TINGARA NETBALL CLUB – GRADING PROCESS POLICY

Dear Player/Parent/Guardian,

Netball at FNA is a graded competitive sport and, other than forthe junior JHgrade, Tingara is a grading club (that is, friendships are no criteria for Club team selections).

The grading procedure adopted by Tingara Netball Club is an extensive process, which is designed to provide all players with the opportunity to demonstrate their netball skills in an unbiased and fair environment.

The Grading Committee is made up of past and current players with extensive knowledge of netball including its rules and regulations. The Grading Committee grades about 400 players each year. As you can well appreciate, this is not an easy task and places huge constraints on the Club’s many volunteers.

From time to time, some of you may not agree with the decisions made on the grading of particular players.If this happens, we encourage you to give due consideration to the decisions made and the processes adopted. Families are best advised to provide support as needed if a player is disappointed in the outcome of the grading process.

The Grading Committee would like to take this opportunity to outline the three stage grading process used prior to the team selections. The grading process involves:

1. Match play: As much as possible (particularly in the younger age groups), each player is seen in match-play 2-3 times a season. This has proved very beneficial for selectors particularly when the player has been playing different positions.

2. Coach’s feedback: We ask all coaches at the end of the season to provide feedback on each player. This is an extremely valuable aid for our graders. The coach has known each player longer than the graders and therefore comments regarding attitude and attendance at training, ability, versatility, playing under pressure and sportsmanship are all attributes considered.

3. Grading sessions: The final stage of the process is the 2-3 week grading sessions held in February/March. During these sessions, all players in the same age group are competing against each other to gain selection in a team. Participation at the Club’s grading trials is compulsory, unless there are special extenuating circumstances that are communicated in writing to the relevant grading co-ordinator prior to the commencement of the grading trials. The Club may, at its discretion from season to season, extend the grading trials time schedule and/or adopt other strategies to maximize the effectiveness of the grading processes.

In the junior grades, we do not necessarily seek information on preferred playing positions. Where preferred playing positions are sought, it is important for both players and parents to understand that the positions they nominate are the positions they will mainly be trialed in. Being a versatile player often proves to be advantageous.

All players in each division are graded on their assessed skill and commitment levels, and their ability to fit into the various team combinations to promote team balance. The grading process is an exhaustive one. Ability alone does not necessarily determine where a player is graded.

It is Club policy that players are not to be graded by a parent or family member of the player – we try very hard to keep the grading as fair and independent as possible.

New players to the Tingara Netball Club have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills to the Grading Committee at the grading sessions. It is essential that all new players attend these grading sessions.

IMPORTANT: Once a player is graded and theteams announced, the Club’s policy is not to move that player to another team, other than where there are exceptional circumstances (eg where a player is seriously injured and this necessitates another player to be moved). Parents MUST NOT make requests for review of their child’s grading. To allow such a review would bring unnecessary complexity, uncertainty and instability to the Club grading processes.

Individual players (or their parents) in the 17s and 19s grades only may request to ‘play up’ to a senior grade, but this request must be made in writing at least 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the grading period. This requirement will need to be communicated to any player/parent who makes prior enquiries and also placed in the Club registration pack and public grading policy.

Individual players (or their parents) may request to ‘play down’ to a lower grade where a legitimate reason exists such as physical capacity or disability. This request must be made in writing at least 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the registration period and players will need to provide relevant medical evidence for assessment. It should be noted that the final assessment will be determined by Fremantle Netball Association, not Tingara.

Finally it is important to again note that all junior players are graded in year of birth, not school year. Within that year group, players are graded on ability, NOT friendship groups (other than the junior JH grade) - so please prepare your child for this outcome.

If you have any further queries regarding the grading process, please feel free to contact the relevant Grading Co-ordinators (refer to the Club website for contact details).

If, for whatever reason, you have concerns with the grading process in general, then any query must be in writing and be emailed to the Club President. However, as noted above, it is the Club’s clear policy not to move any player to another team, other than where there are exceptional circumstances. Claims from parents that their daughter has been graded too low will not be considered.

Regards

Tingara Management Committee