Zones
Junior Netball Resource
NNZ is not alone there are other sports who have modified their game to be ago appropriate for children. Check out these YouTube clips to view overseas examples of Football and Tennis.
Sussex County Football Association
Watch adults try to play football on a field that is bigger than the standard football pitch. The field and goals posts are scaled to be equivalent to what children experience on a full sized field.
USA Kids Quickstart Tennis
See the success in performance and the participation numbers in children playing tennis once the court size was reduced and the equipment modified to be ago appropriate for the children
NNZ's new Junior Netball Programme has introduced skill development before a modified game which is played on smaller sized courts with fewer players on court for Year 1 -4 teams. The pre-existing Future Ferns modified rules and equipment have been slightly changed to make the game day event more appropriate to the age of the children playing.
Remember children are not mini sized adults
The Real Reason Why Our Kids Quit Sport
Click her for “The real reason why our kids quit sport” by Kathleen Noonan
Parents this is all about you, your ego and how your attitude towards kids sport can cause kids to quit. Peter Gahan, head of player and coach development with Australia Baseball, after years at Queensland Academy of Sport, says “ FUN needs to be at the heart of sport. Even at the elite levels research now shows all athletes need a fun activity in their training session. Countries must walk the fine line of wanting elite sports while encouraging mass participation”. Gahan applauds New Zealand who has introduced a fundamental movement skills program in primary school with a sport officer in those schools to oversee the program. “it covers 14 basic skills including running, hopping, throwing – the basics that are specific from Year 1. From what I hear, New Zealand is going to start kicking our arse at the next Olympics because, with this program, they will have a greater pool of athletes to choose from coming through”. This “basic skills” approach is exactly what NNZ’s Junior Netball Programme is all about.
Reviewed by Anne Nicholson Junior Netball Development Officer Netball Northern.
“Just Let The Kids Play”
Junior Netball Resource
“Just Let The Kids Play” Bob Bigelow – Reviewed By Anne Nicholson, Junior Netball Development
At the recent Netball New Zealand Community Development Conference we were privileged to listen to and talk to Bob Bigelow on SKYPE.
This book was recommended to us to read and once I opened the first page I couldn’t put it down. It makes you look at junior sport 
through the eyes of the child. What is important to them and what will keep them participating in sport while developing their skills. I believe the new Junior Netball Programme is child focussed, will increase participation in netball and develop the skills of all players while having fun with their friends. Fun is the most important ingredient of all for the children
Below are some comments from the book that may help you relook at your approach to Junior Netball and encourage you to read the book in full. It may also be a good resource for parents in your community who are so “win at all cost’ focussed. They may realise that this approach can be so detrimental to the enjoyment and development of their children in sport.
Page 15. “Your children play sports to have fun and to fulfil their needs to socialize, work with teammates, try out new skills and grow. Your children are there to be true to their own sense of self, not yours”.
Page 43. “Spontaneous play. Creativity. A love of the game. Freedom to take risks. These are the ingredients of great games and great players. These qualities do not require a system of select teams. As you’ve read, these qualities are often stifled by an elite system in which a coach, putting himself or herself under pressure to win, begins choreographing instead of coaching.”
Page 81. “Sometimes too much training, too much coaching and specialisation at young ages develops bad playing habits that are harder to fix at older ages.”
Page 120. “They (American College of Sports Medicine and the International Federation of Sports Medicine and the World Health Organisation) recommend more education for parents and coaches about injury risks and child development issues, as well as national standards for coaches’ training and certification…..The guidelines also caution adults not to place too much emphasis on winning…..The recommendations suggest that rules for adult games be modified for children, as should the length of playing times, and the size of playing fields and equipment.”
Page 169. “Adult bench kids to win games. That’s the adult want. The children’s need is to have a chance to develop as players. You can’t do that sitting on a bench.”
Page 201. “Make sure all your players, of every shape and height, participate in all positions and in all skills. Don’t typecast your players according to the positions you think they are best suited for now. That ten-year-old who is below average in size and height may be the tallest, strongest one on your high school varsity squad. Give her a chance at centre (basketball) too. She may grow twelve inches before her senior year. Don’t judge her now”.
Page 214 “Winning isn’t worth cheating”.
Happy reading.
Anne Nicholson – Junior Netball Development Officer – Netball Northern Zone
“Are our children specializing in a specific sport(s) too early?”
Junior Netball Resource
“Are our children specializing in a specific sport(s) too early?” Mary Ann Dove – Performance Coach and Co-founder of Positive Sport Parent
Reviewed by Anne Nicholson Junior Netball Development Officer
This article supports the philosophy of NNZ’s Junior Netball Programme which is a progressive player centred game approach to netball. Young players must learn the fundamental movement skills to enable them to develop as athletes before they become specialised in a sport or in one specific position of a sport. Parents need to realised that their child can be severely disadvantaged or compromised in their long-term sporting life if they have specialized too early i.e. prior to the onset of their adolescent growth spurt.
“Our biggest mistake: Talent selection instead of talent identification”
Junior Netball Resource
“Our biggest mistake: Talent selection instead of talent identification” John Sullivan 13th December 2013 Get Sport IQ
Reviewed by Anne Nicholson Junior Netball Development Officer Netball Northern
In order to maintain our position on the world stage of netball (or from within our own Zone at the High Performance level) this article states we need to take a long-term approach to player selection and development. Junior teams should stop cutting players and focus on developing all players at the youngest of ages so we have a larger pool of adequately skilled individuals to choose from for our high performance teams in the future. That the win at all costs nature of pre-pubescent sports should be put to rest, as this encourages coaches to select current talent that will enable them to win now. It does not identify and develop children who have the characteristics needed for long term high performance who are most likely to become elite after puberty. And that we need to better educate our coaches about identifying talent with a the long-term development approach rather than to win immediately. The NNZ Junior Programme has a progressive player centred approach to Netball, it aims to develop and encourage all players with equal opportunities in a game which does not focus on winning.
Soccer: Schoolgirls now in a league of their own
Click here for "Soccer: Schoolgirls now in a league of their own"
This sounds so familiar; "This competition is designed as a better introduction to the sport where it's nine-on-nine played on a quarter pitch. Players get more touches on the ball, they learn to pass and tackle against those of a similar size, it's easier to form a team and they don't get too discouraged." Auckland Football have modified their adult game for younger players and their playing numbers are increasing, which is just what NNZ is seeing with the introduction of their new NNZ Junior Netball Programme.
Otara, Mangere, & Otahuhu Schools Tournament
I am Maxime Barbier, a French student (from CELSA-Sorbonne in Paris) working for Primary Sport.
The 6th of August, Otara, Mangere and Otahuhu Schools played Netball at the Mangere Otahuhu Netball Centre in the Tournament delivered by Counties Manukau Sport Primary Sport Programme, in partnership with Netball Northern Zone.
As you can see on the video, the foul weather could not dampen the spirits of over 450 girls from Mangere and Otahuhu Primary Schools at the recently held MOSA Netball Tournament. The event had been postponed twice previously in Term Two due to the meteorological conditions.
The games where fiercely contested with many games ending up with close scoring margins.
The Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty zone congratulates Danielle Maulder on her appointment to the ANZ Championship Squad for 2014. What a stellar year Danielle has had in 2013 and this announcement acknowledges her hard work. Congratulations Danielle, a great achievement.
Papua New Guinea is the latest country in the Pacific Netball Partnership programme to have Netball New Zealand trainers visit and assist in setting up programmes for umpires.
National Development Umpire Squad - Umpire Coach
Netball New Zealand is seeking an Umpire Coach for the National Development Umpire Squad.
The National Development Umpire Squad Coach is a key position within Netball New Zealand’s High Performance Umpire programme as this role has a significant impact on the development of World Class Umpires in New Zealand.
Kirsten Lloyd the previous Development Umpire Squad Coach has moved up to work with the National ‘A’ Umpire Squad and therefore the Development Umpire Squad Coach position is vacant.
The successful applicant will join the High Performance Umpire Group which includes the ANZ Championship Umpire Coaches and also the National ‘A’ Umpire Squad Coaches. The High Performance Umpire Group are responsible for the selection and coaching of umpires across three national umpire squads – ANZ Championship, National A and Development - as well as the identification and support of current and future International Umpires (IUA and ITID).
This is an initial one year appointment commencing 1 January 2014 until 30 November 2014. Applicants for this role will be required to attend designated NNZ events and activities such as, College Netball and the NZ Secondary School Team Trials and the Trans-Tasman Secondary School Netball Tournament to be held in May 2014 in Adelaide, Australia.
It is essential that applicants have had extensive umpire coaching and/or assessing experience at Zone (Region) and preferably National Event level. Proven ability to identify umpires with potential is also essential. Other competencies desired are a sound knowledge of netball and the understanding of and ability to develop, contribute to and lead programmes which will result in World Class Umpires. A high level of confidentiality is required and the successful applicants will be strong communicators, trustworthy, decisive and objective under pressure.
If you have the experience, knowledge and background to be part of NNZ’s High Performance Umpire programme and a role in developing World Class Umpire’s please complete and return an application form to –
Kate Agnew, Operations Director, Netball New Zealand,
email:
Closing date for applications to be received by:
Netball New Zealand is 4.00pm, Friday 13th December 2013
“I got skills!”
Want to LEARN new Netball skills?
Want to IMPROVE on your current skills?
Want to be the BEST Netballer you can be?
Then come along and join in our
Skills Queen Clinic!
Please click here for Registration
Welcome to our October Newsletter
Julie Paterson – CEO Netball Northern Zone
On Saturday 2 November, we held our first Northern Zone forum. The forum was an opportunity for all of the Zone centres to come together, hear about the work being undertaken in the Zone and to share ideas. It was fantastic to see so many centres represented and to have an opportunity to stop and chat to so many of you. The feedback was on the whole really positive and constructive. We will endeavour to ensure there are more break times and more networking time for our next forum - time is always a challenge at these events! Please do remember for those centres that have to travel long distances to attend, fuel vouchers are available. A copy of the presentation on fees has been sent to all of the centres and if you would like any further information from the day, please let Tash know.
October was again a busy month for everyone. We have some staff changes - Darlene Lang who is working with the Northern Centres has resigned to take on a new role – thanks to Darlene for her time with us, and Anne Nicholson joins us - see below – welcome Anne!
If you would like to see any other information included in the newsletter, please feel free to let Tash know.
COMMUNITY: Trish Wilcox Community Netball Manager
Firstly I would like to welcome aboard Anne Nicholson, who has joined us as our new Junior Development Officer.
Ann’s primary responsibility will be to:
- Support the Northern Zone’s 17 netball centres with the roll out of the Netball New Zealand Junior Netball Development Programme
- Support the Netball Northern Zone Centres to deliver the year 1 and 2, also targeting year 3 and 4 Junior Programme
- Train and support accredited junior coordinator and facilitate the programme delivery at each of the targeted centres.
The Netball Northern Zone Community Netball Team attended a mentorship workshop delivered by GACU at the Millennium Institute which everyone found really beneficial and are looking forward to sharing these learning’s with our netball communities.
Just a reminder about Youth Advisory group applications, if you know of suitable applicants please encourage them to apply, we have the forms up on our Northern Zone website.
Darlene our fantastic Zone development Officer for Northland is busy delivering skills based sessions to targeted primary schools in Kaikohe which is great to see.
Coach development _SOIC, MTM and MLTM fully funded workshops are still available to be delivered before the end of the year, so if you have a group of parents, students, teachers that are interested in taking advantage of this great coach development opportunity contact Tania Heap for Counties Manukau coaches and your local netball centre for Auckland, Waitakere and North Harbour or your myself here at Netball Northern.
For the first time the Zone are facilitating Zone Talent Identification Days (TID) in Northland on the following days in Keri Keri 23rd November and Whangarei 24th November, a reminder for coaches, player and umpire nominations to be sent into myself or Hamish.
I recently attended Waitakere Netball centre’s first night of running the NNZ Junior Pilot programmes for Year 1 and 2 and Years 3 and 4 last week, well done the Waitakere Development Team who were all involved in facilitating this programme. It was great to see these children having so much fun whilst learning the fundamental skills of netball.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with Trish or one of the Zone Community Netball Team if we can be of any assistance in planning for 2014 and beyond.
HIGH PERFORMANCE: Hamish Barton (High Performance Manager)
Lion Foundation Netball Championships
Netball in October was highlighted by Lion Foundation Netball Championships in Dunedin and New Zealand Secondary Scholl Championships. Lion Foundation was held at Dunedin’s Edgar Centre and included 4 teams from Centres within our Northern Zone. North Harbour Netball Centre, Auckland Netball Centre, Netball Waitakere and a cluster team from Counties Manukau.
All 4 teams represented the Northern Zone with a lot of pride and passion and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved with these 4 teams for the work that they did to not only to get the teams to this competition, but in creating an opportunity for the athletes, coaches, managers, trainers and physio’s to have this experience.
I must make special mention and say a big thank you to the Pukekohe Netball Centre, who were the Lead Centre for the Counties Manukau Cluster Team. In particular I would like to thank Maree Bernasconi and Leanne Henry for the amazing work they did in the background that enabled this team to come together and compete at the LF Netball Champs.
Lion Foundation Netball Championships Final Placing’s:
1.Otago
2.Hamilton
3.Christchurch
4.Auckland
5.NHarbour
6.Southland
7.Wellington
8.Waitakere
9.Manawatu
10.Counties
11.Otago
12. Centre Invitational
New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
The New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships is a great opportunity for our young performance athletes to compete in. From our Northern Zone we had 5 teams who qualified from UNISS which was a fantastic effort.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching all the games throughout the week and was hugely impressed by the manner in which all the teams conducted themselves both on and off the court, along with the impressive standard of play. In the end the 5 teams from our Zone finished in the top 8 with Mt Albert Grammar completing a dominate week by winning the final comprehensively against St Mary’s College.
Tournament Selection
- Emma May Murray – Tu Toa
- Chiara Semple – Mount Albert Grammar School
- Maia Wilson - Mount Albert Grammar School
- Jessica Milicich - Baradene College
- Monalisa Groom – St Mary’s College
- Emma O’Neill – Wellington East Girls’ College
- Meretini Fuimaono - Mount Albert Grammar School
- Whitney Souness – St Mary’s College
- Sam Sinclair – John Paul College
- Mila Reuelu-Buchanan – Wellington East Girls’ College
- Mereana Makea – Wellington East Girls’ College
- Jamie-Lee Price - Mount Albert Grammar School
- Holly Fowler - Mount Albert Grammar School
- Kelly Jury – New Plymouth Girls’ High School
- Kayla Williams – Tu Toa
- Sulu Feleti Faanana – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
NZSS 2013 Final Placing’s
- Mount Albert Grammar School
- St Mary’s College
- Wellington East Girls’ College
- Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
- John Paul College
- Pukekohe High School
- Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
- Westlake Girls’ High School
- Tu Toa
- South Otago High School
- St Margaret’s College
- New Plymouth Girls’High School
- Palmerston North Girls’ High School
- Southland Girls’ High School
- Waimea College
- Christchurch Girls’ High School
Whangarei Netball Centre – Development of a Performance Plan
One of the highlights for me this month was traveling up to Whangarei Netball Centre and working with the group of passionate, dedicated volunteers who want to see their athletes and coaches develop through the introduction of a Performance Plan.
I have been working my way around the netball centres collating information from them and trying to find out areas where the centres need assistance, this has been a very useful exercise and I have really enjoyed the process. Whangarei Netball Centre identified major gaps in their Performance Programme and decided that a new plan needed to be implemented that took into account the development of their athletes, and their coaches. The plan also looked at creating experiences and opportunities that would enhance that development e.g. competing in centre rep tournaments around the Zone and not just the NAGC’s or Regional tournaments.
The Whangarei Netball Centres Performance Plan stated a clear vision and mission statement and also their values which reflect the values of the people in their centre and their region. The plan clearly identified how they were going to develop their coaches and athletes and who were the key people to be involved in that process.
I got a huge amount out of this process and thoroughly enjoyed working with Jess, Trina, Kris, and Sophie putting this plan together and wanted to congratulate them on the great work they did and I look forward to working them all in the future.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: Tash Osborne (Marketing and Communications Manager). Northern Mystics has started the process for 2014 Season Membership – with Gold Renewals and our newest Membership option (Premium Gold) going on sale 29th Oct. Right to renew for our 2013 Gold Members will last for one week, after which all Membership will be on sale to the public – Tues 5th November. Sales are online only – via our website.
Northern Zone
- Zone Values Completed – Values Information/Delivery Pack underway
- Visual designs of Values ready to present
- New range of staff business shirts have arrived
- Pull Up Banners completed
- Merchandise being priced out / designed
- Website – new banners created
- Facebook numbers at 518 up from 507
- Website – 4239 visitors (16th Set – 16th Oct)
Northern Mystics
- 2014 Premium Gold and Gold Renewal on sale now
- 2014 Gold/Red/Blue Membership to go on sale to public Tues 5th Nov
- Northern Mystics Website re vamp:
- New Mystics Milestones Page Created
- New Corporate Hospitality Page
- Revamp of Player Profiles
- Front page revamp – news stories now larger with moving graphics
- New Side Bar options – next home game with links to tickets or live stats
- “Are you on board” Bus Graphic now in use – advertising Membership on sale soon – also used to promote Social Media (join us on Facebook, Twitter etc.)
- Facebook numbers at 8429 up from 8343
- Twitter Followers - 2837 up from 2668
- Instagram Followers (new) 167 up from 38 (once player appearances start etc. – numbers will rise)