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She can not imagine leaving her little Ava Mirella for a second, but the former Opal Laura Hodges will probably be one of the first beneficiaries of a new parental protection and pregnancy care policy introduced for the first time this year. season in the WNBL.
Former Australian and Adelaide player Adelaide Lightning, 34, gave birth to her first child on October 15, but plans to return to the field.
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"She watched her first game with me on TV the other day but I must admit she fell asleep while I explained the rules," said Hodges.
WNBL's first parenting and pregnancy policy will help the new mom kick off her elite basketball career – potentially next season.
The Australian Basketball Association (ABA) and WNBL announced the publication of the
the implementation of the policy on Wednesday, which provides for the possibility for mothers of children under the age of four to have access to qualified support staff or to a woman elected for the trip, or to pregnant players to suspend their contracts.
The policy stems from the agreement of minimal player conditions concluded last year.
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"It will make it so much easier for the players to come back if that's what they want," said Hodges, who believes it's essential that players not be rushed into the sport before it's over. be ready.
"It is important for the league to meet the standards expected in the modern world of women's sport.
"Having a child is not an end of career."
Hodges, who admires, admitted a week ago that the idea of climbing the stairs was daunting is her close friend, Renae Ingles, who returned to the netball elite after giving birth to twins .
A former Ingles teammate, former Australian player Bec Bulley, was the first netballer to come back from retirement after starting a family when Netball set up his own policy at the start of Super Netball in 2017.
WNBL President Sally Phillips said the policy was important for Australia's longest-running women's league.
"I am delighted that all key WNBL stakeholders have been able to meet and recognize the importance of implementing this policy," she said.
"I look forward to continuing to work closely with the WNBL Players' Association and clubs, as we all continue to make positive progress in giving our players the opportunity to become fully professional athletes."
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