractive to fans . With higher production values and more accessible broadcasts, watching women’s games is becoming easier and more engaging. The return on investment is demonstrated in the Nielsen study (2018) which found that 84% of sports fans globally are interested in women’s sports , and corporate sponsors are taking note. This growth benefits fans, too, as it leads to more thrilling games, tighter rivalries, and unforgettable moments.

Tuning into women’s sport in 2025

Women’s sports are no longer a ‘niche’ offering – they are central to the future of sports entertainment. With record-breaking attendance figures and growing global fan bases, it’s clear that the appetite for women’s competitions is only increasing . From the electric atmosphere at the Women’s Rugby World Cup to the record-smashing viewership of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, women’s sports consistently deliver high-stakes drama and unforgettable moments. Major networks and streaming platforms have also embraced women’s sports, ensuring that fans have more opportunities than ever to watch and support their favourite teams .

In 2025, the question shouldn’t be why women’s sports are worth watching – it should be ‘Why aren’t you watching already?’ Female athletes are delivering performances that rival and often surpass their male counterparts, all while championing progress and inspiring millions.

By tuning in, you’re not just supporting incredible talent – you’re also contributing to a movement that is redefining the future of sports. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer, now is the perfect time to join the wave and experience the magic of women’s sports.

The year 2025 is set to be another landmark year for women’s sports, featuring a diverse array of high-profile events across multiple disciplines. Here’s a guide to some of the most anticipated competitions you can look forward to:

Dates to watch out for in 2025!

TENNIS

Grand Slam Tournaments: 12 January

The Australian Open begins on 12 January, with British number one Katie Boulter set to compete. Subsequent Grand Slam events include the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, each offering thrilling matches featuring the world’s elite female players.

Get started with the Australian Open matches schedule .

BASKETBALL

Unrivaled Basketball League: 17 January

This new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league, founded by US Olympians Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, features stars like Angel Reese and Sabrina Ionescu. Notably, tennis star Coco Gauff has invested in the league, underscoring the growing support for women’s basketball.

Unrivalled Basketball League Schedule .

NETBALL

Vitality Netball Nations Cup 2025: 1–9 February

This tournament will see England’s Vitality Roses compete against Malawi, South Africa, and Uganda. Matches are set to take place in Nottingham and London .

Netball Super Cup (NSL): 8 March

This new one-day competition is to be held at the Utilita Arena Sheffield . All eight teams from the relaunched Netball Super League will participate, offering fans a chance to see new squads in action.

FOOTBALL (SOCCER)

2025 UEFA Women’s Nation League: 21 February

The second UEFA Women’s Nation League begins in February. England and Scotland have qualified in different groups and on 26 February England will be hosting their game against Spain (holders) at Wembley .

National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL): 7 March

The 2025 season kicks off on March 7 with the Challenge Cup in Orlando, Florida, featuring 190 matches culminating in an eight-team playoff in the fall.

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025: 2–27 July

Scheduled from 2–27 July in Switzerland, this tournament will showcase Europe’s top national teams competing for continental supremacy.  Here’s all you need to know .

GOLF

Women’s Major Championships: 29 May–1 June

The 2025 schedule includes the US Women’s Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, followed by other major tournaments that will feature the top female golfers competing on challenging courses.
When and where .

RUGBY

Women’s Rugby World Cup: 22–27 August

Hosted by England, this premier event will bring together the world’s best women’s rugby teams, promising intense matches and showcasing the sport’s growth.

World Cup matches schedule confirmed .

CRICKET

Women’s Cricket World Cup: 1 September

Taking place in India, this tournament will feature top international teams competing for the prestigious title, highlighting the expanding popularity of women’s cricket.

Women’s cricket Calendar 

MULTI-SPORT EVENTS

World Games: 7–17 August

In Chengdu, China, the World Games  will feature non-Olympic disciplines, providing a stage for diverse sports and showcasing athleticism across various events.

ATHLETICS

World Championships: 13–21 September

Athletes will compete in both indoor and outdoor World Athletics Championships , with the indoor event in Nanjing, China, and the outdoor championships in Tokyo, Japan, offering a platform for record-breaking performances.

And finally…

It has recently been announced that Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan will be joining Mark Chapman as the new presenters of iconic BBC football show Match of the Day , replacing Gary Lineker. It will be great to see two experienced and talented female presenters front a high-profile sporting TV programme.

Field of Dreams? How some professional cricketers continue to pay the price for sporting excellence

Field of dreams? How some professional cricketers continue to pay the price for sporting excellence

vectorfusionart/Shutterstock

Helen Owton, The Open University

What comes to mind when you think of cricket? Perhaps it’s an idyllic scene of an English village green – people sitting on deckchairs and checkered blankets tucking into a traditional cricket tea while watching mild-mannered players in sparkling whites shouting “howzat?!” every now and then?

The stereotype of a genteel, quintessentially English sport can be light years away from the reality, however.

In addition to a potentially punishingand exclusive – working culture, cricket requires a huge amount of endurance, resilience and skill. It’s such a demanding sport, in fact, that test cricket is often referred to as “the ultimate test”. Research from Loughbrough University found that a career in professional cricket has “highs and lows that both stimulate a player’s mental health and lead to mental health issues and impaired performance”.

Freddie Flintoff’s latest docuseries, Field of Dreams On Tour – a follow up to the original 2022 series for which he formed a cricket team from an unlikely group of teenage boys in his hometown of Preston, UK – is a reminder of the complexity of the sport’s relationship with the mental health of its players.

Former international cricketer and coach for the England cricket squad, Flintoff is no stranger to mental health stuggles – and he’s spoken publicly about his experience of depression and his struggle with bulimia during and after his cricket career.

The second season of Field of Dreams chronicles Flintoff’s journey as he takes his team on a cricket tour to India, following their ups and downs and showing how sports and cricket can help – and sometimes harm – mental health.

Flintoff and his team aren’t the only ones facing mental health challenges. Cricketing history is littered with cases of mental health crises – and even suicide.

For over thirty years, cricket writer David Frith researched suicides among cricket players, publishing two books on the issue. His 2001 book concluded that, “cricket has an alarming suicide rate. Among international players for England and several other countries it is far above the national average for all sports”.

Nature or nurture

Frith believed it was “the loss” of cricket that affected players most – and he could be on to something.

A UK study found that “all of the participants reflected negatively on the termination of their career, with a sense of loss and resentment characterising the post-retirement period”.

Many elite athletes have a strong but narrow sense of identity – sport is a huge part of who they are. Once athletes retire from sport, they may feel that they lose a part of themselves along with their job. The transition from active player to retirement can be similar to a grieving process. However, a study suggests that risk of depression and suicide can be buffered by a supportive family, which increases players’ sense of identity outside the sport.

Elite athletes struggling with their withdrawal from sport can resort to alcohol, drugs and gambling to cope with their sense of loss. A 2023 study suggests that while athletes are not necessarily at a greater risk of suicide than the general population, various factors, such as misuse of performance-enhancing substances, sports-related stressors, sports injuries, drug abuse, affective disorders, mental and physical illness in sport, put them at risk of suicide during active career and retirement.

Opening up to close stigma down

But the stigma around mental health is slowly being broken down as more and more players speak out about their experiences of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

In response to the death of retired cricketer Graham Thorpe in August 2024, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa disclosed his issues with mental health. He said,

I recently heard about Graham Thorpe and multiple cricketers who have ended their lives because of depression. Even in the past, we have heard of athletes and cricketers who have ended their lives because of clinical depression. I personally have been there as well. I know for a fact that it’s not a pretty journey. It’s debilitating, it’s exhausting and it’s heavy. It feels burdening.

Uthappa is not alone.

Retired cricketer Phil Tufnell has spoken about his own struggles with mental health, saying that the national side “didn’t know how to help players battling mental health issues during his career”. Indian international cricketer Virat Kholi has also been open about his mental health during an England tour in 2014 when suffered with the yips. Kholi said:

And still to get out of bed and just get dressed for the game and to go out there and go through that, knowing that you will fail was something that ate me up. It just demolished me completely.

But not all former players are critical of the sport’s response to players’ mental health. In 2016, former professional cricketer Graeme Fowler spoke about his experience of clinical depression, arguing that cricket is way ahead of other sports in tackling mental health.

Support, however, seems to be reactive – it’s provided when there’s already a problem rather than implementing preventative measures for players from the beginning of their career.

But the willingness of players to open up about their experiences could be making a difference.

In 2022, England test captain Ben Stokes returned from a mental health break. “It was like I had a glass bottle I kept on throwing my emotions into. Eventually, it got too full and just exploded,” Stokes told BBC Breakfast.

For example, there are growing mental health initiatives in cricket. The charity Opening Up Cricket was founded in memory of wicket keeper Alex Miller, who took his own life in 2012.

While Flintoff and colleagues are doing the hard work of smashing stigma, there is still a responsibility for cricket authorities to create supportive environments that nurture players’ mental health during and after their cricket careers.


If you or anyone you know require expert advice about the issues raised in this article, the NHS provides this list of local helplines and support organisations.The Conversation

Helen Owton, Lecturer in Sport and Fitness, The Open University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Student Stories: Dan Richards

“I think that the opportunity to study for a degree and potentially begin a brand new career is something so profound”

In the video below disabled veteran Dan Richards shares how studying for a BSc (hons) in Sport, Fitness and Coaching at The Open University has given him an opportunity to improve his mental health and begin a new career.

Student Stories: Gregg Stevenson

“Being an OU graduate has changed my life significantly”

In the video below Paralympic champion and army veteran Gregg Stevenson shares his experience of studying for a BSc (hons) in Sport, Fitness and Coaching at The Open University.

“Winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was a incredible feeling. It felt like such a celebration of all the hard work that’s gone into this journey – you know the sport psychology work, the sports coaching work that I did on my undergrad…”

 

Making sense of formal and informal activity spaces

By Ben Oakley

This purpose of this blog – which is one of the early readings for learners on our introductory module E114 – is twofold. It explores the main differences that exist between informal sport, exercise and physical activity spaces and those that are more formal and organised such as sports clubs and leisure centres. Some suggest that the use of formal spaces is in decline with informal spaces becoming more popular than in the past (Eime et al. 2020). In highlighting some of the distinctive features of informal activities the blog demonstrates why knowledge of these are useful for those working in the sector. Focusing attention on informal activity spaces is timely because the social and physical need for such spaces was highlighted by the experiences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Informal spaces are likely to be a growth area for physical activity participation in the coming years.

The blog also serves as a vehicle to show how two styles of writing can be deployed to discuss the same topic. A personal first-person reflective style is used in the first section, where the author draws on their own perspective and experiences and refers to themselves directly through the use of ‘I’ or ‘my’. The later section uses a more detached third-person objective style to discuss the topic more generally; this latter style creates narrative distance by positioning the author as an outside observer, often seeking to explain or analyse a topic drawing upon sources of information written by others rather than personal experiences.

The blog is structured with three sections. lt opens with some personal reflections of how activity spaces shaped the author’s sporting journey, followed by a section exploring the differences between formal and informal sport. The final section considers some of ways that informal sport spaces can become important to develop a sense of community among minoritised groups, before some concluding thoughts.

My childhood experiences of activity spaces

I grew up in a medium sized town on the coast with considerable time spent at play outside. The influence of school sport and activities gradually became more and more important to me and much of my childhood was spent being active in education spaces. The sporting rhythm of the year was dictated by the seasons with football and rugby in the winter and cricket and athletics in the summer whilst occasionally we were introduced to ‘new’ sports such as basketball or volleyball during physical education (PE) classes. The spaces where these took place ranged from the indoor sports hall, the playground (mainly football in lunchbreaks), a playing field (rugby and cricket), the nearby city athletics track and the corner of a car park outside my house (varied activities). My mother was also member of a local watersports club where I learnt to sail, aged 6-7, and later competed in summer holidays. I was quite good at all these activities and without knowing it at the time sport became an important part of who I was –  I became reasonably skilled and developed the confidence to embrace new activities.

Towards my later school years my diet of activities broadened further through my mum’s efforts and ability to pay for my new sports experiences. When school staff asked if we wanted to try new sports such as squash or tennis by travelling and/or paying for introductory sessions I leapt at the chance. With friends I travelled on public transport to either a club opening their doors or a local leisure facility. With racket in hand, I also took up casual self-organised summer badminton when we strung up a washing line in a friend’s back yard. I was also introduced to walking and camping in nearby countryside under the supervision of schoolteachers giving up their holiday time and mum paying for the trips. At that time I also learnt how to windsurf at a fledgling local commercial beach watersports centre; this activity later became the focus of my full-time coaching career.

Reflecting on the spaces I used, they were varied types across my childhood. Originally, they were dominated by school facilities, a friend’s garden and the car park next door to home. Gradually I started to use local leisure centre spaces and was introduced to sports clubs either as ‘member’ or as a ‘pay and play’ guest. My neighbourhood shaped my preferences since the watersports and hiking opportunities would not have existed if I had lived 20 miles inland or in a large city. I was privileged to have so many sports spaces nearby and a supportive mother.

Using the ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ activity distinction

In this section there is a change of writing style to the third person by positioning me the author as an outside objective observer. To help achieve this, ‘they’ or ‘it’, or similar, are sometimes used to indicate the more detached position of the writer.

One way to analyse the types of active spaces described in the above account of childhood experiences is to draw on the distinction between formal and informal active spaces. Formal spaces are places like a school sports hall, playing fields, sports clubs, local authority facilities or a commercial watersport centre; the space needs to be booked and sometimes paid for. A definition of informal spaces is one in which group based physical activities occur but without a club structure, significant fees, formal membership and without formal rules or referees. For this reason, the activity is often more spontaneous. It occurs in the public spaces often in urban environments ranging from green spaces to open access facilities on housing estates. These are often known as multi use games areas (MUGAs). It has been noted that informal ‘meetup’ physical activities ‘increasingly have a digital life in that they are sometimes arranged via mobile phone apps and on social media forums (Wise et al., 2018).

The formal and informal activity distinction is explored further using examples that help illustrate more precisely what is meant by informal spaces and why they have become more important in recent decades (Borgers et al. 2016). The first example comes from basketball. Until the 1990s there was a problem in basketball, like other indoor sports, of indoor facilities being a barrier to young people being able to play because it was expensive and you usually had to be part of a team to book a court (Basketball England, 2024). An outdoor basketball initiative was created to support informal street basketball by installing hoops into mostly public spaces. For about a decade from 1996 some 9,300 basketball hoops were fixed into the asphalt across England in spaces such as parks, recreation grounds, youth centres, schools, colleges, universities, housing complexes and community centres. The sportswear company Adidas were the main title sponsor with £1 million (Basketball England, 2024) and evidence of these and similar hoops are part of many neighbourhoods around the UK.

Researchers have observed informal sport as recognisable sporting forms (e.g. cricket, soccer and basketball)– termed by Borgers et al. (2016) as ‘sport-light’. ‘Participation is flexible with the opportunity for individuals to drop in and out’ (Jeanes et al., 2019, p.81). Informal sport activities are a familiar feature of urban life most visible of which are street football, cricket or basketball.  The numbers of those participating in informal sport have increased and now outnumber those playing in clubs (Neal et al. 2024). However, there has also been ‘an increase in … less familiar forms of informal leisure activities such as volleyball, climbing, parkour, frisbee, wild swimming and urban running and walking groups’ (2024 p.877). This trend reflects the diversification of informal sport and leisure groups with collaborative and sometimes competitive features.

Developing a sense of community through informal sport

A further recognisable feature that has been reported is how informal sport often supports social aspects of a community and bolsters minority communities’ identities. Neal et al. (2024) describes an asphalt space in a corner of a London park in a low-income district. They report that on most warm evenings the space becomes a meeting place in which members of the Central and South American migrant communities come to participate in and watch volleyball matches. The ‘court’ and net are DIY created by the players. The players are pretty skilled and boisterous with their audience sitting in groups, some with food and some who appear to be betting on matches. They conclude that the neglected park edge transforms into a hubbub of loud social and sporting activity.

Informal activities such as this facilitate a sense of community and belonging amongst participants (King and Church, 2015). It is also suggested that informal opportunities can provide a valuable opportunity to expand participation to traditionally marginalised groups, e.g. those of low socio-economic status and ethnic minority communities (King and Church, 2015). Such unstructured opportunities often appeal to individuals precisely because they are not rule bound (Wheaton and O’Loughlin, 2017). In relation to parkour, the same researchers suggest participants are ‘often hostile to rules and regulations, especially those that are externally driven.

Final thoughts

Back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s informal sport consisted mainly of ‘jumpers as goals’ football matches in parks. However, a combination of new sports and forms of physical activity (e.g. skateboarding, BMX, parkour), the health benefits of exercise being recognised and more traditional sports adapting to meet people’s changing lifestyles has seen informal sport increase. Arranging collaborative ‘meet ups’ to play have also been supporting by subsequent developments in mobile and digital communication so that today there are a range of ways in which physical activity can be engaged with beyond traditional facilities. All these factors are important considerations for organisations such as National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sport who are continually seeking to develop opportunities to attract new participants and keep existing participants involved in their sports. Urban planners should also consider how multi-use (e.g. 5-a-side football, basketball, netball, cricket), open access and free spaces are provided when new housing developments are created.

Reference List

Basketball England (2024) The history of the iconic Outdoor Basketball Initiative. Available at:  https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/news/2024/the-history-of-the-iconic-outdoor-basketball-initiative/ Accessed 17th December 2024.

Borgers, J., Breedveld, K., Tiessen-Raaphorst, A., Thibaut, E., Vandermeerschen, H., Vos, S., & Scheerder, J. (2016). A study on the frequency of participation and time spent on sport in different organisational settings. European Sport Management Quarterly16(5), 635-654.

Eime, R., Harvey, J., & Charity, M. (2020). Sport participation settings: where and ‘how’ do Australians play sport?. BMC Public Health20, 1-9.

Jeanes, R. Spaaij, R., Penney, D. & O’Connor, J. (2019) ‘Managing informal sport participation: tensions and opportunities’, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 11(1), pp. 79–95.

King, K., & Church, A. (2015). Questioning policy, youth participation and lifestyle sports. Leisure Studies, 34(3): 282–302.

Neal, S., Pang, B., Parry, K., & Rishbeth, C. (2024). Informal sport and leisure, urban space and social inequalities: Editors’ Introduction. Leisure Studies, 43(6): 875-886.

Wheaton, B., & O’Loughlin, A. (2017). Informal sport, instiutionalisation, and sport policy: Challenging thesportization of parkour in England. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 9(1), 71–88.

Wise, A., Parry, K., Aquino, K., Neal, S., & Velayutham, S. (2018). Pushing casual sport to the margins threatens cities’social cohesion. The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/pushing-casual-sport-to-the-margins-threatens-cities-social-cohesion-92352 Accessed: 17th December 2024.

Join us at the ‘Embedding Children’s Rights in Sport and Physical Activity’ Conference

On 16-17th October 2024 we will be hosting our 5th Sport and Fitness Conference ‘Embedding Children’s Rights in Sport and Physical Activity – Policy, Practice and Research’ at The Open University in Milton Keynes. The conference is an opportunity for anyone interested in children’s rights within sport and physical activity to come together and share their knowledge, research, insight and experience. The conference programme includes over 20 presentations covering all aspects of children’s rights, expert plenary panels, workshops and a keynote presentation from Professor Laura Lundy.

Join us for two days of stimulating and thought-provoking discussion and contribute to a community of people dedicated to making sport and physical activity a more positive experience for every child and young person. Tickets are available up to 6th October 2024 on the link below. The full programme and list of presenters can also be found on this link.

EMBEDDING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Tickets, Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

For updates on the conference follow us on X @OU_Sport

When posting about the conference on X please tag us (@OU_Sport) and use the hashtag #OUChildRights

 

Join our team: L/SL Sport and exercise science vacancies

We currently have vacancies for 2 new permanent members of staff to join our team. The closing date for both vacancies is is 19th September 2024. If you have any queries about either post, please contact Dr Jess Pinchbeck.

 

 

(1) Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

(2) Lecturer in Applied Sport and Exercise Science

For more information about the sport and fitness programme at The Open University and the academic team click here.

Exercise: The miracle treatment for mental health?

By Caroline Heaney

Campaigns and initiatives such as World Mental Health Day have helped to raise awareness of mental health difficulties (e.g., Norwich City FC video below). Mental health difficulties can affect anyone – it is estimated that 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year, which means that most of us will be affected by a mental health condition at some point in our lives, either directly or through someone close to us. It is vital that once someone has taken the difficult step to disclose mental health difficulties they can access the right treatment and support, however, the NHS is struggling to meet the demand for mental health services. It is estimated that only 1 in 3 people with common mental health difficulties are getting the treatment they need. There are various treatment options available including talking therapies and medication, but medication is reported to be the most commonly used treatment for mental health problems. In recent years there has been a significant rise in the number of people taking antidepressant medication, which comes with a huge financial cost to the NHS, and it has been suggested that non-pharmacological treatments should be prioritised for those with mild to moderate depression. If only there was a low-cost treatment with few side effects and many additional health benefits. Well there is – exercise!

Exercise has long been recognised as an effective intervention in both the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions. For example, in their meta-analysis of the literature exploring exercise in the treatment of depression Heissel et al. (2023) found exercise to be an effective treatment for those with depression. Similarly, exercise has also been found to be an effective tool in the prevention of depression (Hu et al., 2020). The simple logic behind the link between exercise and mental health is that exercise can make us feel better. This means that exercise can benefit your mental health whether or not you have a diagnosed mental health problem. As well as combating diagnosed mental health conditions such as depression, exercise can enhance mood and reduce stress levels, thus allowing us to tackle daily challenges in a more positive, optimistic and constructive way. Up and down the country there are many people who are advocates for the beneficial role of exercise in preventing and treating mental health conditions. A few years ago I was lucky enough to meet a group of inspiring people who were referred to a scheme which involved prescribing exercise as part of a programme to tackle mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. A clear message from these participants was that exercise was a powerful tool in helping them to combat mental health challenges. They described exercise as a far more positive treatment than medication.

Image by Moondance from Pixabay

Potentially, exercise can be used to treat mental health problems in place of or in addition to medication and other therapies, but in order for patients to benefit, medical professionals need to be confident in its role as a treatment and have access to suitable programmes to which they can refer their patients. In the past exercise referral for mental health reasons has been relatively uncommon, but in recent years there has been a drive to increase such ‘social prescribing’. For example, in 2022 a £12.7million scheme was launched in 11 local authorities for GPs to prescribe physical activity for those experiencing a range of physical and mental health conditions.

There lots of evidence to show that exercise can have a positive impact on mental health, but why is this the case? What is it about engaging in physical activity that leads to enhanced mental health? There is no one theory or hypothesis that has been universally accepted to explain the link between exercise and mental health. Instead, several different hypotheses have been proposed. These can be split into two categories: physical or psychological explanations (see Table 1). It may be that a combination of factors is causes improvements in mental health, rather than one factor alone. Additionally, because people differ greatly, explanations for improvements in mental health may vary according to the individual concerned.

Table 1: Examples of physical and psychological explanations for the relationship between exercise and improved mental health (adapted from Weinberg and Gould, 2015)

Physiological Explanations Psychological Explanations
  • Increases in cerebral blood flow
  • Changes in brain neurotransmitters (e.g., norepinephrine, endorphins, serotonin)
  • Increases in maximal oxygen consumption and delivery of oxygen to cerebral tissues
  • Reductions in muscle tension
  • Structural changes in the brain
  • Enhanced feeling of control
  • Feeling of competency and self-efficacy
  • Positive social interactions
  • Improved self-concept and self-esteem
  • Opportunities for fun and enjoyment

 

Conclusion

It would appear that exercise can be a highly effective tool in the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions. Exercise is a comparatively low cost treatment that can be used on its own or as an adjunct therapy and has virtually no side effects. In addition, it can tackle many other health conditions such as hypertension and heart disease. Surely prescribing exercise to treat mental health is a no brainer!

To find out more on this topic try our free OpenLearn course Exercise and Mental Health.