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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.

Walking the line

By Craig Bowker (OU Sport and Fitness Student)

11 years ago, football saved my life, it was August bank holiday 2011 and work were playing a intercompany football competition between its three insurance brands. Express insurance, Kwik Fit Financial services and Ageas Insurance faced off in an unusually sunny stoke. I’d already been to the doctors and was awaiting a scan for what was a heavy/uncomfortable feeling down below. I was on a 6-week waiting list, and probably should not have played that weekend but sometimes we think we are invincible and to this day I don’t regret my decision to play.

After playing 2 matches something didn’t feel right, and I was in quite a bit of pain. There was a considerable feeling of discomfort and heaviness and a walk that John Wayne would be proud of. The next 48 hrs nothing had changed, and an emergency trip to A&E was required, this turned into a night on the ward and within another 24 hours an emergency operation to effectively save my life.

After the operation, I was prescribed 3 months of Chemotherapy and 5 years of monitoring after the diagnosis of testicular cancer. Touch wood since 2012 I’ve been clear of cancer and as of 2016 not had any follow ups. I know I’m one of the lucky ones. since my fight I’ve lost close family to the terrible disease.

When I was undergoing treatment, the support I received from Macmillan helped me financially and support through their nurses were second to none. Currently we are going through the biggest cost of living crisis since 2008, and the support that Macmillan are currently providing financially are helping patients maintain mortgage payments, keep the heating on, whilst off sick and recovering as well as other support.

To raise funds for Macmillan I’ll be walking the length of offa’s dyke, a 177mile trek that will be attempted in 5 days. To prepare for the challenge I will be doing some training walks, and anyone wishing to join me just needs to turn up on the day for moral support.

If you would like to donate, you can do so by following the Just giving link.

You can also visit my website here.

Event 1, Sunday the 16th of April 2023

Coffee and Cake Meet

Summit of Snowdon (1pm-Onwards)

It would be great to meet some of the OU sports team and OU sports students on the day.

Why are women less celebrated in Sport?

Authored by the team ‘SAVS’: Sonia Ambrose, Vicky-Lea Mills, Abbi Mcdonald, and Scott Forsyth [E119 22J students].

This blog was written as part of a collaborative teamwork task by students studying E119. They had to select a topic and then decide on what roles each person would perform in the team, such as researcher, writer, editor, and leader. This blog was chosen as one of the best blogs from 27 blogs that were produced in January 2023.

 

Within the sporting world, there is the running narrative that if an athlete works hard and achieves amazing feats then they will be immortalised within the pantheon of sporting icons, yet how many of these athletes are female?

Often, within the country’s favourite sports, men take the limelight while women, though equally talented and successful, are within their shadows. A study by USC/Purdue University found that 95% of all TV sports coverage within the US was of men’s sport while only 5% represented women’s (Miller, 2021).  UK research by YouGov (2021), found that 78% of respondents watch more men’s sports, and the same study showed that 31% of respondents said they don’t engage with women’s sport as they struggle to find coverage. This could stem from a lack of media coverage generally, and limited marketing making it difficult to spread awareness of women’s sport.

two women playing soccer on field

Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash

Nowadays we need to look beyond traditional media such as television, newspapers etc., and look at online coverage and social media.  In a recent survey conducted by the BBC (2020), 85% of those who completed the survey didn’t think that the media does enough to promote female sports.  Higher tariff sports gain the most coverage, as do the sports personalities in those arenas. For instance, if we consider footballers on Instagram, we can see that the most followed women’s footballer is Alex Morgan, with 9.8 million followers, compared to the most followed men’s footballer, Cristian Ronaldo, who boasts 534 million. But why such a huge difference? Both players train hard, fight for their sport, and have sponsors, but with reduced amounts of online followers, there is a high risk of reduced financial support. Both a lack of financial support and social media influence affect female athletes’ notoriety and how they are celebrated within sports.

However, if we look at other sports such as tennis the online presence for females appears to be more on par with males. Looking at top British players and their Instagram followers, we see that Emma Raducanu has 2.5 million, while Sir Andy Murray has 1.8 million. It’s impressive that Emma has such a large following when still relatively new to the sport, and considering the vast achievements of Sir Andy over a decade and a half.

There is a stark contrast in media portrayal of female athletes versus their male counterparts. Women are objectified, with more emphasis placed on how the female body looks, not achievements or abilities, ultimately degrading the athlete. While working with the local Government, Edinburgh University found that 22% of female sports media coverage from the UK’s 5 main news outlets could be viewed as sexual content (Davidson, 2019).

yellow and white volleyball on brown sand during daytime

Photo by Miguel Teirlinck on Unsplash

A recent example of the over-sexualisation of women in sport is highlighted by the Norwegian beach handball team’s uniform discrepancy between male and female players within competitions. The Norwegian women’s team were fined due to wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms during a 2021 match, but made a breakthrough in the sport, changing the rules on uniforms through their stand (Radnofsky, 2021).

This obsession with the female body within and surrounding sport creates an uncomfortable and damaging idea of what the female body should look like and helps lead to athletes, and females in general, having unhealthy relationships with their bodies. BBC Sport (2020) found that 78% of Elite sportswomen surveyed were conscious of their body image.

On the flip side, gymnastics is a sport where women do get a lot of promotion and media coverage, but it is also deemed a predominantly female sport. Veronique Sprenger, a former first-division gymnast, explained that whilst the media coverage is female-dominated and females normally earn more than males, the stream of income is limited. She also expressed that gymnastics is sexualised, and most athletes find the uniforms to make them feel uncomfortable (Ibrahim and Spregner, 2022). Although gymnastic outfits need to be streamlined and complement the sport, the athletes can feel exposed and exploited.

Consistent media sexualization of female athletes is likely a factor in less media coverage of the most notable protagonists i.e., many performers may choose not to be splashed across the media and attain celebrity status, just for doing what they may class as their job! The pressure on females to comply or fit in with magazine life and image is very damaging, especially when professional athletes have much more to focus on.

It could be suggested that the main reason that women athletes don’t receive the same levels of fame as male athletes is the lack of media coverage they receive. Although it appears that sponsorships of women’s sports and athletes are on the rise in very recent times, it is logical to surmise that companies will not be prepared to invest in women’s sport the same way that they do men’s if it is not covered in the media more. Although from another standpoint you could argue that the media are not going to cover women’s sport more unless they have a greater investment through sponsorship to begin with. However, it is not all doom and gloom! Women’s sponsorships have increased by 20% over 2022 with the biggest sponsor being Nike (Sponsor United, 2022). In September 2022 history was made when 47,367 spectators attended the Women’s FA match Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Emirates Stadium (Statista, 2022). And who can forget the moment the Lionesses tore their way into British history, which was plastered on every screen, radio, and billboard? These moments and levels of celebration are what we must recreate and normalise for women to ever be truly celebrated in sport and inspire the next generation of female athletes.

References 

BBC Sport. (2020) BBC elite British sportswomen’s survey results. BBC Sport. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/53593459

 

Davison, G. (2019) Women’s sport under-reported and over-sexualised says new research. The Scotsman. Available at: https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/womens-sports-under-reported-and-over-sexualised-says-new-research-1406411

 

Ibrahim, M. Sprenger, V. (2022) From football to gymnastics: gender inequality is everywhere. Sportanddev.org. Available at: https://www.sportanddev.org/en/article/news/football-gymnastics-gender-inequality-everywhere

 

Miller, J. (2021) News media still pressing the nut button on women’s sport. USC News. Available at:

https://news.usc.edu/183765/womens-sports-tv-news-coverage-sportscenter-online-usc-study/

 

Radnofsky, C. (2021) Norways beach handball team wins fight over sexist uniform rules. NBC News. Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/norways-beach-handball-team-win-fight-sexist-uniform-rules-rcna4218

 

Sponsor United. (2022) Women in sports 2022. Sponsor United. Available at: https://sponsorunited.com/women-sports-2022-report/

 

Statista Research Department. (2022) All-time highest attendances in the English FA WSL 2022. Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1323174/england-womens-super-league-record-attendances/

 

YouGov. (2021) Women in sport report 2021. YouGov. Available at:

https://commercial.yougov.com/rs/464-VHH-988/images/YouGov-Women-in-sport-wp.pdf?mkt_tok=NDY0LVZISC05ODgAAAGJMlV6W9v6qpZ4FrMpRj9IEk4Wxe886mChDew9GFukC0ERR7YS2s5rJlIwLxFweCSBuYaHl58GEl-y0Lu3QRXwy5WV2bfGhh7WeCY415JiopH9

 

 

 

Racism in Football: The Rise of Social Media Abuse

Authored by the team ‘Hydra’: Keeley Whittle, John Lees, Charlie Norton, Dean Spencer, Alisha Stark, and Paul Storey [E119 22J students].

This blog was written as part of a collaborative teamwork task by students studying E119. They had to select a topic and then decide on what roles each person would perform in the team, such as researcher, writer, editor, and leader. This blog was chosen as one of the best blogs from 27 blogs that were produced in January 2023.

 

The 2020 EUFA European Football Championship, held in 2021, was the first time England’s men’s senior team would reach a major tournament final in 55 years since their World Cup victory at Wembley in 1966. Although they would go on to lose on penalties to the tournament winners Italy – this achievement should have been a celebration of how well Southgate’s team performed. Unfortunately, this was overshadowed by vicious attacks on social media against the three black players who missed their penalties. This is just one of the examples in recent memory of the racism and abuse that black players receive daily from faceless trolls on social media.

The Rise of Abuse

Even before the rise of social media, racism in football was nothing new. In 1993 the ‘Kick it Out’ campaign was set up to try and fight against discrimination in sport. They run programmes alongside campaigns to ensure football is always welcoming to everyone – both online and offline. Despite the best efforts made, racist abuse in English football is rising.

soccer stadium

Photo by Thomas Serer on Unsplash

Per a study conducted by The Alan Turing Institute (Ofcom, 2022) 2.3 million tweets were directed at Premier League footballers in the first 5 months of the 21-22 season. Although only 3.5%, over 80 thousand, of these were deemed as abusive – that is still a large number in total that is creating a serious risk of harm to the players – especially when you consider that 50% of these abusive social media attacks were aimed at a very small proportion of Premier League players.

This was also reflected in published summaries made to ‘Kick it Out’, with a staggering 54% of those reports relating to racism. (Kick it out, 2022)

Is Social Media football’s issue to solve?

However, the question is raised whether the football associations can successfully tackle racism on social media platforms themselves, as they have little power or influence in the realm of the Tech Giants. As where racial abuse is seen and reported, it is the social media platforms that need to act.

Many clubs have stated they want better regulation of social media so that there is “swifter removal of offensive messages and improved identification and banning of offenders”. In 2021, English football announced a social media boycott, in which all players and clubs would switch off their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, in response to the ongoing discriminatory abuse received by players, knowing that although it will not stop the abuse from occurring – it demonstrates that they are willing to take proactive steps against the abuse (Premier League, 2021).

Has there been any change?

Online offences have only ever been covered by the Communications Offences Legislation, mainly through the Protection and Harassment Act 1997 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988 (Legislation.gov.uk 2023). In 2022, it was announced that an update to the ‘Online Safety Bill’ was to be made, and that hate crime will now be written on the face of the Bill as a priority illegal offence. This means that social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, would be forced to proactively identify and remove abusive content, as opposed to other users reporting the comments. This bill will also include criminalising threatening behaviour by creating new online offences. This means that it would give the police more powers to convict online offenders (The FA, 2022)

However, as of this writing, the bill has not yet passed the House of Lords (UK Parliament, 2022)

Although this bill is yet to pass, convictions of users committing online abuse are beginning to be seen. In 2021, a 43-year-old Cheshire man was sentenced for racial abuse against England Players after the Euro 2020 (Sky, 2021) with his only defence being he wanted to “make people laugh” and didn’t believe his comments would be considered racist.

white and blue soccer ball on green grass field

Photo by Connor Coyne on Unsplash

What can we do?

As users of social media platforms, there are several small ways we can help tackle online racism. Not only should we report any abusive comments we see to social media platforms to get them removed, but also to charities such as Kick it out who create statistics that can be used as strong evidence to show the Government that changes need to be implemented and push for the Online Safety Bill to be completed.

Final Thoughts

It goes without saying that a large majority of online fans will have seen numerous campaigns from online abuse charities, such as ‘Kick it out’ and ‘Unite against racism’ and have been educated on the harms of online abuse. However, this just means they know just how vile their comments are, and it emboldens them to continue as they know they are inciting reactions. Until the threat of real punishment becomes a reality with the Online Safety Bill these trolls are unlikely to change their ways.

 

References

Kick It Out (2023) Kick it out: Reporting statistics. [Online]  https://www.kickitout.org/reporting-statistics  (Accessed on 21st January 2023)

Legislation.gov.uk (2023), ‘The National Archives’  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/primary+secondary/1988?title=communications (Accessed on 21st January 2023)

Ofcom (2022) Ofcom: Tracking twitter abuse against online players. [PDF] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/242218/2021-22-tracking-twitter-abuse-against-premier-league-players.pdf  (Accessed on 21st January 2023)

Premier League (2021) English football announces social media boycott. [Online] https://www.premierleague.com/news/2116111 (Accessed on 21st January 2023)

Sky News (2021) Cheshire man sentenced for racist abuse of England players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after Euro 2020 final [online] https://news.sky.com/story/cheshire-man-sentenced-for-racist-abuse-of-england-players-marcus-rashford-jadon-sancho-and-bukayo-saka-after-euro-2020-final-12402403 (Accessed on 21st January 2023)

Sky News (2022) Teenager jailed for sending racist tweet to Marcus Rashford after Euro 2020 final [online] https://news.sky.com/story/teenager-jailed-for-sending-racist-tweet-to-marcus-rashford-after-euro-2020-final-12578310 (Accessed on 21st January 2023)

The FA (2022) The FA and Kick It Out have welcomes an update to the online safety bill  (Accessed on 21st January 2023)

UK Parliament (2023) Parliamentary Bills: Online Safety Bill [Online] https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3137 (Accessed on 23rd January 2023)

 

 

The student reality of studying with dyslexia and using software

By Yasmin Reeve

An Audio recording of this blog article can be found on this link.

Firstly, I want to welcome you to my blog post. I am a student with Open University studying a Sports, Fitness and Coaching degree. I am a student that is studying with a learning difficulty – dyslexia. I make use of software to enable me to complete my study, more specifically I use a screen reader and dictation software. Recently I had a really productive conversation with a tutor about how this affects me as a student and some of the things that I specifically need when it comes to TMA feedback, as well as explaining the process that I go through in order to write my TMAs. This has led to me making this blog post with a few main focuses. Mainly I want to reassure students that they aren’t alone when studying using the software previously mentioned and how they can go about getting support. Secondly, I want to give educators a glimpse into my world and its affect it has on me as a student to help them better support students who are also using this software.

Starting at the OU

I found out I was dyslexic whilst sitting my GCSEs at secondary school. I was consistently told that I would never amount to anything in my life and never achieve higher education, so I gave up on the education system. I went out to work full time but as the years went by, I realised that I still wanted to be studying and achieve a degree. I very quickly realised for many reasons that a brick university wouldn’t work for me and then found out about the OU and thought ‘I can do this’. I went through the process of applying for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) and was really lucky to get an understanding assessor. My assessor went through what I struggle with and then suggested the use of dictation software and screen readers. I’d never used them in my life, so I was really excited to be sold the idea that this puts me on an equal level as my peers who don’t have dyslexia. DSA went through training with me on how to use the software and it was at this moment my heart sank a little. I realised the true reality of the fact that this software doesn’t suddenly eliminate my problem of really struggling to read and write, I realised just how much of a lengthy process it would be for me to get anything done and there was a point where I thought ‘there is no way I am going to be able to do this, I’m not smart enough or even capable of doing this!’ But I was already signed up and I’d gone through all the paperwork and assessments so figured I had nothing to lose from giving it a go. If it didn’t work out, then the teachers back in secondary school were right I would never achieve higher education! The module website finally opened up and I had all this software, so I gave it a go. I can remember my first conversation with my tutor about my needs as a student and I was too embarrassed to tell them about the fact I was using a screen reader and dictation software. It’s only this year – my third year of study – that I braved even telling my tutor about the struggles of using this software and how they could adapt what they were doing to help me succeed more.

Writing a TMA

The process of writing a TMA for me is a ridiculously lengthy process with so much back and forwards between different documents and trying to dictate to my laptop what it is that I want to write. I think for people who don’t experience dyslexia imagine being asked a question on a topic that you know nothing about and being given a short time period to answer that question on the spot. Your brain is trying to come up with something to say but whilst you’re saying that you’re thinking about where you are going next with that sentence, and then suddenly a fact pops into your head relating to that topic but you know you need to say it instantly or you will forget it. That is what I go through in order to write my plans for TMAs but also to actually write my TMAs. One big problem with this is that I am mid- sentence and waiting for it to come up on my laptop screen in order to then add in the next point that had popped into my brain, so everything becomes one jumbled mess and it’s not easy for me to go back through and edit everything I’ve effectively just written into some sort of structure!

I am sat there having my screen reader read back to me what I’ve written whilst trying to keep up with my eyes at the speed its reading at so that I can stop it to move the last few sentences around and then get the screen reader to read it out again to me to see if it now makes a little bit more sense. (To give you an idea on how lengthy this process is my screen reader only reading to the end of the last sentence took 9 minutes and I was struggling to visually follow along at that speed!). The way that a screen reader works is that every word or sometimes even letter is recorded individually, and it places them all together to read what’s on the screen. You end up with random pauses and that can lead you to think punctuation might be needed there when it isn’t, it’s just a flaw in the screen reader. Or sometimes you think you have added in the punctuation needed due to the screen reader having read that piece of text as if the punctuation was there.

One big problem for me is that I get the screen reader to read out three sentences of my plan because that’s realistically all I can remember to then switch documents to start dictating the TMA based off the three sentences I’ve just heard, then I get the screen reader to read back what I’ve just dictated and go through this process repeatedly! Writing references is also ridiculously difficult to dictate, making sure that you are saying things like “comma, full stop and dash” in the right places and making sure that it has got the spelling correct of a name that you have just said. It’s hard! Writing my first TMA quite literally took me a week of working on it every single day for many hours at a time. The light at the end of the tunnel is that I have got quicker with using the software but am I at the equivalent of someone without dyslexia and who isn’t using this software – not even close!  But, at this point though part way through my third year of study I have proven to myself that it is possible to achieve my goal of getting a degree and that my hard work and effort is paying off and I am doing it, and I am proving all the teachers at secondary school wrong.

My advice to students and tutors

So, if you’re a student reading this and just starting your degree, stick with it – you’ve got this! If you’re a student who is part way through your degree and struggling speak to your tutor about this and speak to DSA to see if they can suggest anything to you and don’t be embarrassed about it, take pride in who you are and everything you have achieved so far! If you’re a student just about to start your degree make sure to tell your tutor you’re using this software and don’t be afraid to communicate your needs and update them as you move through your study, tell them what was useful in the feedback you got and what wasn’t useful and suggest ways for them to adapt.

If you are an educator and are reading this, try and find some dictation software and try to use it. Go through a TMA using a screen reader to truly get a bit more of an understanding what your some of your students are going through. Give more specific feedback than “punction needed here or reference not correct”, actually explain what’s needed and why it was needed or incorrect. Open up communication between yourself and your student to understand the process that they are potentially going through in order to write their TMAs and show a level of understanding of the process they may be going through. Remind your students that you truly appreciate and see their attempt at answering TMA questions. Lastly make sure to ask your students what they need from you as their tutor, make the effort to ask them about if everything made sense in the feedback that you have given and offer that time to explain things in more depth if needed.

  • If you are a student and require information and guidance on disability support please click here.
  •  If you are a tutor and require information and resources on supporting students with a disability please click here.

The Thrill of Motorcycling: Quest for Flow

By Helen Owton

As the British Superbike season comes to an end this month, it’s an opportunity to understand why individuals engage in such ‘risky’ activities. Traditionally, extreme sports are associated with thrill seekers with a ‘death wish’ or adrenaline junkies searching for their next thrill (Brymer and Schweitzer, 2013). Brymer and Schweitzer (2013), however, argue that these individuals can be highly trained individuals with a deep knowledge of themselves, the activity, and the environment, who seek an experience that is life-enhancing and life-changing.  Extreme sport participants face intense fears, accept that control of the future is not always possible and move through these fears to participate fully in the action and make choices to reduce risk and enhance personal control (Brymer and Schweitzer, 2013; Crust et al., 2019). Csikzentmihalyi (1997) noted that “People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy.”

The burble of my exhaust unwound like a long cord behind me. Soon my speed snapped it, and I heard only the cry of the wind… The cry rose with my speed to a shriek: while the air’s coldness streamed like two jets of iced water into my dissolving eyes. I screwed them to slits, and focused my sight ahead of me on the empty mosaic of the tar’s gravelled undulations.

Like arrows the tiny flies pricked my cheeks: and sometimes a heavier body, some housefly or beetle, would crash into face or lips like a spent bullet. A glance at the speedometer: 78. Boanerges[1] is warming up. I pull the throttle right open, on the top of the slope, and we swoop, flying across the dip, and up-down the switchback beyond: the weighty machine launching itself like a projectile with a whirr of wheels into the air at the take-off of each rise, to land lurchingly with such a snatch of the driving chain as jerks my spine like a rictus (Laurence of Arabia, The Mint, Part III, Chpt 16, 1955).

Lawrence of Arabia wrote stories about the thrill of riding motorcycles which captures the sense of freedom, excitement and adventure that many experience. There may be risks attached to pursue those experiences, but new adventures and unique experiences can cultivate joy, fulfilment, enhance confidence and resilience, and provide an opportunity to grow and expand one’s sense of self. Indeed, motorcyclists are often “driven to conquer new challenges and soak up every experience life has to offer” (Carter, 2019; Psychology Today, 2021, para 2). Pirsig (1991) articulates this in the following paragraph:

In a car, you’re always in a compartment, and because you’re used to it you don’t realise that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You’re a passive observer and it is moving by you boringly in a frame. On a cycle the frame is gone. You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.

The thrill, ‘adrenaline rush’ and intense sensory experience motorcyclists may experience from riding (Sato, 1988) can be understood through the concept of ‘flow’. Csíkszentmihályi (1997) has studied the phenomenon of flow extensively and describes it as an optimal psychological state, which enables athletes to optimise their potential and to perform at their personal best. “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times… The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997). Jackson and Csíkszentmihályi (1999) designated nine antecedents of flow, which are termed: challenge-skills balance, action-awareness merging, clear goals, unambiguous feedback, concentration on the task at hand, sense of control, loss of self-consciousness, time transformation and autotelic experience. An ‘autotelic’ person is described as doing things for their own sake, low sense of self-centredness, strong sense of persistence, low need for power, and needing few material possessions.  Such a person tends to experience flow more frequently and there is a positive association between flow and conscientiousness (Ullén et al., 2012). These experiences can be derived in the course of participating in an activity, such as high-risk sports, like motorcycling.

Csikszentmihalyi suggests that for someone to fully enjoy high-risk pursuits, the level of danger must be proportionate to the participants’ level of ability. In order to induce flow, it is about balancing the level of skill with the challenge we are faced with (Nakamura et al., 2009). The capacity to experience flow, however, can differ from person to person and some argue there is a difference between flow state and ‘clutch’ state. Clutch state is similar to being “in the zone” but described as being able to make it happen when you need to switch on during important moments in a performance. Clutch performances occur under particular pressure conditions and where there’s an important outcome. Clutch performances are comprised of focus, heightened awareness, and intense effort whereas flow states are viewed as effortless attention and automatic experiences (Swann and Goddard, 2020). Flow states are more aligned with “letting it happen” whereby confidence develops naturally whereas clutch states are associated with “making it happen” where there is a sudden increase in concentration and effort (Swann et al., 2015). In order to activate flow states or clutch states, there has been an association with certain goal types. For example, open goals such as “do your best” goals are more associated with inducing flow states, whereas specific goals with a fixed outcome such as “winning a race” and setting a task specific goal to “ride at 100mph round the next corner to overtake the next rider” in order to achieve that outcome is associated with ‘clutch’ performances. It is likely that, in reality, there is a shifting or slippage in and out of the states and a blurring between and within the states.

Nonetheless, there are similarities within the two states and Cole (2017) suggests an 80% rule of attention and engagement and cautions against 100% capacity which could result in disaster. As demonstrated on a track day in Owton (in press), attentional shifts when riding a motorcycle means that working at 100% can make one feel overwhelmed, whereas once distractions are reduced, skills improve, and enjoyment is enhanced from moments of being ‘in the zone’. In this way, flow isn’t just an enjoyable state of being, it is about learning to direct your attention, gain independence from exterior rewards, and ultimately, living a happy and fulfilled life. Notably, however, a mistake in motorcycling at speed and pushing one’s abilities too far has fatal consequences (Murphy, 2016). Motorcycling, like other high-risk sports, requires a sharpening of senses, meticulous preparation, high work rates, swift recovery following setbacks and thriving in challenging situations (Crust et al., 2019).  As Cole (2017) notes, therefore, it is important to set ourselves appropriate challenges and be attuned to one’s senses by anticipating, listening to engine sounds, being cool under pressure, being attuned to a constantly moving environment at speed, and positioning the body-motorcycle effectively round the corner such as riding a ‘racing line’ (Owton, in press).

As I feel myself flow through the air, my hand on the throttle squeezing it towards me, picking up speed, feeling the air press against me harder as I gain speed. My lid protects me from the air pressing too hard on my face and the wind making eyes water. I listen to the sound of the engine growling, working hard, getting louder as the right time comes to change gear, then I quickly close the throttle swiftly enough not to feel the motorcycle slow down as I flick my toe up and click into the next gear. Listening acutely to the sound and feel indicates I can squeeze the throttle and gain speed again. This is known as quick shifting manually (not using the clutch). The connection between my hands, my feet, and the motorcycle, works best when I’m not thinking, when I’m just feeling the way and am at one with my motorcycle. Once I’ve reached top gear, there’s a smoothness with the ride; I feel like I’m flying. I’m completely alert but I’m in a trance of speed with endorphins raging through my body (Owton, 2021).

While there can be high risks involved in motorcycling, participation in such activities can facilitate more positive psychological experiences and allow people to experience freedom and re-connect with nature (Brymer and Schweitzer, 2013).

References

Carter, K. (2019). Buzz!: Inside the Minds of Thrill-seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies. Cambridge University Press.

Crust, L. Swann, C. & Allen-Collinson, J. (2019) Mentally tough behaviour in extreme environments: perceptions of elite high-altitude mountaineers, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(3), 334-347.

Csíkszentmihályi, M. (1997). Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life. New York: HarperCollins.

Jackson, S. & Csíkszentmihályi M. (1999). Flow in sports. Champaign: Human Kinetics.

Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2009). Flow theory and research. Handbook of positive psychology, 195-206.

Owton, H. (2021). Quest for Freedom: Intense Embodied Experiences of Motorcycling. Cultural Studies: Critical Methodologies, Vol 22, No. 2, p.154-162. Available here.

Pirsig, R. M. (1999). Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance: An inquiry into values. Random House.

Sato, I. (1988). Bosozoku: Flow in Japanese motorcycle gangs. In M. Csikszentmihalyi & I. Csikszentmihalyi (Eds.), Optimal Experience: Psychological Studies of Flow in Consciousness (pp. 92-117). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Ullén, F., de Manzano, Ö., Almeida, R., Magnusson, P. K., Pedersen, N. L., Nakamura, J., … & Madison, G. (2012). Proneness for psychological flow in everyday life: Associations with personality and intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences52(2), 167-172.

[1] Lawrence nicknamed his motorcycle a Brough Superior SS100 Boanerges (Boa) meaning “son of thunder” in Aramaic.

Meet another of our Student Voice Champions

As our last article explained Student Voice Champions have been recruited to represent Sport and Fitness. You previously met Chris and Yasmin and this article introduces our third champion, Will.

My name is Will, I am a Level 2 Sport and Fitness student and I will be starting my final year this coming October. When I’m not studying, I currently work as a garden landscaper        and I am a coach at my local running club taking different ability groups. Another one of my passions is Triathlon, after starting a few years ago it has become a big part of my life, it helps me keep fit and I enjoy completing new challenges. My biggest achievement to date was completing a half-ironman in 5 hours 10 minutes. I am also a keen golfer and recently I achieved my first hole in one.

I decided that I wanted to be a student voice rep to promote mental health. Due to the current situation we find ourselves in, I think many OU students could benefit from more support whether this is just someone to talk to or more support from OU staff. I will do my very best to ensure that this support is in place for you. Please feel free to get in contact with me if there is anything you need.

Twitter: @GoreWill

Email: zx674027@ou.ac.uk

Meet two of our Student Voice Champions

Student Voice Champions have been recruited to represent Sport and Fitness. These new and exciting roles are designed for students to have a voice and share opinions and ideas  that represent those on the qualification which have the potential to inform the student experience. Your Student Voice Champions have been selected as they are passionate about having a voice as students and wellbeing as well as wider influences such as curriculum design and content, equality and diversity, promoting good mental health and other topics which are important for student success.

Meet two of your Student Voice Reps below:

My name is Chris Nash and I am a Level 1 student. Outside of my OU study I work as a data manager looking after timetabling, academic data and exam results analysis for a secondary school and sixth form in Dorset. I’m also a permanent wheelchair user and profoundly deaf, and until recently was a wheelchair racer participating in elite road races up to marathon distance (and had fun doing so!).

My experiences with my disabilities have also contributed to mental health struggles and alongside tirelessly fighting for a level playing field for those with disabilities I am also a passionate advocate for providing support for those struggling with their mental health. I love interacting with others both face to face and online and hope you will find me very approachable. I’m always ready to listen if there is something you would like to share, or indeed if you just need someone to talk to – and I love hearing and sharing success stories too!

Feel free to get in touch via Twitter @blackberrychris

My name is Yasmin, I’m one of the very lucky students who is a part of the Student voice team. Some facts about me are that I’m 25, mad about disability sport and love learning new things, when we aren’t in lockdown I’m often found hiding at the gym. I am very keen to represent students and make sure our voices are heard, if we all work together then big changes can happen. I’m coming back to studying after finishing my GCSE’s I went straight into working in design. My life got flipped over and I now live life with multiple disabilities and as much as I love design, I love sport and fitness more. I have my qualification in coaching wheelchair basketball and have been involved in wheelchair sport for the past 7 years. I like to think I’m approachable and anyone is welcome to reach out about absolutely anything using my email Yr474@ou.ac.uk.

For more information on Student Voice please visit the Student Voice page of the Sport and Fitness Website.