Following the 2019 Nelson Netball Season, a full review was completed on our entire competition structure. This took into account any feedback that was received during the season along with findings from our end of season survey and club forum. As you all know, the competition structure underwent some big changes following the 2018 netball season and therefore it was important that we completed an in-depth review of those changes and whether they hit our expectations.

A ’Working Group’ was formed which comprised of 6 people. These 6 people we saw as a fair representation of our netball community and covered all bases (Premier, Schools, Clubs, Senior, Junior, Coaches, Officials and Parents). A lot of time was spent reviewing the 2018 – 2019 season changes and looking at what worked well, what didn’t and what we could do as a netball centre to deliver the best competition. The overall tag-line of ‘Achieving Quality Netball Experiences Together’ was at the forefront of all discussions.

The key findings have resulted in the following changes to the 2020 competition structure:

Premier/Senior/College

• Premier will return to 6 teams
• Two new grades will be established under Premier (‘Reserve 1’ & ‘Reserve 2’). These will still be played on Saturday’s as 40 minutes games but they will be combined Senior/College teams (as a rough guideline, this will include most Senior 1 and College 1 teams from 2019)
• Automatic Promotion/Relegation will occur between Premier and ‘Reserve 1’ & between ‘Reserve 1’ and ‘Reserve 2’ so teams needs to be aware of Thursday/Saturday playing options here - this means that Premier has been opened for promotion/relegation at the end of Round 1 and Round 2
• Below ‘Reserve 2’ will sit our standard Senior and College Grades. These grades will be closed from Premier and Reserve and will see only Senior teams in Senior grades and College teams in College grades
• Teams in ‘Reserve 1’ can challenge for a spot in Premier preseason. Teams in Senior 1 or College 1 can challenge for a spot in ‘Reserve 2’ preseason
• Challenge process/opportunities will be communicated in the new year – however, at this stage we are looking at challenge games to occur Sunday 29th March and Saturday 4th April (GH Tournament)

Junior/Future Ferns

• No changes to competition structure – just some more education around player rotation expectations

Season Dates (Proposed)

• Still some final decisions being made, however, it will be a similar stucture to 2019 with a couple of small changes
• Season will commence Thursday April 30th for Premier and Saturday 2nd May for Senior/College

• FINALS for Premier/Senior/College are proposed as Saturday 5th September (after SISS)
• Less school holidays games (only playing first Saturday of July holidays)
• Premier will have 1 X Saturday game in Round 3 (scheduled for Saturday 8th August)
• Saturday 29th August (Semi-Finals) will be outside due to venue being unavailable - still looking at options here

Representative Teams

• Following a change to Netball New Zealand and Netball Mainland Age Group Tournaments, our proposed 2019 Rep Teams will consist of:
  • U14 A + U14 B
  • U15 A + U15 B
  • U16 A + U16 B
  • U18 A + U18 B
  • Senior Women
• Further information around trials dates and tournaments along with coach/manager applications will be available in the new year

‘Other’ changes/implementation for 2020

• First Aid service on Saturday will be purely for ‘First Aid’ i.e. no physio/strapping service provided for pre-existing injuries
• Establishing a ‘Senior Mixed’ competition which will be played on Saturdays – pilot
• Re-establishment of the Senior Women’s Team and a Senior Mixed Team to be selected to attend NZMMNA Nationals at Easter 2020

Further information will be released prior to the 2020 season and this is just a guideline of the larger changes along with competition structure and dates.

Any questions, please feel free to contact Jared Lock (Centre Manager)

jared@nelsonnetball.co.nz

027 496 4956