This week, Krystine and Carla welcome international umpire and Super League official Lizzie Saunby onto The Best Netball Podcast EVER! to lift the lid on life behind the whistle. From the funniest excuses she’s ever heard on court, to the pressures of being assessed at the highest level, Lizzie shares her journey from grassroots matches in Lincolnshire to representing England on the international stage. The trio also debate netball “icks”, dodgy replays, and whether coaches or players are really more dramatic. Plus, Lizzie takes on the dreaded Yes/No Challenge to try and claim top spot on the leaderboard. Spoiler: it ends in plenty of laughs (and maybe a whistle or two).

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Instagram @thebestnetballpodcastever TikTok @thebestnetballpodcast Good ol' Email: thebestnetballpodcastever@gmail.com

YOUR HOSTS

Krystine Strama aka Kris / princess Netball-obsessed, I’ve been hitting the court for over 15 years — and I’ve just celebrated the big 5-0. By day, I’m an HR Manager; by night, I’m a netball playing fine-dining enthusiast and self-proclaimed connoisseur of wine. One day, you’ll see me living my other dream: starring in a soap opera.

Carla Garey

A self-confessed netball addict, I’ve been playing for nearly 14 years and basically live and breathe the sport (my husband insists on calling it “a hobby,” but we all know better 😆).

When I’m not on court, I’m running multiple businesses, wrangling my five kids, and squeezing 20 tasks into every day. I work at 100 miles an hour and get more done before lunch than most people manage all week — fuelled entirely by Diet Coke and donuts.

In this episode of The Best Netball Podcast EVER (ever,ever,ever,ever,ever)!, Krystine and Carla recap their unforgettable night at the BBC Make a Difference Awards (including a tortoise named Billy who stole the show!), before welcoming their very first guest, the brilliant Lauren Nicholls. Lauren shares her coaching philosophy, her admiration for London Pulse’s Funmi Fadoju, her TikTok antics, and her hopes for netball’s professional future and possible Olympic debut.

There are laughs, burpees, flippers, and even a “Yes/No” challenge that puts Lauren at the top of a brand-new leaderboard. 🐸🏐✨

Lauren on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@steady_sports

Please follow or subscribe so you don't miss out on any new content. Whether you’re a player, coach, or fan, you won’t want to miss an episode!

Let's Connect 🗣️

Want to be included in a future episode? Please reach out and share anything Netball (or life) related.

Instagram @thebestnetballpodcastever TikTok @thebestnetballpodcast Good ol' Email: thebestnetballpodcastever@gmail.com

YOUR HOSTS

Krystine Strama aka Kris / princess Netball-obsessed, I’ve been hitting the court for over 15 years — and I’ve just celebrated the big 5-0. By day, I’m an HR Manager; by night, I’m a netball playing fine-dining enthusiast and self-proclaimed connoisseur of wine. One day, you’ll see me living my other dream: starring in a soap opera.

Carla Garey

A self-confessed netball addict, I’ve been playing for nearly 14 years and basically live and breathe the sport (my husband insists on calling it “a hobby,” but we all know better 😆).

When I’m not on court, I’m running multiple businesses, wrangling my five kids, and squeezing 20 tasks into every day. I work at 100 miles an hour and get more done before lunch than most people manage all week — fuelled entirely by Diet Coke and donuts.

In this episode, Krystine and Carla dive deep into the ultimate list of “Netball Icks” — from overly chatty players to centre passes with too much bounce. They balance the rants with a celebration of “Green Flag Teammates” — the sweet-bringers, the cheerleaders from the bench, and the heroes who volunteer to umpire at a moment’s notice. There’s also advice for new umpires facing tough matches, an aromatic agony aunt letter about a deodorant-dodger, and a heartfelt defence of supportive (if slightly embarrassing) mums on the sidelines.

Please follow or subscribe so you don't miss out on any new content. Whether you’re a player, coach, or fan, you won’t want to miss an episode!

Massive thanks to the team at Wikinger (The King of Hot Dogs), for being our headline sponsor.

Let's Connect 🗣️

Want to be included in a future episode? Please reach out and share anything Netball (or life) related.

Instagram @thebestnetballpodcastever TikTok @thebestnetballpodcast Good ol' Email: thebestnetballpodcastever@gmail.com

YOUR HOSTS

Krystine Strama aka Kris / princess Netball-obsessed, I’ve been hitting the court for over 15 years — and I’ve just celebrated the big 5-0. By day, I’m an HR Manager; by night, I’m a netball playing fine-dining enthusiast and self-proclaimed connoisseur of wine. One day, you’ll see me living my other dream: starring in a soap opera.

Carla Garey

A self-confessed netball addict, I’ve been playing for nearly 14 years and basically live and breathe the sport (my husband insists on calling it “a hobby,” but we all know better 😆).

When I’m not on court, I’m running multiple businesses, wrangling my five kids, and squeezing 20 tasks into every day. I work at 100 miles an hour and get more done before lunch than most people manage all week — fuelled entirely by Diet Coke and donuts.