Coaches
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Coaching for Valleys
Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping the success and growth of Valleys Netball Club's teams. Their guidance, expertise, and leadership are instrumental in fostering skill development, teamwork, and a positive sporting environment.
People are drawn to coaching a netball team for many and varied reasons. You may be the only parent with any knowledge of netball, or you may have been a good player and want to work your way up to coaching a high performance team. Or you may dream of one day coaching the Australian Diamonds!
No matter what level of netball coaching you are at or hope to achieve, Valleys welcome you to our Club!
Coaching Accreditation & Prerequisites
Compulsory
Registration on Netball Connect as a Non-Playing Member - Coach (No cost)
For Coaches 18 years and over, current Working with Children Check (Blue Card) including parents coaching their child's team.
Highly Recommended
Available through Netball Learning -
Rules of Netball Exam
Community Coaching General Principles
Netball Australia Foundation Coach Course
Netball Australia Safeguarding Children and Young People course
Pathways
Netball Australia’s Coach Education Framework supports the development of coaches from beginner or club level through to international level.
Coaches are able to progress along the six tier accreditation pathway depending on their personal aspirations and ability.
More information can be found on the DPNA Coaching Accreditation webpage.
Coach's Responsibilities
Child Safeguarding
As a coach, you play a critical role in creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for children and young people.
You must make a space where they can participate, have fun and thrive in the sport they enjoy.
Safeguarding is a coach’s responsibility. It’s an essential element of your coaching practice.
Coaches are asked to -
learn about the 10 Child Safe Standards
familiarise themselves with policies, codes & processes adopted by Valleys Netball Club
extend their knowledge of child safe practices by accessing the extensive range of resources available.
Sports Integrity Australia provide resources specifically designed for coaches including the easy to understand Do's & Dont's
Policies & Codes
All Valleys coaches are required to be familiar with and abide by the following policies and codes.
Netball Australia
Code of Conduct for Community Netball
Complaints & Disciplinary Policy
Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
DPNA
Valleys Netball Club
Coaching Resources
7/8/9 Years Coaching Session
This course is recommended for all coaches of the 7/8/9 years age group. The workshop is facilitated by DPNA at no cost to clubs or participants.
DATE & TIME
Session #1 Session #2
Monday 16 Mar 5:30pm Saturday 9 May 9:00am
OR
Saturday 23 May 10:00am
7/8/9 Years Coaching Book
A guide for all 7/8/9 years coaches on skills and activities suitable for this age group. It also includes the DPNA weekly focus items for the 2026 season. Available on the DPNA website.
DPNA Club Coaching Series
These coach education workshops are designed for club coaches at every stage of their coaching journey. Both sessions will explore different aspects of coach and player development. Coaches can attend one or both sessions:
Fees: $10 per session.
Session #1 Session #2
Mon 30 Mar, 6:00pm Sat 16 May, 9:00am
OR
Sat 16 May, 1:00pm
More information can be found on the DPNA website.
DPNA Resources
DPNA has compiled a large collection of coaching resources for all ages, available through their website including -
Netball Australia Knee Program
NetSetGo! Resources (5-10 years)
DPNA Fixtures Book
The DPNA Fixtures Book is for all members and contains all of the information relating to DPNA Fixtures.
Coaches (and Managers) MUST read through this document as it will contain the answer to a lot of questions that arise.
NetballConnect How To
Instructions on how to allocate a scorer, how to score and marking player attendance can be found on the DPNA NetballConnect webpage
(Scroll to the bottom of the page)
Communication
Communication
Team coaches should work closely with their Team Manager who should be the first point of contact for your team regarding fixtures or upcoming events.
Working with your Manager -
Find out the best method of communicating with your parents/players – email, Messenger group, group messaging app (NOTE: Apps that show each group member's contact details, such as WhatsApp, are NOT to be used to communicate with members under the age of 18)
Decide on team protocols such as rosters for scoring, fruit& snacks, washing bibs etc., weekly reminders for playing time, court allocation, what time they need to be there, and any other important information (e.g. a reminder to make sure nails are trimmed).
Gather information on planned absences (e.g. holidays, camps, other sporting commitments) during the season. This way, your team will be able to plan any borrowing of players from other Valleys teams. There are restrictions on which team you can borrow from, meaning the more time there is to plan for player absences, the more time available to ensure the rules are followed and the team does not have to play short or forfeit a game.
Photography & Filming
Photography & Filming
Videography and/or filming of children is NOT permitted on the Downey Park Netball Association premises at any time. This includes video footage taken for personal use, including Facetime and similar apps.
Photography is permitted; however, permission must be sought from the opposition manager and both umpires before any photos are taken.
Please be aware that there are specific instances in law where consent will not be given to photograph members.
Such instances generally relate to child custody matters, wards of state, restraining orders and witness protection.
It is also possible that, from time-to-time, other circumstances may also preclude the taking of any image of an individual.
Team coaches and managers will be supplied with the names of players who have chosen NOT to have their child's or their own photos taken at any time. Where this is the case, requests from opposition teams for photography must be declined.
Training Nights
Training Nights
Coaches should -
If your team is the first to start training on your allocated court, please ensure that post pads are applied to both goal posts.
Ensure that any specialised equipment used in the training session is returned as per the Equipment Policy.
If your team is the last to finish training on your allocated court, please ensure that post pads are returned to the DPNA storage area.
Fixture Days
Fixture Days
Team Attendance
Each team is responsible for marking their player attendance in the Netball Connect app each game.
The Manager or Coach (or Scorer) for the home team can mark players as present. The coach or manager for the away team is responsible for marking their own players.
If a player is absent or does not take the court, they should not be marked as “played”.
Team attendance MUST be submitted PRIOR to the game commencing.
Failure to submit attendance can result in penalties.
Any issues with Netball Connect not working MUST be dealt with on that fixture day by speaking to DPNA staff at the Control Desk . Do NOT email the Club or DPNA either on or after the fixture day.
Complaints
Complaints/issues with a fixture match must be reported to the Control Desk or to a Yellow Vest volunteer while the game is in progress. to enable them to be dealt with on the day.
Matters that should reasonably have been raised and addressed on the day are unlikely to be investigated at a later date, unless they involve a serious issue resulting in harm.
Injury & First Aid Protocols
Injury & First Aid Protocols
At Training
Do not leave an injured player unattended
Coaches and managers may provide ice and basic first aid in the event of a minor injury sustained at training. Where the player is under 18 years of age, this is to be undertaken in the presence of another adult.
Injuries requiring more than minimal First Aid, coaches/managers may provide initial aid until further aid is provided. Player or players parents are to be advised to seek medical advice.
If someone is seriously injured or in need or urgent medical attention, contact an onsite Valleys Committee Member prior to calling Triple Zero (000)
All injuries are to be reported to the club via the online form.
At Fixtures
Do not leave an injured player unattended
First Aid personnel are available at the First Aid room in the DPNA Clubhouse and beside the Jackie O'Meara courts (see DPNA map)
Any injuries should be registered at the time with first aid staff even if the player does not need first aid or the injury is ‘minor’. If the nature of the injury changes, the player may not be covered for insurance if the injury was not recorded on the day.
Return to Play Post Injury
All players with injuries should be providing coaches/managers written clearance from an appropriate medical professional to return to play. This may include information such as a gradual return to full play and management of injuries.
Concussion Protocols
A Concussion Referral And Return Form must be completed for any player suffering a concussion, or suspected concussion. This form must be completed on the day of the injury and provided to the healthcare practitioner who will be reviewing the player.
The player is not permitted to return to training or playing until approval is given by a healthcare practitioner, via the Concussion Referral And Return Form
The player must be symptom free for 14 DAYS before returning to any contact training. The minimum time before returning to competitive contact (i.e. playing) is 21 DAYS.
More Information -
Guidelines for the Management of Sports Related Concussion in Netball (2024)
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