Netball

Welcome to Barwon Heads Netball Club

BHFNC offers a competitive netball program within the AFL Barwon league for both winter ‘Club’ and summer ‘Social’ netball.

Our aim is to provide a culturally, socially and physically safe and inclusive netball playing environment for all, and we seek to be recognised as a competitive, community value orientated, and professional sporting club, equally admired for on-field and off-field achievements.

We also warmly acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as the traditional custodians of the area that we gather on to connect as a community and to play our sport. As a club, we recognise that we walk in the footsteps of those First Nations people who came before us, and who, like our club, continue to have a rich and enduring connection to community and country.

Club Netball

BHFNC registers up to 12 junior and senior teams in the Bellarine Football Netball League (BFNL) that play in a traditional ‘home & away’ style competition on Saturdays alongside our Senior Men’s Football teams. This competition runs from approx. late March to mid-September each year.

Senior Grades include: A, B, C, D & E

Junior Grades include:

19 & Under (section 1)
17 & Under (section 1 & 2)
15 & Under (section 1 & 2)
13 & Under (section 1 & 2)

We also register additional junior teams from 11&Under through to 19&Under age groups, to suit our membership requirements in AFL Barwon’s Geelong Junior Netball (GJNL) competitions that play at Kardinia Park on weekdays across winter.

Netball selection trials are held in February each year to allocate players to teams using a strengths-based approach, this ensures we field highly competitive teams each year. Prospective players must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) during the pre-season to be eligible to participate in selection trials.

The club also offers a pre-season fitness program that runs during December and January to help keep our players connected during the offseason. All new / prospective and returning players are encouraged to come along to our free and inclusive pre-season sessions (suitable for all skill and fitness levels).

Summer Social Netball

The club can also offer affiliation for junior teams interested in summer social netball through AFL Barwon’s competition held on weekdays at Kardinia Park across. This competition is open for 11&Under through to 19&Under teams and runs approximately October to March each year.

About the club and netball committee

BHFNC netball is run by volunteers and supported by generous club sponsors. We welcome those interested in joining our volunteer or sponsor groups and appreciate the continuous effort and contributions each year that enable us to provide a high-quality netball program.

All our players (or for juniors, their adults) are also required to volunteer within the club to support the netball program to be successfully delivered each year.

There are lots of ways players, their supporters and family members can get involved with our club including, helping in the canteen on home games, scoring, timekeeping, setting up/packing down, being a primary carer, coach or team manager, umpire, fundraising or joining our committee.

Netball Committee

For all enquiries, please email the club netball@barwonheadsfnc.org.au

You can also follow us on social media or join our facebook group ‘Barwon Heads Netball for the most up to date information about our netball program.

2024 Netball Committee

Director of Netball
Sandy Fry 0438 392 042

Netball Secretariat
Kate Schaller 0407 787 821

Junior Coordinators
Mel Gee 0400 596 990 &
Natalie Cooper 0417 541 774

Senior Coach
Kate Schippers 0434 588 620

Umpire Coordinator
Maddie Okley 0488 634 345

Uniform Coordinator
Janine Paranavitana 0416 111 277

Player Well-being Officer
Georgia Cahill

General Netball Committee
Ebony Evans
Danielle Watkins
Bec Gillett

Junior Netball

BHFNC place a strong emphasis on participation, teamwork, sporting resilience, development of skills, game play awareness, overall fitness – and of course, having fun!

We recognise junior players grow and develop at different rates, and we seek to ensure all our coaching and team manager personnel work with strengths-based and fair-go principles to help our youngest netballers flourish.

BHFNC also supports the ‘Net Set Go’ program to introduce younger children (9 years and under) to netball through foundational skills and activities. This usually occurs on a Friday evening across winter.

Child Safety requirements

All players and (for junior players their adult caregivers) and club affiliates must be aware of and comply with the club’s and the state netball Child Safety Policies.

These policies and protocols are viewable here.

All adults and young people providing a volunteer service to the club will be required to demonstrate their suitability for working with our children and young people. This includes providing evidence of and maintaining a valid Working With Children Clearance (or equivalent) and undertaking professional development relevant to ensuring the safety and well-being of our juniors.

If you have a child safety suggestion or concern please email our Club Child Safety Officer: CSO@barwonheadsfnc.org.au

Fees & Membership Requirements

All netball players must have current membership and registrations to play netball with BHFNC. There are club, league and state fees payable as follows:

BHFNC membership
- These are club fees to ensure the club can provide a netball program and gives members free parking on home games.
- This fee needs to be paid by Round 3 of the season.
PlayHQ league registration
- This is a requirement set out by AFL Barwon to enable game day administration.
- This must be paid before Round 1 of each season.
Netball Victoria membership
- This is a sports insurance fee to provide cover as mandated by Netball Victoria as the governing body for netball.
- This should be obtained prior to participating in selection trials.

Other costs

Uniforms – Players are required to purchase the full club uniform.
Adherence to the uniform policy is mandatory as per the league by-laws set by AFL Barwon.

Club merchandise and uniforms are available to order through the Netball Connect application / website from February.

Second hand uniforms may be available through private sale. Join our Netball Facebook page to explore this option.

Club netball Parking fees – For ‘away’ games players choosing to park within the sports grounds at other clubs will need to pay a small parking fee set by that club.

Free parking is available for those willing to park outside the grounds.

There are no parking fees for the Kardinia Park venue for weekday teams.

FAQ

Please review our Playing & Selection Policy for more information about our netball program.

We missed the cut off date for the Selection Trials Expressions of Interest (EOIs) – can my child still trial / play?

Email the club netball@barwonheadsfnc.org.au to register your child’s interest. Please do not use the EOI links after the closure date.

Depending on numbers, we may be able to accept late registration / EOIs. Whilst we do try to accommodate all juniors, this may not always be possible.

It is essential from a child safety perspective that we have accurate records of children who intend to participate in trials or come into our care. Please do not send your children to trials or training without confirmation from the club that your EOI has been received.

If you have not received an email directly from the club about trials / team selections please get in touch as there may be an administrative error.

Does my netballer need to trial even if they only want to play in a Friday night league?

Yes – participation at trials is important to ensuring selectors can assess players individually and ensure overall team compatibility.

Netball is a team sport so we need all players to trial to ensure a fair and transparent process for all.

Playing for BHFNC is a commitment spanning the whole season – this includes trials, training & game days.

Can my netballer play in two grades or play up? All their friends are in the next age group but they are still eligible for the grade below…

Whilst it is possible for players to play in two grades. The club takes several things into account:

– the age and development needs of the player

– the player must first commit to playing in their age group division and prioritise their age group team first. This includes attending training each week.

– playing in a second (higher) grade may be offered where there is an opening in a team and/or where it meets a skills gap for that team.

– we encourage families to consider the netball commitment required playing in two teams each week for a child’s physical, social and emotional well-being needs, this also should include the impact on your household schedules before submitting the request.

My child also plays another sport or representative netball, do they still need to trial / train?

Yes – playing for BHFNC is a commitment that spans the whole season.

As netball is a team sport, it can be unfair to other netballers and difficult for the coaching / team management personnel to undertake training and planning if players do not attend and commit to all trials, trainings and game days.

Whilst we understand the start of the season can have a cross-over for other competitions and sports; due to high numbers of interest in our junior program, we select teams based on demonstrated skill and compatibility at trials.

The club may elect to use its discretion to accommodate special requests if exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.

My child played in the Div 1 team last season, do they automatically play in that division / team again?

No – each year the club holds selection trials to individually assess players and team compatibility.

Your netballer is not guaranteed to be placed in the same team, division or with their existing friendship groups/ preferred peers when playing club netball at BHFNC.

We take a strengths-based approach to team selection and recognise junior netballers grow and develop at different rates and lots can happen between seasons to influence skills and team compatibility.

Players are placed in teams within their eligible age-group reflective of their skills and experience. Our club is fortunate to have many talented junior netballers and we field highly competitive teams every year.

Our club policy is to always select teams that are highly competitive for the netball competition (whether that be a Tuesdsy, Friday or Saturday league). As this is club (not social) netball, we want to position our teams to win & have fun along the way, as that’s the aim of the game.

A extra benefit of this approach is the players and their families get the opportunity to make new friendships and expand their social networks through the club.

My child plays in a summer / other comp do they still need VNA (Netball Victoria membership)?

Yes – depending on which league (Sat or Fri) you will need to transfer your annual Netball Victoria registration across to Barwon Heads for the winter competition via Netball Connect. Upon registering your player to a Barwon Heads winter season comp, your fees will be discounted at the final payment screen.

Are there any extra commitments with BHFNC that I need to know about?

BHFNC relies on parent/guardian involvement and volunteers to support the junior program. There are both club and team level activities that need to be undertaken to ensure the club can continue to offer a junior netball program this includes

Teams:

– Coach* to run training and game day activities. This can be jointly undertaken and accreditation is required. The club will support coaches to ensure players are developed and coaches have resources and guidance. The club can provide reimbursement for foundation coaching course costs where required.

– Team Manager* to help with the match day paperwork and general information sharing amongst the team

– Scorer / Time Keeper to assist with game day operations. Instructions and advice is provided to all match officials to ensure compliance with the leagues / competitions paperwork requirements.

– Primary Carer* to provide immediate first aid for any injuries or illness that may occur (first aid qualification is required and the club may offer assistance to cover costs for this if required).

A working with children clearance (WWCC) is required for any role marked with an * and the club may also undertake additional suitability assessments as part of our child safeguarding policies.

Club:

– Canteen helpers to sell food and beverages from the clubhouse for a couple hours on home games. Each team usually is rostered on for this 1-2 times per season.

– Sub-committees and fundraisers the club will also participate in various fundraisers and social events throughout the season and we welcome any assistance from our members and their families.

If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to email us netball@barwonheadsfnc.org.au