Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty
Netball Central
The year 2020 was an extremely tough one for
The 2020 season has been a challenging one due to
Ainsleyana Puleiata, Paris Lokotui and
Waikato Bay of Plenty (WBOP), with various
COVID-19, and the impact this had on community
Pulse players Maddy Gordon, Renee
COVID-19 related challenges affecting all aspects
sport in Netball was felt across the country.
Savai’inaea and Tiana Metuarau were also
Despite these challenges, we are grateful to the NZ Government and Sport NZ for the funding options available to Centres, Central Zone and NNZ and for the fact that there could still be achievements on and off the court.
The Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse had
When COVID-19 restrictions brought Netball to a grinding halt, Zoom meetings became the norm as the Zone community staff initiated regular online meetings to support Centres to navigate their way through this new space. A huge thanks to the Netball Centres who not only joined in on regular Zoom meetings to ask questions, share their ideas and their learnings, but to those who also accepted roles on the national and local advisory groups to ensure all levels of the game were being considered around each ‘return to Netball’ phase of the sport. Membership numbers were understandably down this year, as five Centres were unable to provide any competitions. However, the 50 percent reduction in fees went a long way towards ensuring accessibility due to funds wasn’t a barrier. Thanks to the Centres who included their neighbouring Netballers to provide leagues and competitions for teams outside their normal catchment area. The ‘Hampton Downs’ Zone Forum, held in November, saw Centres congregate in person and share their enthusiasm around planning for the 2021 season. Reflecting through the ‘rear-view mirror’, identifying the bumps along the road, helped the planning process as we negotiated the road ahead looking through the ‘front windscreen’ while taking all our learnings with us from our modified Netball journey this year. We can
We live this game.
now look at what we can do differently to ensure everyone in Netball in our Zone has the best Netball experience possible. Congratulations must go to WBOP Centres, their staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to provide Netball and followed strict protocols to ensure every person was entering a safe zone under the Government, NNZ and Zone guidelines. The staff of Netball WBOP should be applauded for sharing their skills and expertise through a very challenging year, and ensuring all Netball Centres, schools and Clubs were supported every step of the way. While the Beko Netball League was cancelled due to COVID-19, we still managed to organise a curtain-raiser match against the Northern Marvels, prior to one of the Splice Construction Magic matches at Claudelands Arena. This was a highlight for our players, being able to play in front of a home crowd. The cancellation of the U16 North Island Champs, Netball NZ U18 Champs and UNISS meant that secondary school Netball was also seriously compromised in 2020. In conjunction with Wintec, we hosted a series of talent identification roadshows throughout the Zone, which enabled us to make informed decisions on the selection of our U16 and U18 Zone performance squads. This year saw the introduction of the Emerging Talent squad where 10 to 12 players were selected who were 18
or over and close to National Netball League (NNL) selection, and who we believed would benefit from some extra pre-season coaching and strength and conditioning education to enable them to contest more strongly for the NNL selections at the end of the year. After two sessions held in February, this programme was sadly put on hold as well. The selection of the 2021 NZU21 Netball World Youth Cup squad was a highly anticipated announcement, with the Zone delighted to congratulate Khiarna Williams, Georgie Edgecombe and Greer Sinclair on their well-deserved inclusions. It was fantastic to see Khiarna and Georgie out on court with this team during the Cadbury Netball Series. The Splice Construction Magic showed true grit and determination throughout the adapted ANZ Premiership season, led brilliantly by head coach Amigene Metcalfe and captain Sam Winders. We are very grateful we were able to host three home matches at Claudelands Arena in Hamilton – it was an absolute pleasure to play in front of our home fans. We wish to thank everyone who continues to support us, including fans, commercial partners and the community. We look forward to an exciting 2021 season.
In the second year of the Cadbury Volunteer Awards, a light was shone on young Wellington umpire Amelia Wheeler, who was named as the Cadbury Volunteer Official of the Year having been described as a ‘real ambassador’ of the game from a young age. Amelia is an umpire coach for player umpires in Wellington East and is a Board intern who provides not only the youth voice but also the umpire’s voice at Board meetings. She tutors the New Zealand and Zone theory classes as well – congratulations once again to Amelia. Despite the interruptions of COVID-19, it was pleasing to have some Zone Umpire accreditation and New Zealand Umpire accreditation; congratulations to those recipients. With only two international events – congratulations also goes to the following umpires who were appointed to the Cadbury Netball Series: Angela Armstrong-Lush, Gareth Fowler, Ann Hay and Ken Metekingi and Angela Armstrong-Lush; and Gareth Fowler to the Taini Jamison Trophy. We have continued to develop our PCQ coaches with two new coaches being accredited – congratulations to Pelesa Semu and Charissa Barham.
acknowledgement goes to all our Centres and their respective boards for allowing our communities to have a positive opportunity to play. While we all faced slightly challenging issues within our communities the fact remains that Netball was able to be played and that is an amazing achievement given the year that has been. We were pleased that the following players were selected to attend the NNZ National Development Camp earlier in January. Ashleigh Poi (Hawke’s Bay), Atareta McCausland-Durie (Manawatū), Eileen Polu (Wellington and Hutt Valley), Janaya Preece (Manawatū), Lucy Ross (Wellington), Madison Thomas (Manawatū), Maia Karena-Barrett (Manawatū), Mollie Nicol (Wellington), Parris Mason (Manawatū), Parris Petera (Hawke’s Bay), Pypah Hailwood (Manawatū), Sam Mackinder (Manawatū), Shyan Murphy (Hawke’s Bay), Torren Isaako (Wellington and Kapi-Mana) and Zalika Clarke (Wellington). Those selected for the 2020 Central Manawa team were then unable to participate but the following players were subsequently named in the NZU21 squad:
selected.
another thrilling year, making the Finals Series for the fourth year in a row and in
ZONES
of the sport across the region.
Parris Mason. Te Wānanga o Raukawa
the Grand Final went up against The Good Oil Tactix in Invercargill. The result was a back-to-back win, 43-31, which was a fitting send-off for head coach Yvette McCausland-Durie after her four-year tenure. We are extremely grateful for the leadership and culture that Yvette was an integral part of. She fittingly went on to be named ANZ Premiership Coach of the Year and head coach of the NZU21 team. Notably Jill Clapcott has been named manager of the NZU21 team. National honours came fast for the team with nine players selected: Katrina Rore, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Karin Burger, Claire Kersten, Kelly Jury and Maddy Gordon all selected into the Silver Ferns squad and Aliyah Dunn in the Silver Ferns Development Squad with Tiana, Maddy and Renee as mentioned in the NZU21 squad. A big thank you to all Netball Central Zone Board, staff, Centres and volunteers as we continue to focus on connecting our communities through our shared love of Netball.
With no age-grade tournaments played this year our concentration went well and truly into putting plans in place to get Community Netball up and running in all our Centres. A huge heartfelt Netball New Zealand Annual Report 2020
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