DISTRICT PROGRAMME 2017/2018 Programme Participation Regulations DISTRICT
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Netball Scotland s District Netball programme offers an annual programme of events to enhance the training opportunities provided by local Districts. This in turn should enhance school, club and development academy programmes. The ultimate hope is that developing players and coaches will be given the chance to create a training environment that mirrors the national squad set up. Trials should be an open and transparent process, ensuring an open invitation to trial is available to all schools and clubs within the District; thereby, giving our young potential players the opportunity to train alongside and be coaches by qualified coaches out with their school/club set up.
1.0 COMPETITION MANAGEMENT 1.1 The District Programme shall be managed and administered by Netball Scotland s Club and Competition Development Manager (CCDM). 1.2 By entering a team(s) into the District programme, Districts are in agreement that: They understand and agree to abide by the rules and regulations set out by Netball Scotland. They are able and willing to fulfil the costs and commitments of participation in the District programme. They will meet and abide by all the deadlines set by Netball Scotland in relation to this programme. Failure to do so could remove them from the programme. 1.3 It is the responsibility of District squad coaches and volunteers to ensure that all players are conversant with Netball Scotland s District Programme Rules and regulations and Netball Scotland s Respect Policy. 1.4 All teams will be held responsible for the overall conduct (behaviour, demeanour and actions) of all members associated with the team, including players, officials and spectators. 1.5 Teams must provide their own first aid cover (for all) and child wellbeing & protection care for all those involved in the District as per Netball Scotland s PVG Procedures. 1.6 The teams competing in this programme must be made up of individuals of the same sex. Only teams of the same sex may compete against one another. This may result, at our sole discretion, in teams entered to the programme being unable to compete or being unable to progress through the programme. 2.0 DISTRICT ELIGIBILITY 2.1 A District is set by the geographical boundaries stipulated by Local Authorities. 2.1.1 The only exception to this is where the geographical area of a District/Local Authority is so large that the travel distances for a single District are unmanageable. In this circumstance, the Competitions Advisory Group will review these Districts on a case by case basis and will approve the recognition of more than one District within the Local Authority. The CompAG will govern this and their decision is final. 2.2 Districts involved in the programme should have standalone training sessions. i.e not within a school and/or club training time 2.2.1 District training sessions should be a minimum of once per month. 2.3 It is a requirement that all District squads must have at least one qualified UKCC Level 2 coach working with the District for the 2017/18 season and a recommendation that each age group have a qualified UKCC Level 2 working with them. Districts with more than one team should have a minimum of one coach and one umpire per team. The coach should NOT be the umpire. 2.3.1 It is recommended that all coaches working with any District squads should have attended a Make it R.E.A.L Workshop. 2.4 District Trials should be open to all schools/clubs within that said District. Player Registration details (see rule 4.2) will show affiliation numbers to reflect this. 2.4.1 It is accepted if there is only one junior club in that District; it is likely the squad will be predominately made up of that club. However, a mixture of schools are expected to be represented. 2.4.2 It is recommended that District hold trials between 30th June and 31st of August ahead of the District season to account for rule 4.3. 2.5 Districts can enter a maximum of two U15 squads per season. Districts can enter a maximum of two U17 squads per season. 2.5.1 Districts will be required to submit their squad entry requests in June along with a 25 non-refundable deposit for this entry. After this period no more squad entries will be submitted.
2.6 2.6.1 District will be provided with a copy of the District calendar of events at the time of squad entries. 2.6.2 Upon entry to this programme Districts are expected to turn up to all events appropriate to their entries. 2.6.3 The calendar is set out in line with Netball Scotland s National calendar. However, this is subject to change due to circumstances out with their control. 3.0 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 3.1 The programme is played in age groups as follow: U15 All players must be under 15 years of age as of midnight on 31st December 2017 U17 - All players must be under 17 years of age as of midnight on 31st December 2017 3.1.1 All players should compete in their appropriate age category, where possible. 3.1.2 Individuals who are older than the specified age cannot be placed into a younger age group under any circumstance. 3.1.3 Players who are younger than the specified age can be placed into a higher age group at the discretion of their coach and in agreement by Netball Scotland. 3.1.4 A maximum of two Under 13 players can be placed within an Under 15 team, and they must play in the B team (if applicable). 3.1.5 In the event that a District has more than two potentially talented Under 13 players (i.e. individuals who have been selected into one Netball Scotland s Development Academies) these can be played in the Under 15 squad, at the discretion of the coach and agreement by Netball Scotland via written/email communication with the CCDM. 3.2 Players may only compete for one District at one age level throughout a season. 3.3 No player currently involved in the National Performance (U17-Thistles) set up will be eligible to compete in the annual District programme leagues. 3.3.1 There is nothing to prevent deselected National players from training with District Squads, this is down to each Districts own preference. 3.3.2 National players will be eligible to complete in the Inter District Programme event at the end of season, if Districts wish them to do so. These players must be registered with Netball Scotland as per rule 4.0. 3.3.3 The National coach will have the power to request the inclusion of any National squad Long squad/ deselected player to compete for their said district, if match play is required for that player. This is a one way process district coaches cannot contact the National coach to make requests. 3.4 All players registered (rule 4.0) for the District programme must be an affiliated member of Netball Scotland via their local Junior club before taking to court. 3.4.1 Should an individual not be part of club, players are to be affiliated as individual members via the Netball Scotland membership system. All District players will be liable to a minimum 10 affiliation fee for that season. 3.5 All District coaches, team managers, coordinators, volunteers and officials must be affiliated to Netball Scotland for that season, under the appropriate category.
4.0 PLAYER REGISTRATION 4.1 All District players must be registered to the Netball Scotland District Programme at a cost of 25 per player. 4.2 At the start of the District programme season (following entry) all participating Districts will be asked to submit to Netball Scotland a completed Squad List for each competing squad. 4.2.1 The squad list will require the following information to be provided by Districts for registration purposes: Full name Individual Membership Affiliation ID Date of birth Club School 4.2.2 There is no maximum number of players that can be registered per squad but there MUST be a minimum of 10 players. 4.3 All registered District players must be named by the 31st of August for the start of season s events. 4.3.1 Players can be added to this throughout the season but must be updated through Netball Scotland s CCDM before they take to court. 4.4 Any District who knowingly and deliberately provides false information regarding the identity of players at registration and the naming of players on team sheets will be expelled from the competition. 5.0 U15 PROGRAMME STRUCTURE 5.1 U15 programme is split into North and South regional areas with 3 event days to accommodate as much court time as possible. 5.1.1 The North/South regional split will be done geographically, where possible, based on the squad entries. Netball Scotland are not in a position to confirm or guarantee Districts into a region until the entries and fixtures have been drafted. 5.1.2 Netball Scotland will endeavour to mix up those Districts on the border of the regional split year on year to make it fair. 5.2 The U15 programme will conclude with a Finals Weekend at the end of the season following the completion of the regional leagues. 5.2.1 The top half teams from both the North and South regional leagues will compete at the Finals day on the Sunday at the assigned venue. 5.2.2 The remaining teams in North and South regionals will compete in consolation finals day on Saturday at the assigned venue. 5.2.3 The split for the finals days will be at the discretion of Netball Scotland as it will depend on the number of entries from districts over the North and South split. 5.2.3 Teams will not be permitted to choose which day they attend.
6.0 U17 PROGRAMME STRUCTURE 6.1 The season will start with the Under 17 Play Off Day, a one-off tournament which will determine the subsequent U17 programme that District team falls under. 6.1.1 Depending on number of entries, and at Netball Scotland s discretion, teams will be split into one of 3 sections, with all teams playing each other once. 6.1.2 The teams that competed in the previous Under 17 Performance League will be seeded and split across the 3 sections. 6.1.3 The top teams from the Play Off Day will compete in the Under 17 Performance League and the remaining teams in the Under 17 Regional League. Regardless of their performance in the previous season. 6.1.3.1 The number of top teams that go through to the Performance league will be at the discretion of Netball Scotland and based on that years entries. 6.2 The teams who fall into the U17 Performance League will play over 3 event days to be named Performance League Champions 6.2.1 Points for fixtures will be allocated to teams as per rule 8.1. 6.2.2 In the event where there is greater than 6 teams in this league, a further fixture date may be added by Netball Scotland. 6.3 All other remaining teams will compete over 3 further dates to be named Regional League Champions. 6.4 Following the U17 Play off Day both the U17 Performance and Regional leagues will be played over 3 dates from September March to support player development. 7.0 VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 7.1 The Under 17 Play Off Day, all Under 17 Performance Fixtures, Under 15 Finals Weekend and the Inter District will be hosted by a Netball Scotland representative. 7.2 All Under 17 Regional and Under 15 Regional days will be hosted by the Districts as set out by Netball Scotland as per the District Calendar (copies can be found on the Netball Scotland website). 7.2.1 All host Districts will be confirmed following the Under 17 Play Off Day. 7.3 Each host District will be given, in advance, the appropriate paperwork, resources and equipment required to host these days, and are responsible for ensuring sufficient numbers of volunteers are recruited to assist with the running of the event. 7.4 It is the responsibility of the host district to provide Netball Scotland with a copy of the results via email to competitions@netballscotland.com within 2 working days of the event day. 7.4.1 The host District s responsibility to return all required paperwork to Netball Scotland via the appropriate medium within 1 working week of the event date. 7.4.2 The host Districts will also be responsible for passing the equipment between hosts as the season continues 7.5 Full details of the host District and volunteer requirements will be provided for each host day ahead of the event.
8.0 RESULTS RECORD 8.1 Netball Scotland will maintain the league tables for all District programme leagues based on the points awarded for fixtures below: 8.1.1 Win 5 points Draw 3 points Loss by 5 goals or less 2 points Achieved 50% or more of opponents score 1 point Any other loss 0 points 8.1.2 Where there are two teams within a League table on level points: Goal Difference will be used to determine relative table positions i.e. goals scored subtract goals conceded. Then by goal average i.e. Goals scored divided by goals against In the event of one team having their goal difference affected by forfeited matches, then all goals scored by and against the forfeiting team(s) in all games shall be omitted from the calculations of both teams level on points. For example, in the event that one team received 5 points for a cancelled fixture the goals scored by and against both teams level on points in all games against the offending team(s) will not be included when goal difference is calculated. In the event that neither of the above differentiates between the two teams tied on points, Netball Scotland, and the Competitions Advisory Group determine the means of differentiation. Netball Scotland s decision in this case will be final. 8.2 All results will be recorded and held centrally by the CCDM 8.3 All fixtures and results (win, loss or draw not score lines) will be published on the Netball Scotland website following completion of the round. 9.0 PHOTOGRAPHY & SOCIAL MEDIA 9.1 It is expected, unless otherwise stated in writing to Netball Scotland that all players, coaches and officials agree to the taking of photographs during any centralised event hosted by Netball Scotland, and to the use of these images by Netball Scotland and any event partners/sponsors. 9.2 Netball Scotland would encourage Districts to celebrate their experience and successes via social media. 9.2.1 We want you to share this with us @NetballScotland. Use the #NSDistrict
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