DEVELOPMENT

Mavericks is committed to helping its members develop whether that is on or off the court. We work really hard to link with Netball East, local coaches, top clubs and umpire mentoring schemes to ensure that we help the netball community around us improve as we keep pushing the boundaries. The Mavericks Youth selection process is also totally integrated with the Netball East Regional Excel Programme.

Netball East

Mavericks is based in the East Region and so works with the Regional Netball Association to ensure that there is clear communication. This relationship is ever evolving and we hope to bring you more details soon.

NTL & Mavericks Youth Selection 2010

Netball East and Mavericks have to agree an integrated programme of training for all their talented players and create a planning document at the start of every season which is submitted to England Netball in order to enter the Netball Talent League. The selection process for Mavericks has been integrated with the Netball East talent development programme (now called Regional Excel Programme) since Mavericks creation as key personell recognised how important it was for the players that the whole system was linked.

Players from across the East take part in their county and regional screening rounds and then if they are successful they are invited to Mavericks Youth trials. Below are the dates for the upcoming 2010 selection process and an overview of the screenings/trials that a player may go through.

The following information was provided by Netball East:

The selection process begins in spring and concludes at the summer NTL trial. Players always trial at a level below where they trained/played the season before. No player is guaranteed a place in any academy or squad. This system has been running and evolving in the East since the introduction of NTL. Players can be picked up or dropped at any point during a season regardless of the screening/trial process.

Current regional advice regarding competition for talented players is summarised below. This is a general guide for players and usually involves them playing out of age group. Due to the commitment of completing a fitness programme, competing at an appropriate level and other franchise requirements sometimes players that are successful at gaining a place have to sacrifice other teams such as school/college (this depends on the individual player and their needs).

Please contact your local Netball Development Officer for more information about this selection process or alternatively speak to the Netball East Regional Talent Coach.

Umpire Mentoring

Netball East Umpires run a mentoring programme whereby identified umpires are invited to training sessions and work alongside the CNSL and NTL players to help them to improve their understanding of the players and the game. This has been running for a number of seasons and allows umpires to get exposure to higher level players before they actually umpire a match!

Coach Observation

As well as many University of Hertfordshire students coming along and seeing our international players and top coaches in action, Mavericks support an "open door" policy whereby they encourage club coaches to come along and see what they get up to in training sessions. Mavericks train every Thursday at the Herts Sports Village and also have technical sessions (at different venues) and the Mavericks Youth squad training every other Monday at the Herts Sports Village.

The process involves contacting the squad Head Coach at least 48 hours in advance of the session so that they can ensure there is seating and that it is appropriate for that session. Usually coaches will be asked their name, contact telephone number and who they coach. By officially asking about observing coaches can get on the sports hall floor and hear what is going on, otherwise informal observation can always take place from public areas (i.e. the balcony at the Herts Sports Village).