Written by Amelia Barnes
Netball Victoria's annual Association Championships events kick off at locations across the state next month.
The competition is first and foremost for players, coaches, and umpires to get involved in netball by competing against other associations in their region.
“They all get an opportunity to showcase themselves at the event and see how they compare to other players, coaches, and umpires from across their region – and maybe Victoria if they progress through to finals,” said Sarah Collett, Pathways Manager at Netball Victoria.
In addition, Association Championships plays an important role in talent identifying (TID) emerging netball talent across the state. Several talent scouts are present at every tournament looking for promising athletes to trial or be selected in elite netball programs.
There are three main opportunities for TID female athletes at Association Championships: selection in the Victorian Regional Academy of Sport programs (for 13/U athletes in regional Victoria); the invitation to trial for their Netball Victoria region’s Talent Academy (usually for athletes in the 15/U divisions); and the invitation to trial for the State 17/U and 19/U teams (usually for athletes in the 17/U and Open divisions).
One of the talent scouts at the upcoming 2023 Association Championships is Eliza Allen, an experienced Victorian Netball League and Netball Victoria Talent Academy coach and a previous pathway player.
Allen says she’ll be looking for players at Association Championships who execute basic netball skills at a high intensity and under pressure.
“A common misconception with talent identifying athletes is that we are looking for what people perceive as the ‘best player’ on the court. Talent identification has different criteria than selecting a balanced competition team. We are looking for the successful execution of basic skills, smart and thinking athletes, as well as attributes that indicate that athletes have the potential to grow and develop their skills,” explained Allen.
“We are not looking for anything extraordinary, but ordinary [skills] executed effectively.”
Each scout has a list of teams and athletes they watch and monitor throughout the day. Allen says most scouts take notes and work collaboratively to discuss potential talent to ensure a variety of positions and types of players are selected.
Most talent identified athletes at Association Championships are invited to trial for their region’s Talent Academy program. Over 350 players across the state attended these trials in 2022.
All participating athletes at Talent Academy trials undertake basic skills sessions in attack and defence in which they are assessed and scored on their performance. Athletes then play against one another and are again assessed on their game sense and basic skills.
Each athlete's score is calculated and discussed between the selectors, with panel agreement required to be selected for the Talent Academy program. About 35 players in each of the six regions are chosen.
The Talent Academy program allows promising athletes to develop in three key components: technical and tactical development, athlete wellbeing, and physical preparation. The program aims to assist players throughout Victoria to reach their potential, provide an avenue towards state and national representation, and provide essential education that is relevant to netball.
Association Championships also provides development avenues for umpires. Talent identified umpires are invited to apply for the Talent Academy Umpire Program, and in some instances, invited to screen for the High Performance Umpire Squad. Other opportunities for umpires are invitational development days (camps) and educational workshops.
Coaches at Association Championships may also be recognised and provided with mentoring opportunities at State Titles.
Many elite netballers previously competed at Association Championships, including Melbourne Vixens players Jo Weston (who played in the Central East Association Championships for Waverley District Netball Association) and Kate Moloney (who played for Diamond Creek Netball Association in the Central West Association Championships.)
Association Championships is the beginning and most direct line to progress through the Netball Victoria elite programs, but Allen said it’s important to remember that every netballer’s entry point and progression throughout the pathway is different.
“Each player has their own netball journey … You struggle to find any athletes that have the exact same pathway,” said Allen. “The most important thing is that players are enjoying their time and making friends on the netball court.”
Association Championships is the first step in the Victorian netball pathway for players, coaches, umpires and officials.
Associations and Leagues can register teams for the 2023 Association Championships via Netball Connect – registrations close Friday 28 April.
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