Stratford Thunderbirds Netball Club

Stratford Thunderbirds Netball Club is a local organisation promoting fitness, competition, fun and teamwork for around 250 girls in and around Stratford upon Avon.

The Covid-19 outbreak had an enormous impact on a usually packed schedule of matches and tournaments that take place throughout the year. During this time the coaches, volunteers, parents and girls themselves pulled together to ensure that everyone felt supported, engaged and part of the club. From online training sessions to fun social media activities everyone played a part. When it was practical to train in-person again, Head Performance Coach Molly Salmons assisted by assistant coach Kelly McCormack, Club Manager Ellen Lavery and Treasurer Becki Howes, worked tirelessly to find venues, source equipment, plan and implement a Covid-appropriate training regime and ultimately a return to match play in the Cotswold Netball League.

Parent volunteers took on new roles as Covid-19 officers, took temperatures during sessions and generally showed great resilience, flexibility, support and understanding in a challenging time. In spite of everything a large number of girls were still able to trial and qualify for performance pathway places with major Netball Superleague franchises including Wasps, Severn Stars and Loughborough Lightning.