BY JANA McCABE
ELECTRIC Ireland have teamed up with Tinderbox Theatre Company to produce a one-woman play, Gameplay, which explores the benefits of women continuing to play sport, teamwork and key messages such as resilience.
The play was made after Electric Ireland commissioned research into girls’ attitudes towards sport and the role sport plays in building resilience from the perspective of parents and educators. Key findings showed that 60% of parents are unaware of the positive impact sport has in building resilience, with only 46% of parents believing girls are more resilient than they once were.
Sportswomen Eliza Downey, Jess Foy and Nora Sullivan attended the play’s launch event at the Ulster Museum and were part of the panel afterwards, which was hosted by the BBC’s Lynette Fay.
“It was an absolutely fantastic performance; I think they really embodied in the writing and the acting of what it is to be someone who has grown up playing sport and what it transfers into later life”, Eliza stated.
“You’re going for job interviews, you’re experiencing a bit of rejection, or other challenges that come up but it’s this innate belief that you feel scared and uncomfortable, but you’re going to give it a go anyway.
“We were all just nodding our heads completely the whole time as it was so relatable.”
Full back Eliza retired from playing for Ulster Rugby, during which she produced some strong displays for Ireland in the 2010 Women’s World Cup, scoring four tries during the tournament. She is now a sports mentor and coach and continues to have a huge impact in the local game.
“It’s such a privilege to be asked to do something like this and in my own job working with athletes in high performance sport and also now in the business world, where people want to consistently be performing at a high level,” Eliza explained.
“Really it is about the person themselves and yes you have these skills, talent and techniques within sport, but what can get in the way sometimes is ourselves. How we feel about ourselves, the story we tell ourselves going into high pressure situations, how we cope with stress and how we deal in pressure and changed environments. I find it a pleasure that I can help guide people throughout that, they’re doing all the work but I’m giving them pointers.
“What we all go through in life is different, so I spend a lot of time getting to know the people in front of me and what they need from me.”
Captain of last year’s Premiership champions Glentoran, Jess Foy, was also part of the panel and agreed with Eliza’s views: “I think we were laughing throughout it because it was so relatable to everyday life, the challenges and the obstacles that maybe aren’t major but there are so many minor ones that build up through the week which means you rely on that resilience that you have to overcome those smaller challenges.
“I thought it was fantastic and there were loads of good messages for the kids who were watching. I feel like at the minute with young people, if there is a challenge in front of them, that it is very easy to step away from it and to not face these challenges. But sport can give you the toolkit to face those challenges and, even if you don’t get there in the first try, you’ll be able to overcome it at some point. We’ll definitely take a lot from it.”
Preparations are well underway with the east Belfast side, who were crowned champions after being unbeaten all season, and they are set to face Crusaders Strikers on the opening day of the campaign, Sunday May 5.
“Resilience is massive,” Jess insisted. “Sport is not a straight path to success as there’s plenty of setbacks along the way. There will be plenty of times you’re not picked, or you are going to be on the bench. Plus there are smaller challenges in training and the mental obstacles you have to get over.
“You also have to miss out on family events and parties to show dedication to your sport. But we do it because we love it and, if you stop to love it, that’s when you come away from it. It’s a fantastic lesson for everyone that we can build resilience in many ways with sport being one of them.”
The busy skipper is a PE Teacher in a local school, with children from her school at the event at the Ulster Museum.
“Electric Ireland has done a great job. They started with the Shooting Stars programme and have really grown and are now backing elite women’s sport. I’ve witnessed it within the schools too, as they’re backing the Schools Cup. It’s fantastic,” Jess added.
“I say many times the opportunities that are there for girls now which is fantastic. From a young age we have to now keep growing that and making sure we have the structure and coaching in place and push them further, not necessarily to be the best in their sport but so they can participate for the rest of their lives.”
Belfast Ravens player and PHD student Nora Sullivan was the final guest on the panel.
“The play was amazing – every scene throughout it I was thinking that I’d been through that. It’s a great representation of how you can use what you’ve learned from sport in our parts of your life,” Nora observed.
“It’s really important that we encourage women and girls to stay in sport because of the fantastic benefits from it.
“Jess and Eliza are fantastic athletes and I’m not an international like them, so it shows you don’t have to be playing at the top level to get all the benefits that it provides, not only physically but mentally and all the lessons you learn.”
Belfast Ravens play within the NIWFA structure with their first team competing in Division Three this year, their reserves moving up to Division Four and their thirds in the Development League.
“You have a community; you always have a family there when you’re involved with sport and that will really help you get through life,” Nora maintains.
“I would be lost without it. All my best friends I met at football. Yes, we go to training together and play matches but after we’re still so close.
“You know that anyone in the NIWFA is going to be there for you and, if you have a problem, there will be someone to help you. It’s fantastic at helping you settle in, giving you a purpose and you’ll always have people who will be your biggest supporters.”
The full play will be accessible via the link below shortly – https://www.electricireland.com/resilience
