POLICY Grading and Age Policy Policy Number PO-001-00001 Document Control Version Control Date Approved Version Author Review Date Review By 3/2/2014 V2 WDNA 31/12/2014 WDNA President / Secretary 1/4/2014 V3 WDNA 31/12/2014 WDNA President / Secretary 21/1/2015 V4 WDNA 21/1/2015 WDNA President / Secretary 10/6/2015 V5 WDNA 10/6/2015 WDNA President/Secretary 02/02/2016 V6 WDNA 02/02/2016 WDNA President/Secretary 15/04/2016 V7 WDNA 15/04/2016 WDNA President/Secretary 20/11/16 V8 WDNA 01/11/2017 WDNA President/ Snr Vice President 6/2/17 V9 WDNA 6/2/18 WDNA President/Assistant Secretary/Clubs 24/11/17 V10 WDNA 21/9/17 WDNA, Grading sub-committee 22/4/18 V11 WDNA 22/4/18 WDNA Board 21/11/18 V12 WDNA Nov 2018 WDNA Snr Vice President, Clubs 17/01/19 V13 WDNA Jan 2019 WDNA Board 23/01/19 V14 WDNA Nov 2019 WDNA Board/Delegates Approval Delegation required for approval: Association Board Approving officer: Name: Tony deglas Position: President Signature: Date: 25/01/19 1. Introduction 1.1. Netball s vision is that everyone values their connection with netball. Western Districts Netball Association (WDNA) and its Members will know when this vision is achieved when everyone has an opportunity to be involved in netball in a way that brings them good health, recognition, achievement, enjoyment and a sense of belonging. 1.2. Integrity in netball encompasses all of the elements needed to preserve what is intrinsically valuable about netball and to uphold the principles of fairness, respect, responsibility and safety. 1.3. This Policy is applicable for WDNA and Affiliates. Page 1 of 7
2. Competition Divisions: Age Group definition: The age of the player as at 31 December in the year they are registering to play. Year of birth listed below applies to the 2019 WDNA competition. Competition Competition Category Court and Hoop size Match Duration Age Group Graded Ball Size Umpiring Rules Introduction Non Competitive Competitive Net Set Go NSG - Set (WDNA modified) NSG GO 9 Years NSG GO 10 Years Junior Intermediate Senior Modified Grass Modified Grass No match Play 5 to 6 (Born 2013 and 2014) 7 to 8 (Born 2011 and 2012) 9 years (Born 2010) 10 years (Born 2009) 11 years (Born 2008) 12 years (Born 2007) 13 years (Born 2006) 14 to 15 (Born 2004 and 2005) 16s 18s (Born 2001-2003) 16 to Adult (Born 2003 and earlier) NA Size 4 Not Applicable Divisions Size 4 Divisions Size 4 Divisions Size 5 Modified as per WDNA NSG guidelines Moderate Modification As per WDNA NSG guidelines Moderate Modification As per AANA (10 yrs) (A) Grade (A) Reserve NA Size 5 As per AANA Page 2 of 7
3. Grading WDNA and clubs will paper grade all teams prior to the start of the season. A second Grading meeting with clubs will be held following the second fixture date. Paper grading will be subject to an annual review. 4. Grading Review Process 4.1 Junior and Intermediate Divisions will play two half games on the first two fixture dates. Points will accrue as per normal fixtures i.e. 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss. Senior divisions will play normal fixtures (full games). 4.2 Junior and Intermediate Divisions will be reviewed at a second Grading Meeting held following the second fixture date. 4.3 Clubs may submit a request for Junior and Intermediate Division movements within the same Age Group. Requests must be submitted immediately following the second fixture date and prior to the second Paper Grading Meeting. 4.4 Senior Teams will be reviewed following the third fixture. 4.5 Clubs may submit a request for Senior Division movements. Requests must be immediately following the third fixture. 4.6 Requests for Senior team movements will be assessed by the WDNA Grading and Selection Committee. Clubs will be notified of the outcome of their request prior to the fourth fixture date. 4.7 If a team moves up or down a division they will be awarded half the possible competition points for the games played to date. Example: If 4 games have been played (including byes) a team will move with 4 competition points regardless of how many games have been won or lost. 5. Age Policy Rules & Guidelines 5.1 It is the responsibility of the Clubs to ensure that no breaches of the Age Policy Rules occur. If a breach occurs penalties to the Club and team will apply as listed in Rule 13. 5.2 Clubs must nominate a minimum of 7 players in each team entered in the Non-Competitive and Competitive Divisions, with the exception of A Grade where a minimum of 5 players must be nominated. 5.3 Clubs must ensure players in the Competitive Divisions are registered in their correct Age Group (Competition Division Table). 5.4 Players in the Non-Competitive divisions may be registered in a team in their own age group or one age group higher within the Non-Competitive divisions. 5.4 Fill-in Players are not permitted to play in a division or age group that is lower than the team they are registered in for the season. 5.5 Clubs do not need to submit a Game Day Age Policy Request if the player is filling in for a team in a higher division within their Age Group or when the player is filling in for a team that is one Age Group above their DOB. It is the Club s responsibility to ensure that the player has the capacity and ability to do so. 5.6 A Game Day Age Policy Request must be submitted where a player is required to fill in for a team where the team is in an Age Group two years above the player s DOB. (Age Groups are listed above in the Competition Division Table). 5.7 Where possible, the fill-in player should be drawn from the division immediately below the team requiring the fill-in player. Using Division 1 players to fill in for the lower divisions in the Age Group above is highly discouraged. Page 3 of 7
5.8 A fill in Player requiring a Game Day Age Policy Request is not permitted to sign the card or take the court until the Game Day Age Policy Request has been approved by WDNA 5.9 A player may not play in two games in the same time slot in the same fixture round. 5.10 When a club has two or more teams in the same age group and division, players are not permitted to play in the other team in that division and Age Group. Example: Team 1 and Team 2 from Club A are both registered to play in 12 years Division 1. Players from Team 1 cannot play in Team 2 and players from Team 2 cannot play in Team 1. If fill in players are required by either team they must be drawn from a lower division/age group. 5.11 Players in the 5 and 6 year Age Group are not permitted to fill in for any team on game day. For further information regarding players in this age group refer to the Netball Australia Junior Netball Policy 5.12 The Club is responsible for ensuring all Game Day Age Policy Requests are submitted to the WDNA Office prior to the player taking the court in the higher Age Group. 5.13 Should a fill in player take the court without the appropriate completion and approval of the Game Day Age Policy Request, it will be considered a breach of the Age Policy and penalties will apply. See Rule 13 for penalties. 5.14 It is the responsibility of the Club to ensure that all players sign the scorecard prior to taking the court for each game they play during the competition day. 5.15 Fill in players must be listed in the space provided on the scorecard and include the team and division they are registered to play in for that season. 5.16 Fill in players should only sign the scorecard in the player section if they actually take the court. 5.17 The WDNA Committee review all scorecards and may require the club to explain any anomalies. 6. Full Season Age Policy Requests 6.1 No player may play in a lower age group without written permission from the Board of Western Districts Netball Association. Permission to play in a lower age group may be considered in exceptional circumstances i.e. a player with a disability or impairment. A WDNA Full Season Age Policy Request must be submitted prior to the player taking the court. 6.2 A Full Season Age Policy Request must be submitted using a WDNA Full Season Age Policy Request Form for every player a Club wishes to play out of their Age Group in the competitive divisions for the whole season. The request must be submitted by the due date specified by WDNA at the start of each season. Failure to do so may result in your Full Season Age Policy Request being rejected without review. 6.3 If a team s circumstances change during the season and a replacement player is required to play permanently in the higher division or Age Group the club must submit a request to the WDNA board to fill the vacancy. 6.4 All Full Season Age Policy Requests will be reviewed by the Grading and Age Policy Subcommittee. All decisions made by the Grading and Age Policy Sub Committee will be submitted to the WDNA board for approval. Once a final decision has been made WDNA will communicate this to the Clubs. 6.5 If a club wishes to appeal the decision made by the Grading and Age Policy Sub Committee they can do so by writing an appeal letter and submitting this to the WDNA board via admin@westsnetball.org for review. This must be submitted to the WDNA Board within 5 working days of the original decision being communicated to the club. Page 4 of 7
6.6 The club submitting the appeal can expect a response within 5 working days from the date the WDNA Board receives the appeal from the club. 6.7 There is no right for further appeal from the decision handed down by the WDNA Board. All decisions of the WDNA Board are final and binding on the person/s and the club. 7. Final Series Game Day Age Policy Requests 7.1 During the Final Series a Game Day Age Policy Request must be submitted to WDNA for any movement within teams regardless of Age/Division/Competition Category. Where possible this should be prior to 4 pm on the Friday prior to the Finals competition day. Your Club secretary will be notified of any issues with requests 8. Players filling in for higher Age Groups and / or players playing in a higher division within the same Age Group: 8.1 Players are permitted to play up three (3) times during the season, regardless of whether the player has filled in for three (3) different teams during the season or the same team three (3) times. If a player plays up more than the permitted three (3) occasions it will be considered a breach of the Grading and Age Policy and penalties will be applied. (See Rule 13 for penalties).. Rule 8 does not apply to (A) Grade and A Reserve. See Rule 9. 9 A Grade and A Reserve Competition Rules 9.1 Clubs must nominate a minimum of 5 players in their A Grade team. 9.2 Players nominated in the A Grade team are not permitted to play down in A Reserve. 9.3 Players from A Reserve may play in A Grade 4 times during the season, including finals, and will still be eligible to play in their A Reserve team. 9.4 If an A Reserve player plays in A Grade on a 5 th occasion, that player will be deemed to be a permanent member of the A Grade team and are no longer eligible to play in A Reserve. 9.5 Rule 8.1 applies to players from other Senior or 16-18s divisions filling in for the A Grade division. 9.6 A 15 year old player may fill in for A Grade but it is the club s responsibility to ensure they have the capacity and ability to do so. A Game Day Age Policy Request must be submitted prior to the player taking the court. 10. A Grade and A Reserve Grade Final Series Page 5 of 7
10.1 Clubs are required to name their final A Grade team prior to the commencement of the Finals Series. A Minimum of 7 players must be named in the A Grade team. A due date will be advised by WDNA. 10.2 A Reserve players may still fill in for an A Grade Team during the final series. 10.3 Rule 9.3 will apply to any A Reserve player filling in for an A Grade Team. Example if a player has already played in A Grade on 4 occasions, they will be deemed to be a permanent member of the A Grade team on the 5 th occasion and they will not be permitted to return to the A Reserve team. 11. Eligibility to play in finals 11.1 To be eligible to take part in the finals series (including Semi Finals / Preliminary Finals and Grand Finals) a player must play at least 3 day season games for the club (the player must play at least one full quarter of each of the 3 games). 12. Age Group Eligibility 12.1 To be eligible to play in the Senior 16-Open or A Grade/A Reserve Competition Categories, either with a Full Season Age Policy Request or with a Game Day Age Policy Request, a player must be turning 15 years of age or older in that year. 12.2 Full Season Age Policy Requests for a 15 year old to play in the A Grade or A Reserve will only be considered if the player is a member of a Queensland Premier League team. 13 Penalties for Breaches of the Grading and Age Policy Rules 13.1 Competitive teams that breach any Grading and Age Policy rules will lose any competition points gained from that game. 13.2 The for and against score recorded in the points table will be adjusted to read (0) in the for column. The against score will be recorded in their competition points. 13.3 The offending Club will be fined $50.00 for breaches by Competitive and Non-Competitive teams. 14 CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES 14.1 Each Club will be responsible for nominating their teams into their respective Age Group Divisions. It is the Club s responsibility to ensure that the teams are graded appropriately and documentation submitted on the correct paperwork and by the due date. 14.2 Each Club will delegate a Club Official to attend the Grading Meeting and Grading Review Meeting. 14.3 Clubs are responsible for ensuring Full Season Age Policy Requests are submitted to WDNA using the required paperwork and by the due date. 14.4 Clubs are responsible for submitting requests for permanent replacement players to play in higher divisions and or age groups. 14.5 It is the responsibility of the Club Officials to ensure game day Age Policy Requests are submitted to the WDNA Office prior to the relevant game. 14.6 The Club is responsible for ensuring that all coaches are aware of the Age Policy Rules. 14.7 The Club is responsible for ensuring that all coaches and club officials are aware of the consequences and penalties for any breach of the Age Policy Rules. 15. QSNL Player Points Cap for A and A Reserve Grade Teams Page 6 of 7
QSNL players are permitted to play in the A Grade Division at Western Districts Netball Association with the following points cap and provisions: 15.1 Each A Grade team is permitted a maximum of 16 points based on QSNL Representation at the commencement of the WDNA season (final date for team registrations as per WDNA calendar). 15.2 A individual player s points value does not change if their representative status changes during the season e.g. a shadow player who is elevated to a QSNL team mid season retains their nil points value for the season. 15.3 Points System Tier 1 player - 5 points Tier 2 player - 3 points 19 Years Players - 3 points Shadow players - nil points 15.4 Tier players who qualify as Home Grown Players will be included in the points cap tally. 15.5 Teams may exceed the points cap with exclusively Home Grown Players however no new Tier players will be permitted in the team if the new player s points exceed the 16 point cap. Home Grown Players A Home Grown player is defined as one who has played 3 or more consecutive playing years in the Day Season Competition with the same club at Western Districts Netball Association. Consecutive Playing years Years played with the same club, which may or may not be consecutive calendar years but where the player has not played for any other club in the intervening years. Players considered to be Home Grown. Year 1 club A Year 2 club A Year 3 club A Year 1 club A Year 2 did not play Year 3 club A Year 4 club A Players NOT considered to be Home Grown Year 1 club A Year 2 Club B Year 3 Club A Year 4 Club A 15.6 All registered QSNL players (Div 1, Div 2 and Under 19) are only eligible to play in the A Grade competition if their club has a team in the A Grade competition. 15.7 QSNL players may play in lower divisions if their club does not have an A Grade team. In this instance the QSNL player must play in the highest division available within their club. Page 7 of 7