Super Netball is currently surfing an extraordinary player pregnancy wave, with four of its eight franchises recently affected by player pregnancies. This boom has raised alarm bells over whether existing policies—which haven’t been refreshed since 2018—are up to the task. The big problem for players is juggling motherhood with elite sport. This failure to provide holistic support severely undermines the league’s commitment to its athletes.
The Australian government has vocally estimated that one in nine couples in Australia will require assistance in their journey toward fertility. This statistic highlights the broader social determinants that impact athletes. It comes after Super Netball and Cricket Australia both recently denied maternity leave. Consequently, players are left to address these challenges informally, without an organized mechanism for support. This gap in policy has become ever more apparent, as the league continues to respond to an evolving landscape.
Outdated Policies and Limited Accommodations
At a Super Netball level, the prenatal policy is shockingly archaic. Specifically, it accommodates players who have or adopt a child under 12 months at the start of the season. It protects working breastfeeding mothers. Though this policy offers organizations significant support, it still doesn’t measure up when compared to other sports. Cricket Australia’s inclusion policy goes well above supporting children younger than four years old. This new method greatly increases the time period in which parents should be involved.
Their Super Netball policy would pick up the cost of their childcare needs when they’re playing interstate. It even covers costs so an alternative carer can attend training sessions. Nevertheless, most stakeholders feel that such steps don’t go far enough in light of the challenges of present-day parenting. A more progressive approach is clearly needed today. Veteran players including Romelda Aiken-George and Mwai Kumwenda are looking for new homes as a result of the reproductive health crisis.
A recent member survey conducted by the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) revealed an even more concerning story. Almost one third of Super Netball players experience anxiety regarding their reproductive health. This staggering statistic highlights the immediate need for policy change, with an emphasis on protecting player welfare and mental health.
“I beat myself up and chastised myself for waiting till I was so old,” – Liz Ellis, Netball Australia chair
The Impact of Pregnancy on Career Trajectories
That’s the kind of toll pregnancy can take on athletes’ careers, especially in Super Netball. The Giants Netball team last week treated young academy player Hope White to an unexpected surprise of a lifetime. She’ll temporarily assume Gina Crampton’s role while Crampton is on maternity leave. Head coach Julie Fitzgerald has always been a believer in White’s potential. Feldman even claims White has the potential to be one of the next household names in the sport.
The success stories of players like Bec Bulley, Laura Geitz, April Brandley, Kim Ravaillion, Gretel Bueta, and Romelda Aiken-George demonstrate that returning to elite competition after motherhood is possible. The path is fraught with attempts to maneuver through a desert hotbed of counterproductive policy without guidance suited to their needs.
As Super Netball grapples with these challenges, teams like the Fever are actively collaborating with Netball Australia to determine how they can best support players like Mwai Kumwenda during this transitional period. The league must find ways to retain talent while fostering a culture that embraces motherhood as part of an athlete’s career.
Comparing Standards: Super Netball and Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia’s parental policy is a gold standard within elite Australian sports. This terrific 18-page booklet-Take it from the Top-provides a wealth of resources for student athletes. By comparison, Super Netball’s three-page policy looks bare-boned and inadequate to meet the aspirations of today’s athletes.
Conversations around policy reform have become increasingly urgent. Now, stakeholders in Super Netball must act, and effect changes that genuinely align with the lived experience of their players. USOPC’s absence of fertility leave limits the ability of the IOC and athletes to begin families. Consequently, star athletes will be more reluctant to enter or continue playing in the league.
In the meantime, discussions are continuing between stakeholders about potential policy changes to address these concerns. Super Netball should heed the experiences of other professional sports to continue growing and evolving. By adopting more inclusive measures that address the unique challenges faced by female athletes who are mothers, the league can foster an environment that promotes both competitive excellence and family wellbeing.
