Your enjoyment of netball is what matters most to us. We want you to get the best out of your club and your netball experiences. Taking part in sport brings so many benefits for you and we hope to help you know what to expect and how you can get the most from netball, whether as a player or volunteer.
Playing sport means that there are things you and everyone else needs to do to keep the sport fair, safe and fun. England Netball and your club will also have rules in place which you and your parents/carers need to know, so you know what you can and can’t do.
We have provided guidance for your parents/carers too, so they will know what there is in your club and the larger netball world and will be able to support you in having as many development opportunities as possible.
You and your parent/carer will need to know about how the club runs and this will change from club to club. Knowing what the training times are, what chances you may get for competitive play, what kit you need and how to keep informed about your club’s activity should all be explained to you when you start. Make sure you know what the club expects and that you get to training on time and in the right mood to have fun and make the most of the training – the coach will be giving up their time to give you all the best opportunity for your development.
It’s very important that you make sure you understand what the club is asking of you and that you are happy to behave in keeping with their rules and those of England Netball.
You probably want to tell your friends about the netball you are playing, what you enjoy about it and what you and your friends get up to. We wouldn’t want to stop you doing this, but we do want to make sure you are using social media in a way which doesn’t put you or anyone else at risk. Please speak to your parent/carer and the club to make sure you understand how to make sure you are safe on-line and know what our Social Media Policy says about this.
The rules of the competitions you play in are just one set of rules. There are a few more which you need to know about too. We give you some links to these rules below. Your club should talk to you about all this when you start with them. The best people are usually your coach or the Club Safeguarding Officer.
Making friends is a big part of netball. The Codes of Conduct for Players give guidance about how to behave to make sure everyone in the club gets to make friends and be treated with the respect that everyone deserves. You should read these and ask your parent or an adult at the club to explain anything you don’t understand.
Sometimes this isn’t remembered and people can be unpleasant. England Netball has an Anti Bullying and Harrassment Policy which explains what will happen if there is a report of bullying in a club. The club will work with anyone being bullied to stop the behaviour and to help people remember that in the world of netball, everyone is allowed to enjoy their sport and is entitled to be valued for who they are. England Netball are also members of the Anti Bullying Alliance.
The most important rules are the ones which make sure you are safe whenever you are involved in netball, or are using social media to talk about netball.
Your parents/carers and all the club members will know what these mean. They cover making sure the adults know what to do to protect you from any risks in netball, for example if you go on a club trip; how to keep your personal details private and who you can talk to if there is anything worrying you, (it doesn’t have to be about netball).
You might have been given a besafe card which tells you lots of useful information. Ask for one if you haven’t got one. As well as the coach who will teach you about netball, the club has a Safeguarding Officer who you can talk to about anything which worries you, this could be yourself or someone else. They will do their best to help you and explain what they can do. Sometimes this means talking to other people and England Netball has a Lead Child Protection Officer who will help the Club Safeguarding Officer know how best to help you. We suggest that you talk to someone.
You can also talk to someone outside the club, by contacting 01509 277911 or email: besafe@englandnetball.co.uk. Childline: 0800 1111, Police or Children’s Services.
We also have lots of other support for you if you have any problems in your life. There are lots of online support organisations and there is always someone to talk to.
If there is anything making you unhappy or worrying you, tell someone about it, it may not be as bad as you think, there will be people who can help you, just ask for it. These websites give you advice and support that you may find helpful. They are confidential.