IGSA Sport & NETFIT Partner To Take Sydney Saturday Sport Online

With the recently announced extension to the Sydney COVID:19 lockdowns, IGSA Sport and physical and digital sports provider NETFIT Netball have partnered to provide female students in Sydney with the opportunity to engage with their Saturday Schools sport through the IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament.

The IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament is a 5-week Olympic themed online sports and mindfulness series where students from IGSA schools will complete a 35-minute fitness and skills online session, followed by a 15-minute leadership and wellness component. The gamified multi-sports series sees students compete on behalf of their schools, in a gamified environment, earning points as they look to be crowned the IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament Champion.

With an emphasis on fun, participation and connectivity amongst adolescent girls, the lead talent of the IGSA Sport online series is NETFIT’s Taylah Davies, a dual elite athlete in both netball and AFLW having represented the GWS Giants, who can’t wait to get started with the girls.

“Being in lockdown both this year and last, I understand what the girls are going through. I love my fitness and being involved in a team environment, so to have that taken away for a while has been extremely challenging for everyone in Sydney.”

Davies further added “This Olympic-themed fitness series isn’t just about jumping on screen and doing a few squats with everyone following along. We aim to make real connections for the girls, giving them an opportunity to connect with their teammates and friends as well as competing against other schools.”

IGSA Sport’s Matt Mulroney & Vicki Fitzgerald were the drivers in bringing about a swift solution for their IGSA Sport community by looking outside the box in how to engage and provide competition for their students.

“We really wanted that healthy competition amongst our schools to remain. That’s an important part of what Saturday sport brings to the IGSA schools and it helps bind together teams and friends” Matt said.

Fitzgerald, who knows Davies well from her time at GIANTS Netball where her mother Julie coached her, said “I’ve known the NETFIT team for a long time and love how they always move quickly to adapt to changing environments. They place a big emphasis on fun and enjoyment with their programs, and with their digital expertise we were delighted with the gamified and Tournament opportunity that they were able to create.”

NETFIT Netball CEO & Founder, Sarah Wall, alumni of the inaugural GIANTS team, commented “We have such a strong foundation in Sydney already working with a number of IGSA schools on a weekly basis. When Vicki and Matt reached out we were able to understand and assess their needs immediately to deliver a digital solution to keep these girls engaged with their sport.  We understand the importance that physical exercise has on the health and mental well-being of all people, especially young women, so we have tailored a program to suit young athletes of all abilities and fitness levels, as well as integrating the important mindtime piece” Wall further added.

Starting this Saturday, the 31st July, and with the program set to initially last 5 weeks, IGSA Sport’s Matt Mulroney lauded the IGSA schools for getting behind the concept

“When we proposed this to the schools and their Heads of Sport, they were immediately receptive and supportive. We’re just excited to get started and interested to see the competitive juices and school pride go on the line to see who wins the tournament.”

Lasting 5 weeks and running each Saturday, the promotional trailer for the IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament can be viewed by clicking the link below.  For anyone seeking further information from IGSA Sport or to request an interview please contact: Matt Mulroney, mmulroney@ahigs.nsw.edu.au