Team Girls is dedicated to fostering and promoting girls’ participation in sport. It’s about girls supporting girls, building up their confidence, and knowing they’re stronger when they stand together – on and off the court.
We’ve teamed up with Fox Sports to showcase a selection of stars as they reflect on the importance of the people who supported them on their netball journey.
My Support Team: Bryan Fletcher
Behind every great athlete is their backbone, that one person or group that sticks by them through thick and thin to ensure that their dreams of sporting glory become a reality.
Former NRL athlete Bryan Fletcher reflects on how becoming a parent changed his sporting role to that of champion and supporter of his daughters.
Joined by by his family, Bryan discusses what it takes to be a supportive parent and the joy it brings him to see his daughters flourish in their sports.
Bryan Fletcher: While playing professionally in the NRL my support team helped me by probably taking my mind off the pressures of playing a professional sport.
Lucca Fletcher: How did you feel when you won the grand final?
Bryan Fletcher: Other than you being born and getting married, that is the greatest day of my life.
Once you have a child it's their everything family is everything that's the way I think about it
Maya Fletcher When you're working in a team and your coach is like cheering you on same with like parents it gives you that sort of confidence and helps you further like further yourself in other sports and other areas of life.
Bryan Fletcher: Nah, I couldn't have done it without the support your parents help you out by taking you to games that working in the in the canteen or working on presentation day or gala days and as a kid you don't really think of how hard that would be.
Lucca Fletcher: When Dad watched me get a goal it makes me feel really proud and happy and accomplished
Maya Fletcher: Wow this is cool.
Bryan Fletcher: Mmmm, remember that Luccy that's your first uniform
Lucca Fletcher: Yeah i was very excited to put that on.
Bryan Fletcher: And your trophies Maya
Maya Fletcher: Yeah winning that in Year Two, that was fun. Having the trophy taking to show-and-tell
Bryan Fletcher: You thought you were so cool
uh yeah for me being a parent uh involved in in the girls sport it's it's huge whether it's being at the training or at the game they can just look over and have a glance and see that I’m watching and fills them with confidence and and I think and and for me too it's being proud when your girl's out there and competing really well.
Lucca Fletcher: I love like playing but at the end when we get to do our cheer and our team song is probably the best part
Bryan Fletcher: You want to give us a bit of a song now?
Lucca Fletcher: No
Bryan Fletcher: No you can only do it when you win, and you can only do it with your teammates
Maya Fletcher: I appreciate it a lot that dad takes us to games cheers us on. Having that you can become better at sport and not lack that sort of motivation
Bryan Fletcher: Getting up early taking him halfway across town to school sport or the club or the club game I don't think it's a sacrifice because I enjoy it.
Are you still friends with any of the girls at the top?
Lucca Fletcher: Yeah most of them
Bryan Fletcher: oh yeah see that's what netball does or any sport does
Maya Fletcher: Make so many friends
Bryan Fletcher: Yeah
Maya Fletcher: we've played a few clubs which have helped like from other schools and stuff and when we play school netball it gives us the chance to branch out with other friend groups too.
It's always good to have you at our games supporting us on the sidelines
Bryan Fletcher: The reason why i love playing sport was to catch up with with your mates on a Saturday morning and you're playing a sport that you saw on on tv the night before
Maya Fletcher: Sometimes friends have said oh I don't want to play sport this year but I’ve encouraged them by saying oh come on it's fun because it's good to get everyone involved I feel like it helps you work in a team and work together and it's just fun in general
Bryan Fletcher: Watching the girls play sport and having and having fun it's moments like that that you'll cherish for a long time you
Read more:
- What’s the deal with self-talk?
- VIDEO: Team Girls Tips
- Game On! Your guide to keeping girls playing sport
If your child, or anyone you know is having issues with self-esteem, confidence or mental or physical health, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
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