NETBALL
Welcome to Barwon Heads Netball Club
BHFNC offers a competitive netball program within the AFL Barwon league for both winter ‘Club’ and summer ‘Social’ netball.
Our aim is to provide a culturally, socially and physically safe and inclusive netball playing environment for all, and we seek to be recognised as a competitive, community value orientated, and professional sporting club, equally admired for on-field and off-field achievements.
We also warmly acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as the traditional custodians of the area that we gather on to connect as a community and to play our sport. As a club, we recognise that we walk in the footsteps of those First Nations people who came before us, and who, like our club, continue to have a rich and enduring connection to community and country.
Club Netball
BHFNC registers up to 12 junior and senior teams in the Bellarine Football Netball League (BFNL) that play in a traditional ‘home & away’ style competition on Saturdays alongside our Senior Men’s Football teams. This competition runs from approx. late March to mid-September each year.
Senior Grades include: A, B, C, D & E
Junior Grades include:
- 19 & Under (section 1)
- 17 & Under (section 1 & 2)
- 15 & Under (section 1 & 2)
- 13 & Under (section 1 & 2)
We also register additional junior teams from 11&Under through to 19&Under age groups, to suit our membership requirements in AFL Barwon’s Geelong Junior Netball (GJNL) competitions that play at Kardinia Park on weekdays across winter.
Netball selection trials are held in February each year to allocate players to teams using a strengths-based approach, this ensures we field highly competitive teams each year. Prospective players must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) during the pre-season to be eligible to participate in selection trials.
Read more about our netball playing and selection policy here.
The club also offers a pre-season fitness program that runs during December and January to help keep our players connected during the offseason. All new / prospective and returning players are encouraged to come along to our free and inclusive pre-season sessions (suitable for all skill and fitness levels).
Summer Social Netball
The club can also offer affiliation for junior teams interested in summer social netball through AFL Barwon’s competition held on weekdays at Kardinia Park across. This competition is open for 11&Under through to 19&Under teams and runs approximately October to March each year.
About the club and netball committee
BHFNC netball is run by volunteers and supported by generous club sponsors. We welcome those interested in joining our volunteer or sponsor groups and appreciate the continuous effort and contributions each year that enable us to provide a high-quality netball program.
All our players (or for juniors, their adults) are also required to volunteer within the club to support the netball program to be successfully delivered each year.
There are lots of ways players, their supporters and family members can get involved with our club including, helping in the canteen on home games, scoring, timekeeping, setting up/packing down, being a primary carer, coach or team manager, umpire, fundraising or joining our committee.
Netball Committee
For all enquiries, please email the club netball@bhfnc.com.au
You can also follow us on social media or join our facebook group ‘Barwon Heads Netball for the most up to date information about our netball program.
2024 Netball Committee
Director of Netball
Sandy Fry 0438 392 042
Netball Secretariat
Kate Schaller 0407 787 821
Junior Coordinators
Mel Gee 0400 596 990 &
Natalie Cooper 0417 541 774
Senior Coach
Kate Schippers 0434 588 620
Umpire Coordinator
Maddie Okley 0488 634 345
Uniform Coordinator
Janine Paranavitana 0416 111 277
Player Well-being Officer
Georgia Cahill
General Netball Committee
Ebony Evans
Danielle Watkins
Bec Gillett
Junior Netball
BHFNC place a strong emphasis on participation, teamwork, sporting resilience, development of skills, game play awareness, overall fitness – and of course, having fun!
We recognise junior players grow and develop at different rates, and we seek to ensure all our coaching and team manager personnel work with strengths-based and fair-go principles to help our youngest netballers flourish.
BHFNC also supports the ‘Net Set Go’ program to introduce younger children (9 years and under) to netball through foundational skills and activities. This usually occurs on a Friday evening across winter.
Child Safety requirements
All players and (for junior players their adult caregivers) and club affiliates must be aware of and comply with the club’s and the state netball Child Safety Policies.
These policies and protocols are viewable here.
All adults and young people providing a volunteer service to the club will be required to demonstrate their suitability for working with our children and young people. This includes providing evidence of and maintaining a valid Working With Children Clearance (or equivalent) and undertaking professional development relevant to ensuring the safety and well-being of our juniors.
If you have a child safety suggestion or concern please email our Club Child Safety Officer: CSO@barwonheadsfnc.org.au
Fees & Membership Requirements
All netball players must have current membership and registrations to play netball with BHFNC. There are club, league and state fees payable as follows:
- BHFNC membership
- These are club fees to ensure the club can provide a netball program and gives members free parking on home games.
- This fee needs to be paid by Round 3 of the season.
- PlayHQ league registration
- This is a requirement set out by AFL Barwon to enable game day administration.
- This must be paid before Round 1 of each season.
- Netball Victoria membership
- This is a sports insurance fee to provide cover as mandated by Netball Victoria as the governing body for netball.
- This should be obtained prior to participating in selection trials.
Other costs
Uniforms – Players are required to purchase the full club uniform.
Adherence to the uniform policy is mandatory as per the league by-laws set by AFL Barwon.
Club merchandise and uniforms are available to order through the Netball Connect application / website from February.
Second hand uniforms may be available through private sale. Join our Netball Facebook page to explore this option.
Club netball Parking fees – For ‘away’ games players choosing to park within the sports grounds at other clubs will need to pay a small parking fee set by that club.
Free parking is available for those willing to park outside the grounds.
There are no parking fees for the Kardinia Park venue for weekday teams.
FAQ
Please review our Playing & Selection Policy for more information about our netball program.
We missed the cut off date for the Selection Trials Expressions of Interest (EOIs) – can my child still trial / play?
Does my netballer need to trial even if they only want to play in a Friday night league?
Can my netballer play in two grades or play up? All their friends are in the next age group but they are still eligible for the grade below…
My child also plays another sport or representative netball, do they still need to trial / train?
My child played in the Div 1 team last season, do they automatically play in that division / team again?
My child plays in a summer / other comp do they still need VNA (Netball Victoria membership)?
Yes – depending on which league (Sat or Fri) you will need to transfer your annual Netball Victoria registration across to Barwon Heads for the winter competition via Netball Connect. Upon registering your player to a Barwon Heads winter season comp, your fees will be discounted at the final payment screen.