Netball - Urban Rec style!
May 11, 2022 - one year ago
Hi y’all! Our Wednesday night Netball-7s league is starting up tonight, so we felt this was a good time to remind everyone of how Netball rolls with Urban Rec.
We know Netball is one of Aussies most beloved sports, and we also know that it can be a complicated beast. In order to keep the vibes safe, social and fun, and keep all players happy, there’s some things we do a lil’ differently than your traditional Saturday Netball competition.
#1 = OUR EVENT HOSTS → We pride ourselves on making sure our Event Hosts are most than just faceless umpires. Our staff have personality and a coaching style. We recognize that in order to learn, you need someone who knows the rules intimately, so we are committing to hiring Event Hosts who have umpiring experience or an intimate understanding of the rules.
- Please note this does NOT mean that they are there to solely blow the whistle at every tiny infraction.
- This means that they are there to offer coaching and support you in learning the rules.
- It also means that they have the ability to make some switcharoos with some rules or be more leniant if they feel it will positively impact the game.
#2 = CALLING YOUR OWN CONTACTS, OFFSIDES & STEPPING → Across all Urban Rec leagues, we ask you to be adult enough to make these calls if you know you’ve made a mistake. We never want our leagues to be where people come to cheat...BUT if you are a learning or genuinely don’t know you’ve made a mistake, our Event Hosts will make the calls and explain it to you.
- I.e. if you stuff up and don’t call yourself out, our Event Host will in hopes that you’ll learn and be better at making the call for yourself next time.
#3 = ‘OPEN’ LEAGUES → Our Netball leagues are ‘open’ leagues, meaning that you can have an all female team OR a mixed team. If you have a mixed team, there is a maximum of 3 males on the court at a given time, with positions as follows:
Male players shall play one in each area of the court (mid court, goals and defense)
The combination is one male in either:
- GS or GA
- WA or C or WD
- GD or GK
** Please see the fancy diagram for reference where 1 male is allowed in each of the oval areas. **
CHOOSING A NETBALL LEAGUE THAT SUITS YOU AND YOUR TEAM:
STREET NETBALL: This style of Netball is basically the gateway sport for people who are new to the sport, and want to learn more. We take away all the intimidating factors. No bibs, fewer postisions, and in some cases, fewer hoops (wow). The same principals apply, and the basics of netball remain, but this is Netball re-imagined, and re-purposed for people that truly want to play a simplistic and non-intimidating version of the game. Expect to see alot more of this style game popping up, and opportunities for you to learn and play this style of Netball.
7’S NETBALL: This is the style of Netball you have come to know and love. It’s proper 7-aside, and a more traditional version of the game. There is a bit more structure, and if you are a Netball purist, you should probably start here. HOWEVER!!!! → This is not some horrible and scary comp with faceless umpires, this is still Urban Rec style, meaning you will use fun points, and always play with a fun first attitude. We will continue to offer some more of these leagues across Wollongong, but we are concious that there’s plenty of other people doing it, and we don’t want to saturate the market!
These changes, we hope, will help elevate your experience and help you to choose the right league that suits you, and also understand that we are listening, and we do want to make changes if you guys are want them. It is, afterall… your sport.
Do you have any suggestions you think would help improve our Netball leagues? Please shoot us an email [email protected] and let’s get chattin’.
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