Team Selection Policy
SELECTION PHILOSOPHY
The St James Netball Club (SJNC) is committed to a selection process that seeks to deliver fairness and opportunity for all players.
The SJNC Selection Policy aims to:
● Select balanced teams with players of similar abilities.
● Support player skill development and wellbeing.
● Provide an inclusive and enjoyable netball experience for all players.
SELECTION GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA
9 Under:
• 9U teams are non-competitive - enjoyment and confidence building are particularly important in this age group.
• Players commencing with 9U are from Year 1 and above.
• Teams are selected based on date of birth.
• Top age U9 teams may be adjusted for their final season in readiness for the transition to competitive netball and to ensure players of a similar skill level are grouped together. Any changes will be based on coaches’ feedback and the TSSC’s recommendation.
11 Under - 15 Under:
The SJNC Team Selection Sub-Committee select 11U - 15U teams based on a combination of both internal and external inputs, including:
● Player registration numbers.
● Independent assessment conducted by experienced grader(s).
● Coaches Player Review Forms.
Selection criteria for team placement encompass a range of factors including:
• Completed registration and payment of fees.
• Netball skills and ability.
• Team harmony and balance.
• Sportsmanship, attitude, and commitment.
• General fitness.
• Grading forms a key aspect of selection and as such, the Club’s expectation is that all 11U -15U players attend an annual grading session as advised by the SJNC.
• Players in U11 are selected in teams based on their age. U11 players generally comprise of grade 4s and grade 5s.
• U13 and U15 players are selected in teams based on their schooling year level making top age and bottom age teams as follows;
o U13 bottom age - Grade 6
o U13 top age - Year 7
o U15 bottom age - Year 8
o U15 Top age - Year 9
• Registration numbers will inform the makeup of teams. Player numbers may see teams being formed across school year levels. In these instances, all players from the combined school year levels will grade together and teams may be mixed. The committee will notify families prior to grading day if this is to be the case.
Special requests (9U - 15U):
• Where special circumstances relevant to team selection exist, parents/guardians may submit a special request to the SJNC Club President in writing prior to grading. Special requests are reviewed and considered for approval by the SJNC Executive.
• If players request, or are requested by The Club, to play out of their age group or year level (up or down), approval is at the discretion of the SJNC Executive (and MENA Committee if requesting to play down), and with consideration to team numbers. Requests must be made in writing to the SJNC President prior to grading.
• Any player approved to play up may be asked to grade with both their own year level and that in which they have been approved to play.
17 Under and Open:
● Players can nominate peers with whom they wish to play.
● Players outside of friendship groups may be added to a team depending on registration numbers.
OTHER GUIDELINES
• Team selection is typically an annual process conducted towards the end of the Spring season. SJNC’s intention is to keep teams the same for the following year’s Autumn and Spring seasons, depending on registration numbers.
• The SJNC Team Selection Sub-Committee will be formed with a minimum of three members consisting of SJNC Committee members.
• The Club aims to form teams of 7-9 players (maximum of 10 players in special circumstances), however team numbers are dependent on player numbers and team harmony and balance.
• Team placement is not guaranteed until the commencement of the Autumn season. Player placement could change in the event of last-minute withdrawals or late registrations.
• Players who are unable to attend the grading day due to illness, injury(s) or unforeseen circumstances, will be placed into a team based on their previous playing experience and the Coaches Player Review Form provided by their current coach.
• Any new player to the Club who registers post-grading is allocated to a team at the discretion of the Team Selection Sub-committee and dependent on team numbers.
• Team Selection Sub-Committee (TSSC) members are excluded from the decision for any year level(s) in which they have a child(ren) playing.
• All members are required to respect the policies and procedures that make up the SJNC Team Selection Policy. All enquiries regarding player selection (pre- and post-selection) should be made in writing to the SJNC President and will be reviewed by the Executive Committee at the next Executive meeting closest to the date written correspondence is received.
• The St James Netball Club reserves the right to amend the Selection and Guidelines Criteria, if necessary.
• The selection of team(s) will be decided by the SJNC Team Selection Sub-committee (TSSC), and the decision will be final.