TIGER'S JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT
PLAYER ROTATION PHILOSOPHY
As part of the Willi Tigers Future Directions planning, the Club Committee has documented its junior development philosophy. This specifically relates to the U9 and U11 age groups.
JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT – U9 & U11 Age Groups
Our Netball program should be focused on the needs of our young participants. It should be a positive and quality experience for them, delivering:
- a coaching framework that improves skills and teaches teamwork;
- the opportunity to keep good friends and make new ones;
- fun, excitement and enjoyment;
- the chance to experience challenge, achievement and personal responsibility; and
- personal satisfaction.
To encourage ongoing participation, Willi Tigers needs to ensure our coaching program is delivered in a varied and interesting way.
Encouraging and celebrating skill development and an emphasis on fun and friendship will help maintain interest and ensure both individual and team satisfaction.
Young participants need to feel they are getting a fair go and all Willi Tigers should have an opportunity to experience success.
Early netball experiences impact greatly on continued participation. At Tigers we aim to foster a life-long passion and involvement with Netball.
Willi Tigers will:
- do all they can to make the netball experience for young participants a safe and positive one;
- listen to young people's views and encourage constructive feedback to improve their netball experience.
PLAYING POSITION ROTATION – U9 & U11 Age Groups
Our aim is to ensure that all Willi Tigers in U9 & U11 age groups develop and improve:
- their fundamental motor skills; and
- netball specific skills and knowledge.
At Willi Tigers every U9 and U11 participants should have the opportunity to learn ALL positions on the court in a supportive and organised way – this includes sitting on the bench and supporting their team mates.
Whilst it is likely that participants will have a 'preferred position' or be more comfortable playing in certain positions, it is important for their development that they have a go at every position and build confidence as they go!
At these age levels, it is not about "winning" or "loosing" - it is about development and enjoyment.
Kids will have loads of time to be competitive as they continue their journey in Netball. From U13 at Willi Tigers they will have the opportunity to focus more on preferred positions.
HOW TO ROTATE PLAYERS EFFECTIVELY?
Some simple guidelines for you to follow when developing your player roster:
- Ensure all players have an opportunity to participate for roughly the same number of quarters / halves across the season.
- Ensure all players have an opportunity to play each week if they attend.
- Ensure all players have an opportunity to player in EVERY position on the court ACROSS the season.
- Ensure your players (particularly at U9 level) are allowed to settle into the position:
- DON'T change positions radically throughout the game. For example don't change a player from GA to C, to GK in the one game.
- DO have a rotation system that allows the kids to settle in and experience the position, so they think about and focus on what they need to do in that position. For example, rotate kids through the shooting end, centre court or defence across once game. Where possible leave them in the same position for a half (even if it's a broken half).
- DO have a rotation system that allows kids to experience shooting, centre court or defence end over successive weeks. For examples have players work in the defence end for 2-3 weeks, then move to centre court for 2-3 week and the shooting end.
- This will make coaching much easier – you can give a child a specific skill (a coaching tip) to work on each week.
- Support positive encouragement amongst the team and ensure positive feedback about what the kids are doing! As coaches our messaging should ALWAYS be positive – even if we are trying to change behaviour. There is no place for negative messages at this level.
HOW WILL THE CLUB SUPPORT YOU?
- Ensure the parents and participants in the U9 and U11 age groups are informed and show support for the Willi Tigers philosophy.
- Provide coaching support and advice