2016 Centre Stage
Motueka Netball Centre
2016 MNC Presidents message
Our present year has been very successful especially in our age development and it is very encouraging to see that Junior netball is strong and healthy in our Motueka Centre .While we are struggling with people to take on our key roles we have come through once again with a committed core of busy dedicated people. With our 70th netball season coming to a close we are having an afternoon tea on the 10th September for interested elderly past netballers to get together to share their memories and reflect on the changes we have seen through the decades. Two of our nine Life Members in their late eighties are still with us and are looking forward to the day. This has created a lot of interest and with the local newspaper keen to give us before and after coverage we hope it will work to our advantage for more people to want to become involved in the future.
Yours in Netball
Ronnie Wilkins
2016 Motueka Representatives
For the 2016 representative season we have 5 teams, Under 13 A & development, Under 15 A & development and an Under 17 team. Over the passed 3 years we have introduced development teams to the under 13 & 15 age groups. Being a small centre we select players for our development teams that will still be eligible the following year. The goal is to develop our players and expose them to a harder level competition to build for the following year. This has helped to make us more competitive which is especially evident in our under 15 teams, that were our first under 13 development team. They are having a great season.
In the second half of the season we have included our under 13 team into our Saturday competition and under 15 team into our Monday night grade 1 competition, our goal being to give them the time playing together to gel as a team.
2016 Grade One Netball
Our Monday night Grade 1 competition provides our top teams the opportunity to play at the next level against the other top teams in our centre. It features both our top high school teams and club teams, which especially provides valuable experience at that level for our secondary school players. Although there was a decline in teams, competition has been closer this year with tighter games.
2016 Junior Netball
Motueka Netball Centre has been incredibly fortunate to facilitate the Netball New Zealand ANZfutureFERN skill programme to 10 year 3 & 4 teams and 10 year 5 & 6 teams, over the season.
Pre-season the junior development officer ran 3 workshops to deliver the coach facilitation guide, thinking and resources. These sessions were practical, engendered discussion and an opportunity for the local primary school coaches to come together and discuss individual support around generic and differentiated delivery of the skills, as well as the opportunity to trail and see the new game. All who attended were very quick to see the value in the skill base, opportunity for more fun, more passes and more goals as we nurture and grow our young netballers.
A successful funding application to Sport Tasman allowed the Netball Board to purchase more resources for the junior programme, such as goal posts and weights. This funding also allowed the hire of the stadium for junior programmes, which was much, appreciated on those cold or wet Saturday mornings during our winter. Netball New Zealand and ANZ allocated the new bibs to support our teams, which are now a center resource.
Each week the teams were introduced to skills at their practice or game day sessions, and then provided an opportunity to practice during the 5v5 or 6v6 games. The growth in balance, ball skills, body position, footwork and shooting are evident as well as the enjoyment of the game. This positive and developing philosophy is also evident in the adult population, who are supportive and encouraging of the players, with the development of their skills and sportsmanlike conduct within the Netball Centre.
Over the season Motueka was fortunate to host the Tactix netball team, prior to an ANZ challenge played in Nelson. Many of our center members also attended the Festival event at Saxton Stadium run by the Tactix players and the amazing Netball Mainland team. Within our own little Centre the junior netballers have had two festival days and a prize giving for each level, as an opportunity to showcase our netball ‘people’ and the skills of our future stars.
Vicki Karetai
