Welcome

Contents

Welcome 3

ACT Championships 4

Carnivals 4

Round Robin Matches 4

Player/Parent Responsibilities 4

Special Parental requirements 5

Inability to Attend Training 6

Uniforms 6

Role of the Team Coach 6

Squad and Team Selections 7

Selection of Under Age Players 7

Role of the Manager 7

Role of the Scorer 7

Training Sessions 7

What to take to Training Sessions 8

Training at Home 8

Fitness Training at Home 9

Carnivals 9

Team Selections at Carnivals 9

What to Take to Local Carnivals 9

Interstate Carnivals 9

Parents Travelling by Bus 10

Meals 10

Behaviour 11

Emergency Contact Details 11

Arriving Home 11

Junior Representative Fees 11

Administration 11

Annex A 12

DUTY STATEMENT 12

Manager’s role 12

Welcome

Congratulations on being selected to play in this year’s Junior Representative Season. This handbook is designed to guide you through the season, set out expectations and provide general information to you and your family.

TNA has a very successful history at State representative level and we invite you to be a part of the process that works towards maintaining the high standard that has been set over recent years.

There are many roles to be filled and volunteers are essential to success. All parents are asked to be involved in a positive and practical way. Help can be provided as follows:

o  Team Manager – we will soon be calling for managers for each of our twelve teams and invite all parents and family members to consider standing for these positions. A copy of the managers’ duty statement is attached at annex A, and the manager’s role is explained on page 3;

o  A roster based system for Saturday competition will be developed. A separate section is available later in this handbook. Parents are required to contribute to a number of duties which may include but are not limited to:

-Assisting with the running of the TNA BBQ, canteen & coffee shop

-Assisting the Sat comp collecting score sheets, timing games and admin as required convener with the junior, intermediate or senior games.

- Any parent who has a first aid qualifications please contact TNA as it is a requirement to provide one at all carnivals.

o  Equipment Officers – volunteers are needed to assist with transporting equipment to local carnivals. There are seven cabanas, fold up tables and a water container that need to be taken to the carnivals. Equipment is transported by bus to interstate carnivals. TNA has acquired in 2013 a new trailer to assist with the transportation of this equipment. As such all that is required is a parent with a tow bar to move the equipment to and from each carnival.

o  Assisting at carnivals – setting up and packing up on carnival days can be a big job but many hands make light work. Parents will be asked to assist with these duties on the day.

TNA would also like to hear from anybody who holds a current First Aid certificate and who may be interested in travelling to carnivals as our First Aid Officer.

If members of your family are able to lend a hand but are not sure how to get involved, or have any concerns or questions throughout the season, please contact the Vice President Representative or Junior Representative Coordinator.

The TNA Administration Office phone number is 62924480. .

ACT Championships

11’s & 12’s 16 and 17th August (Div 3 dates for their carnival to be advised later)

13’s, 14’s, 15’s – – 9 and 10 August 2014

The culmination of the Junior Representative season is the ACT Junior Championships, and the goal of our ACT Junior Representative Teams is to get into the Grand Final for this competition. At the Championships, TNA competes against the other four ACT Associations; Belconnen Netball Association (BNA), South Canberra Netball Association (SCNA), Canberra Netball Association (CNA) and Arawang Netball Association (ANA).

Carnivals

TNA this year will participate in the following carnivals which are covered by the fees charged except the NSW State Age Championships;

March 6 Queanbeyan

May 4th South Canberra carnival

May 25 Wagga Wagga Carnival

June 28 - 30 State Age Championships (one team only, extra costs)

June 15 Arawang Netball Carnival

August ACT Champs

Round Robin Matches

TNA will be approaching each association to have round robin matches home and away, and will aim to have one each month. This may be on another day in the calendar. More to follow on this.

Player/Parent Responsibilities

As a player for a TNA Representative team you are expected to understand your commitment and responsibility of being a Representative player.

Players/parent will:

1)  attend training sessions. All training sessions are compulsory. If unable to attend a training session or a carnival it is the player’s/parents responsibility to contact their Coach and TNA;

2)  play in the position nominated by the team coach without protest and accept all decisions made by the coach for all court line-ups;

3)  be courteous and respectful to team members, coaches, association officials, umpires and opposing players;

4)  accept umpire decisions without criticism or reaction;

5)  accept responsibility for the proper care of the Association’s uniform and property;

6)  always adopt a positive attitude to the game of netball on and off the court; and

7)  report any illness or injury to the team coach as soon as possible, and if necessary seek medical advice and undertake recommended treatment immediately.

8)  Fees are to be paid in full by date on invoice or payment plan put into place by due date in order for player to participate in training, games and carnivals

9)  All players/parents are required to participate in the Saturday comp working rosters e.g. bbq, canteen, convener’s office.

10)  Comply fully with Netball Australia’s code of conduct. This is available via the following link:

http://netball.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Attachment-A-National-Codes-of-Behaviour-Member-Protection-Policy-Effective-1-Jan-2014.pdf

Special Parental requirements

1)  All parents love to see their child do well, however playing in Representative netball is about being the best team. It is vitally important that you as parents mirror the behaviours required of the players who represent TNA.

2)  Be aware that the coaches are volunteers who are very experienced players. By all means have a positive interaction with the coaches, but any complaints are ONLY to be made via the relevant squad coach, or via the TNA Junior Rep coordinator, Rebecca Hilton, or VP Rep Jonathan Toze.

3)  Also Netball Australia has a code of conduct for parents. If it is deemed by the TNA executive that this has been breached, then TNA will move to discipline any parent, up to exclusion from participation in events.

4)  This code of conduct is available via the link http://netball.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Attachment-A-National-Codes-of-Behaviour-Member-Protection-Policy-Effective-1-Jan-2014.pdf and is recorded below.

In addition to Netball Australia’s General Code of Behaviour, you must meet the following requirements with regard to your conduct during any activity held by or under the auspices of Netball Australia, Member Organisations or Affiliates in your role as a parent/guardian.

1. If your child is interested, encourage them to participate in the appropriate netball activity. However, if your child is not willing to participate, do not force him or her. Remember, children are involved in organised activity for their enjoyment, not yours.

2. Focus upon your child's efforts and performance rather than the overall outcome of the event. This assists your child in setting realistic goals related to his/ her ability by reducing the emphasis on winning.

3. Teach your child that an honest effort is as important as victory, so that the result of each game is accepted without undue disappointment.

4. Encourage your child to play always according to the rules.

5. Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a game.

6. Remember that children learn best from example. Applaud good play by all players.

7. If you disagree with an umpire or coach raise the issue through the appropriate channels rather than question their judgement and honesty in public.

8. Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse.

9. Recognise and respect the value and importance of volunteer administrators, coaches and umpires. They give up their time and resources to provide recreational activities for players and deserve your support.

10. Be a model of good sports behaviour for children to copy.

11. Be courteous in communication with administrators, coaches, players and umpires. Teach children to do likewise.

Inability to Attend Training

Training sessions are compulsory. Players/parents must advise coaches as early as possible and TNA for attendance record if they are unable to attend any training sessions. Poor training attendance may result in being replaced in the team or squad

Uniforms

The TNA Representative uniform consists of:

Compulsory

·  A uniform hired from TNA ($15 p.a.)

·  Matching shorts for the new uniform

·  Tracksuit

·  Training Top

·  Top

·  Socks

·  Bag

·  TNA drink bottle

Non-compulsory options

·  TNA hoody

·  TNA skins

·  TNA shorts

Players are required to purchase all uniform items, with the exception of the non- compulsory options and bodysuit. A breakdown of costs will be provided to players.

Players are expected to wear their full TNA uniform at all TNA training, games and carnivals.

Role of the Team Coach

TNA Junior Representative Coaches and assistant coaches nominate for selection, and are usually considered by a panel of TNA senior coaches. Each squad has Squad, team coaches, assistant and in some cases apprentice coaches who are responsible for working with other team coaches to develop the training programs.

The coaches are responsible for the training and development of squads, and coaching individual teams at training and carnivals. Team coaches are responsible for advising the Head Coach of player development, as well as concerns and attitudes of players in their teams. Team coaches work together toward the selection of players into teams. If coaches are unable to attend training, or carnivals they must contact their head coach and TNA office so it can be marked on the attendance register.

Squad and Team Selections

Representative players train initially as a Squad until the (squad) coaching team is able to decide on the most suitable team line-ups to compete at carnivals and ACT Championships.

Each year squad members may differ and teams will change depending on strengths, training effort, coach evaluations etc. Coaching staff have final say in team line-ups, and parents are asked to respect the final decision when teams are announced.

Do remember that for the first two months of the Rep Season there are no upper and lower divisions in the age groups. The coaches will try out differing combinations through this time. It is important that you support your child and that each are aware that they are being tried in combinations, and are not included or importantly excluded from a “better” team due to their individual abilities. If you have any concerns speak to your squad coach or the Junior Rep Coordinator.

Selection of Under Age Players

The Under 11 squad is the only TNA Representative age group that allows under age players, and these players may only be 1 year younger than the maximum age allowable for this age group.

Role of the Manager

Each team is appointed a Team Manager for the season. The role of the manager is to:

1) Assist the coach and assistant coach as requested by the coach;

2) Give administrative and team support at training and at carnivals;

3) Provide duty of care on behalf of TNA to team members; and

4) Organise scoring roster for parents

Managers are not involved in team selections or court line-ups, or providing advice to coaches regarding court line-ups. If you have a family member interested in taking on the role of Team Manager, please let the Vice President Representative know.

Role of the Scorer

At each carnival and at ACT Championships each team is required to provide a team scorer for each game. The scorer must stand with the scorer from the opposing team during each game in order to keep record of scores for that game. Advice on how to score is always available from the Team Manager.

This role is usually shared between parents/carers at carnivals, and it is the responsibility of the team manager to organise the scorers.

Training Sessions

All coaches and players are expected to attend all training sessions properly attired and prepared for training activities.

What to take to Training Sessions

Players are expected to train in TNA training attire, namely:

§  TNA Rep training top (or a white top until players receive their training top);

§  navy shorts or tracksuit pants;

§  sun visor/sun protection; and

§  netball shoes.

No jewellery or items of clothing not included in the above list are to be worn.

At every training session players must bring a bag (preferably sports bags as it is useful to hold clothing that is removed during training e.g. hoodies and extra layers) It should also contain:

§  drink;

§  healthy snack/recovery food

§  small towel;

§  any medical needs (i.e. asthma puffer); and

§  jumper or tracksuit.

Players are asked to bring a bag, as it is useful not only for holding a small towel etc, but also for taking notes home.

Players are not required to bring a mobile phone or similar valuables to training. They are highly discouraged. Players bring them at their own risk and must be stored in a suitable bag to prevent damage from balls, weather; theft etc. There is a phone available in pavilion if they need to contact you.

Players should ensure they are hydrated and fuelled appropriately before training sessions.

Training at Home

In addition to attending set training sessions, all TNA Representative players are encouraged to maintain and improve their ball handing skills which can be enhanced by undertaking some additional practice at home. A brick wall and a netball is all that is required to carry out these simple training exercises. These exercises can be demonstrated by coaching staff at training.