The table on the following page, taken from “guidelines for parents and caregivers aena” booklet, shows how young players can access the sport and as they develop their play, what competitions they should attend etc to get their way through the system.
THE ANEA SYSTEM
PLAYER PATHWAYS TRAINING COMPETITION
DISABLED PARTICIPANTS
Near enough anyone can play the game, due to the guidelines put into place.
England Netball wants to open up new pathways to promote and support equal opportunities for the disabled and able-bodied, in netball.
The National Disability Development Plan was launched in 1996. This doesn’t just offer accessibility for disabled players, but also for umpires, coaches, other officials and other administrators and hope to make it enjoyable to the highest quality.
Wheelchair netball is adapted from a 7 a-side game to a 4 or 5 a-side game. The still keeps and maintains all the usual and features of netball, but had modifications to the rules which are travelling and playing the ball.
There are many courses that disabled coaches, umpires and other officials and administrators can go on to help them gain more knowledge of the game, coaching certificates and many others.
Provision for Male and Female Competitors
All England Netball Association (AENA) and the International Federation of Netball Association (IFNA), are beginning to encourage mixed gender teams. The original rules, show that single sex competition is only permitted when above the age of 11.
Primary schools, U11s at affiliated clubs, leagues and other local activities must make participation in netball available for both boys and girls as far and England Netball is concerned. This should also be the case for up to and including GCSE level as long as its supervised by a qualified teacher.
More and more male umpires are also becoming apparent which could be the reason as to why more clubs are beginning to include male players and participants. There are many queries and debates about male teams, female teams and mixed gender teams, whether males should be aloud to join the sport, and if so, in a mixed team with females.
There are tournaments appearing giving mixed gender teams a chance of a good competition. Some rules and regulations have been put upon the sport regarding men’s strength to women.
CRITICAL ANNALYSIS
A big advantage of playing netball as a sport is that it caters for all ages, groups, and now genders.
The wide range of age groups consisting of the U11s, U12s, U13s, U14s, U15s, U16s, U17s, U18s, U19s, U21s, and seniors, show that the sport of netball is well provisioned and funded, whether it being from sponsors, or from the government.
The fact that there are many leagues and tournaments, which cater for everyone, shows that netball is a well-organised and provisioned sport. There are leagues that are purely for recreational needs, which show that netball can be a good way of making friends, having a good time, and also a good way to keeping fit. Competitive tournaments and leagues are also catered and funded for, which gives people more of a choice of what they’d rather do. Whether it being competitive or recreational.
The provision of teams, clubs, leagues etc are done by seeking for sponsorships and funding, whether it be for clothing, area for training and playing, gyms for the athletes as an individual to help them keep fitness up outside of their club training. There could be a bit more funding to smaller clubs to help get better training facilities, equipment and playing kits.
The disadvantage of provision for netball is that there is not much television coverage. This could mean that there should be more money going into advertising and promoting netball to the rest of the community and population. It could be seen as if the parents interested and informed about the sport, then their children may take on the interest and choose to play the game. Also, if this does occur, then the parents will take more interest in their child’s sport and will also have some knowledge of the game.
There has been noted that there is not much happening to do with good coaches at school level. School standard netball is not very high when put up against club standards. More funding and provision should possibly go into more teachers gaining coaching certificates, umpiring certificates and more knowledge of the game.
More funding could help support disabled players in the sport. It can also help advertise that netball is a sport where disabled people can go and play. There doesn’t seem enough provision and organisation with this part of the game, as well as male players now being able to play and that there are many clubs available for men. More advertisement should show this.
ADDITIONAL AGENCIES
In 1995, the Government set up The National Lottery to raise money for good causes. Sport was a main good cause and Sport England was to be named as the distributor.
Sport England is to lead sport in England, to provide knowledge, advice and support and to influence public and decision maker’s opinions on sport. Sport England is also there to help “make England an active and successful sporting nation”.
Sport England distributes money and funding to many different sports to help get clubs running and to help keep them running. Instead of constantly feeding money into clubs, Sport England gives enough to get the club running and to keep it running by itself.
BIBLIOGRAPY
“Guidelines for Parents and Caregivers aena” booklet
