Version control: Original 1990 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2010 / Updated 2015 / Updated 2016/ Updated February 2023/ Updated March 2023
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Where considered appropriate, for example inclusion in a school sport program, parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Schools are encouraged to involve young students to play Fun Net (a motor skill program for 5-7 year olds) and Netta (a modified program for 8-10 year olds) as a means of developing good skills and technique in a fun environment of games and activities.
Schools are encouraged to incorporate appropriate fitness activities in the netball program to develop strength, coordination and flexibility, especially of muscles around the ankles and feet.
Programs should incorporate training focusing on enhancing body balance, control on landing, moving forward and catching passes.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience
The appropriate level of expertise and/or training required to conduct an activity will be dependent on whether the teacher's/instructor's role is one of supervision, instruction or coaching. Other factors to be considered are the nature of the activity, the age, ability and experience of the students involved.
Netball NSW offers the following appropriate accreditation courses:
A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.
Specific sport support for netball is provided in the Teacher resource hub.
Supervision
Where an adult other than a teacher is engaged to provide instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility. It is recommended that qualified umpires be used for inter-school competitions.
Equipment
Goal posts, portable goal posts, must be fitted securely into sleeves. Goal posts must be padded (50mm thick) from the base to the ring.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.
Venues
The court surface and immediate surrounds must be free of obstructions and loose objects. Avoid playing netball on slippery and gravel surfaces.
Spectators must be positioned at an appropriate distance from the court during play to avoid interfering with the safe movements of players and umpires. Run off areas must be free of obstacles.
Safety
Students must remove jewellery and other ornaments likely to cause injury. Students must keep fingernails short and smooth. No hard peak caps are permitted. Students may wear soft peak caps only.
Players should ensure that they have an adequate level of hydration before, during and after the game or training session.
Warm-up and cool-down are vital elements in preventing injury and should be included before and after all training and competition sessions. Stretching activities performed in the warm-up should move the muscles through the full range of movement to be performed during the session.
The warm-up should be continuous and lead into the training session. It should be fun and include games/activities relevant to the session to be performed.
Students participating at outdoor venues are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, e.g. an SPF50+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly and a hat where appropriate.
Should an injury occur involving bleeding these procedures should be followed
- All clothing, equipment and surfaces contaminated by blood must be viewed as potentially infectious and treated accordingly.
- Participants who are bleeding must have the wound dressed and securely covered.
- Any blood covered body area (and surface area where appropriate), must be cleaned thoroughly and any blood covered clothing and equipment cleaned or removed prior to the participant recommencing the activity.
Where possible, ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.