"In February 2024, I joined the Sportily team, and my first session was a 0-5k group taking place throughout Lent. Rather than giving something up, this was a chance to take up something positive and impactful during Lent. After 9 weeks of meeting as a group, it culminated in running 5k at the Lydney Park Run.  

We’ve run (no pun intended!) two 0-5k groups in Newnham, and it’s been wonderful to get to know a variety of people and see them begin their running journey; all because of taking that first step and signing up to come and join the 0-5k. Starting something new can be scary, and joining a group where you don’t know anyone can feel like a challenge. However, the groups are very inclusive and supportive, and it’s a great way to get to know others. Why not join a Sportily 0-5k group that’s happening in your area? Drop us a message if you'd like us to arrange a 0-5k running group in your area!

From our last 0-5k session, the group decided that they’d like to try netball. Some of the group hadn’t played since they were in school, but it was all about ‘giving it a go’. From that, Newnham Netballers was formed! After taking a break for the winter, we’re restarting at the end of August, and anyone over the age of 16 is very welcome to join us! Keep an eye out here for all the details. 

In Secondary School, I always loved cross-country running, and whilst most of my friends hated the bleep test, I loved it! For me, it wasn’t so much the competition against others (we had two very speedy county runners in our year group that I was never going to beat!), but it was the competition against myself. Could I better my time? When it felt like I had nothing left to push on with, could I keep going instead of giving up?  

Running is a wonderful metaphor for life! In the Bible, Paul uses the analogy of a runner in a race; he looks at the determination and discipline needed to win a physical race, as well as the perseverance needed in our spiritual lives. He reminds us not to get off track, not to look back, and to persevere! Sometimes in life, it can feel like you’re running a marathon – backwards and through treacle, but there is always hope and a reason to press on!   

As a Christian, I find that getting out for a run on my own has always been a chance to pause from the busyness of life, to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and to spend time praying. When running with a friend, or with a group, it’s a chance to listen, chat and ‘talk life’, and be part of a wonderful, encouraging community with amazing wellbeing and mental health benefits. 

For me, running is a wonderful culmination of friendship, fitness, fun and faith. Why not come and #give it a go? As is often said, ‘The hardest step is the one out of the door.’"

Click here to find out what's on near you. 

"What an inspiration Manette Baillie is! Last month, at the ripe old age of 102, she jumped out of an aeroplane in Sussex! What an inspiring woman — who’s your inspiration?

Click here for the story.

As I’m currently training to become a Pilates instructor in a world where age matters, it’s no mean feat. As a mature member of the Sportily team, my motivation to improve my own fitness aligns with my determination to see others get fitter, improve their posture, breathe better, and live life to the full, just like Manette. However, I sometimes catch myself thinking… ‘I’m not good enough’, ‘I’m not thin enough’, or ‘I’m too old’. It’s then that I realise I’m trapped in a negative self-esteem loop and need to break free!

It seems to be becoming increasingly difficult for women to have high self-esteem and to love themselves for who they are in a world full of expectations, ‘thinspiration’, and unprecedented pressure on women to be perfect — especially through social media. Although there have been many advertising campaigns celebrating voluptuous figures, such as F&F and Dove, I wonder how that translates into women’s body positivity in real life and whether it really builds our self-esteem.

The NHS has researched self-esteem and shares the following definition and accompanying information: "Self-esteem is the opinion we have of ourselves, and low self-esteem often begins in childhood. Our teachers, friends, siblings, parents, and even the media send us positive and negative messages about ourselves."

They state that, "When we have healthy self-esteem, we tend to feel positive about ourselves and life in general. It makes us more able to deal with life’s ups and downs. However, when our self-esteem is low, we tend to see ourselves and our lives in a more negative and critical light. We also feel less able to take on the challenges that life throws at us."

Perhaps you’ve found it difficult to live up to other people’s expectations of you, or even your own? This can also have a negative effect on your self-esteem. It seems that some people are just more prone to negative thinking, while others set impossibly high standards for themselves and want everything to be perfect! Do you see a glass half full or half empty?

Research suggests that if you have low self-esteem or confidence, you may hide yourself away from social situations, stop trying new things, and avoid things you find challenging.

Maybe there are a few steps that you could take to help build your own self-esteem or that of a young person or loved one. Sport is a healthy and positive way to start the journey. Click here to find out what the NHS share about the benefits of exercise.

There is a lot of advice in the media offering to help improve your self-esteem, but I personally find that the Bible provides words of encouragement for me in Philippians 4:6-7 NIV, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Friends, family, and I sometimes catch my negative words, and my thoughts then become actions and my face downcast. But when I cling onto God’s words, it breaks the cycle. How do you build positive self-esteem in yourself and others?

Click here to find out more about ways to improve your self-esteem from YoungMinds.

At Sportily, we want people to #MoveMore, to #GiveItAGo, and #TrySomethingNew. We work with people from zero to one hundred (and two) and are a fun and friendly group of employees, sessional workers, and volunteers who truly believe that you matter. We have your health and wellbeing in mind and offer a variety of activities, events, and sports for you to enjoy. Your self-esteem and confidence will hit an all-time high if you come and join in with us.

It’s not too late to change the habit of a lifetime, but it does take time to adjust to the routine. Why not click here and let us help you take the first step?

To read Jo's previous blog posts, click the links below:

Did you know that there are fewer girls participating in sport?

Why is women's participation in sort lower than mens?

References: NHS website

Recommended reading:

Self Esteem: A guide to help you cope

"A seemingly simple question but perhaps not so simple to answer. I was fortunate to play rugby for 30 consecutive seasons, enjoy coaching now and, as my family will testify, am also a fan watching as many matches as I can from many different leagues, cups and tournaments around the world. Of course, the Six Nations is one of the best with it's history, the rivalry and the high quality (mostly!) rugby on display.  

What I have noticed is that many people who ask questions then go and quickly answer them for you. Having asked me the question around rugby the answers that people give on my behalf are normally:  

‘I bet you love the physicality.’ I do, and I do miss this now I cannot play. For my being physical and active are massively linked to my physical and mental health and general happiness. While rugby is a physical game it is, in fact, an invasion and evasion sport and what I love most of all about rugby is the creativity and co-creation that takes places on the pitch with so many moving parts and possibilities. As well as being physical beings I also believe we are creative beings made by the ultimate Creator. It is important I find space and time to be physical, to be active and to creative. I think this is true for all of us although it does not need to be through rugby.  

‘I bet you love winning.’ I do love competition, but this is not the same as winning nor winning at all costs. For the youth teams I have coached I would much rather we played a competitive match and lost than an easy win. There are times we lost a match, but we were coaching for a longer-term win of player development or player retention. I believe that we are given gifts and talents by God, and we are called to do the very best with them. This takes effort and energy and drive, and this is similar to my competitive spirit. Being part of the team that established and leads Sportily is one example of where this competitive spirit has been utilised for the good of many others. I have been known to be over competitive, and it is in these moments I try to remember that, for me, I am playing/coaching for an audience of one no matter whether I win, lose or draw. For me, that audience is Jesus – creator of the universe.  

‘I bet you love the beer.’ I do like a beer (alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties are available) but it is always about the people. I have lived in Bristol, Southampton, Beverley, Liverpool and now Gloucestershire and in all these places I could turn up to ‘my’ rugby club and find some people to chat and spend time with. People I care about and who care about me.  I believe we are created to be part of families, tribes, teams and not isolated people. As work and life gets busy, as I get drawn into my next book or crime drama or even doom scrolling, I need to remember that I need to get out and be with people. I love that this creation of communities runs through all that we do here at Sportily.  

‘I bet you love that it gives you something to do.’ This question is always around people wanting to know about where my value and purpose comes from. Rugby gives me many things, as can be seen above, and it is even a place in where I find myself able to worship God, but my value is not in how well my team played or how I played or coached. My purpose is not in nor of rugby - my fullness of life comes only through God. I will try to remember this as I watch England play and as I stand watching the team I currently coach no matter how well they are playing."

"In my last blog (which you can read here), I discussed some of my personal experiences growing up in the world of gymnastics. As I move to my next blog, I thought it would be good to share some of the reasons why girls drop out of sport and what we can do to support them in getting involved.

Here are some reasons discovered by the Women’s Sports Foundation after 25 years of research:

Why girls drop out:

Lack of access:

Girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play secondary school sports than boys. Limited physical education in schools and fewer sports opportunities at both secondary school and college mean girls often have to look elsewhere—which may not exist or may cost more. There is also often a lack of adequate playing facilities near their homes, making it more difficult for girls to engage in sports.

What we're doing to change this: 

At Sportily, we offer a wide variety of inclusive opportunities, such as breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, Leadership Academies, Hangouts, and more—most of which are open to all, as we’re committed to ensuring girls feel fully welcome and included.

Why not #giveitago? Check out the website to see what activities are taking place in your area by clicking here.

Through sports, girls learn important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and confidence. Friendships and memories are made, alongside the physical benefits of staying active. Many of our Sportily clubs are free or have a small charge. If you'd like to join an event but are experiencing financial difficulties, we welcome you to email us, and we’ll do our utmost to provide a discount code.

Why they drop out:

Decreased quality of experience:

As girls grow up, the quality of their sports experience may decline. The facilities might not be as good as those for boys, and playing times may not be optimal. In some communities, quality, trained coaches are lacking, our coaches may focus more on boys’ programmes, which have more funding. Equipment and sports kits aren’t always provided and can be expensive which can diminish girls' enjoyment and growth in the sport. In short, sports just aren’t “fun” anymore.

What we're doing to change this: 

At Sportily, we have trained sports coaches who use engaging games from the Boing Curriculum. We believe in helping each young person progress through tailored coaching and feedback that highlights strengths and areas for growth, enabling them to reach their full potential. We're committed to ensuring that girls have the same access to quality equipment, coaches, and resources as boys. Our coaches incorporate life skills and, at times, faith-based discussions that encourage young people to engage in meaningful conversations, building social and enquiry skills.

Why they drop out:

Lack of positive role models:

Today’s girls are constantly shown images focused on external beauty, rather than strong female athletic role models. For some, fitting into this mould seems more important than standing out. Peer pressure is challenging at any age, and without strong encouragement to participate in sports, girls may drop out altogether.

What we're doing to change this: 

Sportily aims to inspire women to participate in sports, not only through our amazing female coaches but also by inviting successful and accomplished athletes to our events. This encourages girls to get more involved in sports and join a Sportily club—whether it’s netball, basketball, or one of our unique sports like Tchoukball. For more information, please email me.

Benefits of being active:

Let’s take a moment to remember what being active can do for us:

• Boosts energy and improves mood through ‘feel-good hormones’
• Enhances self-esteem and confidence
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Decreases loneliness, especially in group activities
• Helps with focus, calmness, and motivation

Physical activity can also improve:

• General mood
• Self-confidence
• Sleep quality
• Energy levels

If you have a young person who’s struggling to get involved in sport, encourage them to try us out. Our sports and faith coaches are energetic and committed to helping young people develop their full potential.

If you’ve read this article and found no sporting opportunities in your area, please email us using the link below and let us know what you’d be interested in.

Contact Sportily 

Finally, if you are a young female leader and would like to receive a leadership ‘feel good’ starter pack then please do email me your name, location and the name of your local coach and I will pass them to your Sportily Coach to hand out to you over the next few weeks. 

Pause for thought…Who could you encourage to move more and get involved in Sportily activities/events or a club near you?"

References:  

Women’s Sports Foundation 

NHS England 

One of the Cycling Athletes Kadeena Cox (MBE) will be going into the games as one of Team GB top medal prospects, in an interview with Charlotte Rush in Ash magazine she spoke about how the task of prepping for the Paralympics is an enormous task, but by breaking it down into smaller goals to achieve allows her to keep on track.

As a two time Gold medal winner in Rio and Tokyo there is a huge pressure that Kadenna will podium in Paris, with the added expectation that podium finish will be a gold. Speaking on handling that pressure Kadenna said:

‘I take strength from the team I have around me and my faith. I have a great support network. When things don’t go well, we evaluate and adapt. And of course, I know God has always got things in hand. Even if things don’t go the way I want them to right now, they will happen eventually, just as they’re meant to.’ 

Sage advice from the two time Paralympic velodrome champion, maybe this is the secret to her success being relaxed about the outcomes, surrounding herself with the right people and trusting God. Is there something that we all could learn from this?

Full article available to read here. 

Did you enjoy the swimming at the Paris Olympics?

Did you cheer on Adam Peaty [GBR]? Were you amazed by the dominance of Leon Marchand [FRA]? Did you know that Summer Mcintosh [CAN], who won 3 gold and 1 silver medals is only 17 years old and this was her second Olympic games?  

Do you know the story of Eric Moussambani Malonga who swam in the Syndey Olympics in 2000 for his country Equatorial Guinea?

The International Olympic Committee were looking to support the development of sport and athletes in the majority world who had been underrepresented at the games. To do this they arranged for a ‘wild card’ entry system whereby those athletes who did not meet the minimum qualification requirements could still take part.

Eric heard the call out on national radio for people who would be interested in representing their country by swimming in the Olympic games.

The only problem was, Eric couldn’t swim.

Still, he showed up at the trials, only to discover he was the only applicant!

Eric was going to the Olympics!

He had 8 months to learn to swim and to train, however there was no 50m pool in his country. So the only way he could practice was to use the 12m pool at a hotel, which he was allowed to do for 1 hour, 3 times a week.

Before arriving at the Olympics, he had never seen a 50m pool, yet here he was, needing to swim two whole lengths – the 100m Freestyle.

To make matters worse, he didn’t even have the right kit, so the South African Coach lent him some trunks to replace his boardshorts.

He lined up for his heat and his two competitors were disqualified for diving in before the gun had gone off. To win his heat, all Eric needed to do, was successfully swim two lengths of the pool.

Is there a more appropriate use of the phrase ‘out of your depth’?     

Eric completed the swim in 1:52:72 (watch it here) – more than a minute slower than the world record and ‘Eric the Eel’ was born!

In Paris 2024, a new world record of 46:40 was set by Pan Zhanle [CHI].

Sadly, despite winning his heat Eric was not able to progress in the competition, but after the Syndey games, Eric actually continued swimming and he became a swimming icon in Equatorial Guinea 

Four years later set a PB of 52:18, a time which would have won him the gold medal at the 1950 games.

In 2012 he became the National Swimming Coach and has championed swimming in Equatorial Guinea. 

Have you ever felt out of your depth?

Have you ever felt like you’ve arrived at a big moment in your life and felt woefully underprepared for it? 

Eric demonstrated determination and a total willingness to #Giveitago.

At Sportily we love to see people jumping in and giving it a go, that’s why #Giveitago is one of our mottos.

Why not have a look at our list of activities now and see how you might give something new a go in the coming weeks.

"I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a bit obsessed with the Olympics. 

Sports I've never watched before, have had me glued to the screen and the athlete's stories have been so inspiring. 

I’ve loved discovering the mayhem of kayak cross and been amazed by the strength and agility of the gymnasts. The rowing, the track athletics, the velodrome, the sailing and windsurfing, the bmx, the tennis, the badminton and volleyball, they’ve all captured and captivated me. 

I rewatched numerous times the moment Pidcock took gold in the final moments of the mountain bike race by sweeping past the French athlete and I cheered out loud, sat on the edge of my seat, watching Alex Yee take the Triathlon gold in the final few hundred meters.  

Poolside, I’ve loved the way the crowd have cheered for the impressive Leon Marchand and been blown away by Summer Macintosh who won her 3rd gold medal and set an Olympic record time at her second Olympics, aged only 17! 

The ancient Greeks, who started the Olympic games in Olympus had no tolerance for losers, the winner took all of the glory and there was no second or third place! In fact, losing could actually result in punishments being handed out (you can listen to a podcast about the ancient Olympics on BBC sounds here). 

Thankfully, at Sportily, we are most excited when someone gives it a go and discovers the joy of moving more. Whilst it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate winning, whether it’s an Olympic gold medallist, or a personal achievement like a PB, there's a huge amount of joy we can all experience simply by getting physical in a way that’s right for you. 

Why not check out BBC Radio 2’s ‘Move more’ campaign here, or discover a Sportily activity you can join in with here. 

In Ancient Greek society, achieving a harmonious balance between body and mind was an important aspect of an individual's personal development. The gymnasiums where they trained therefore hosted wrestling matches as well as music rehearsals and provided weight lifting training as easily as philosophy lectures.  

At Sportily we also recognise the importance of developing both physical and mental health, that’s why our ‘Play sports, talk life’ philosophy weaves its way into every activity we do. Yes, we have fun together playing sports and being active, but we also know its important to talk and create space for that.  

Together as a team, as a community, we play together, talk about life, explore the Christian faith, make friends and have fun. Why not join us when the Olympic Closing ceremony is over."

"For me, the joy of the Olympics is being able to watch 10,500 athletes from 206 countries compete in 329 events across 32 different sports. This is then followed by the Paralympics, featuring 4,400 athletes from 206 countries compete in 549 events across 22 different sports. 

It creates a huge sense of inspiration for all of us to get active. It encourages us to have fun, and to give all sorts of sports a try this summer and into the coming months. 

I don’t think there is any better sporting competition in the world which inspires others to enjoy the breadth of sport and movement. The joy of moving, of teammates, of competition. 

The Olympics and Paralympics are held in Paris this year. Exactly a century ago did Paris host the Olympics of 1924, where Eric Liddell won bronze in the 200-metre final, and gold in the 400-metre final. I cannot help but pause on his most famous quote: 

‘I believe God made me for a purpose - but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure'. 

There was a joy in listening to Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty being interviewed after his silver medal performance on Sunday, day 2 of the Games. It was also inspiring to listen to swimmer Mark Foster, five-time Olympian and six-time World Champion, talk about Adam's journey. He spoke about witnessing changes in Adam over the last few years as he found his purpose, and that for Adam, it is more than just winning; it is about faith and his family. 

As I listened to this, I was reminded of Eric Liddell. Eric described this sense of encountering God as he ran. This is a huge joy and a challenge for me, and as I think about Sportily and our desire to invite others to encounter God, I think about the ways that we have maybe forgotten, through our bodies and through movement. 

We have an opportunity to help others find their purpose. Sport and movement can be the best place for this to take place." 

Click here to find out what's on near you this summer.

Watch the video below and hear from Sport and Faith Leader Tim, before scrolling down to complete the quiz. Make sure you head to Facebook after you've completed it and comment on our most recent post letting us know how well you got on!