Welcome back to the courts everyone for the 2024-25 season.
Firstly, a big thanks to everyone for a great 2023-24 season! There were very little issues from start to finish other than snow at Downside for our Central Venue Day, so thank you for your part in this success.
With regards to this upcoming year, our priority for this year is around coaching, and we will be driving forward with various plans to improve the numbers and standards of coaching in the county. Please do let the committee know if you are interested in attending any relevant coaching courses and we will help you on that path, and contribute towards the costs of the courses for this season.
With regards to umpiring, we are still very keen for those already qualified as umpires to look at progressing to the next level and keen to engage new potential umpires through the Into qualification. Both umpiring and coaching are rewarding roles and great fun so please get in touch if interested.
I think we have made inroads in our culture with regards to supporting officiating staff and I would like everyone, on and off the court, to continue to appreciate the challenging job these people have, and treat them with the respect they are due. We are all in it together playing the game we enjoy so let’s remember to support each other, and whilst we encourage competitive games, please make sure you are on the ‘right’ side of competitive, and endeavour to play clean but well contested netball. Captains need to lead on this and nip any poor conduct in their teams at the earliest stage please. If we don’t get this right, we will lose players and potential umpires and coaches so it’s on us all to conduct ourselves appropriately.
We still have lots going on in Somerset for all ages from primary level (Bee netball) through to ladies in their 70s (Walking netball), and several lively summer leagues too. We should be rightly proud of this big footprint, which encourages physical activity and social activity in so many ways. Please do your best as individuals to keep the numbers high and even bring in new players to our fantastic netball community. Please try to create a sense of belonging in your clubs which offers the opportunity to play netball but also provides a good support network. Similarly, I would look to you all to nurture talent and ensure the right opportunities exist for development. If you feel they don’t then please get in touch with the committee and our England Netball NDO.
Facilities continue to be a concern of mine so please do let us know if you are having issues. We need to push hard for good courts, and not accept sub-standard facilities. Again, talk to the committee if you have snags and we will try to help.
In the meantime, I and my committee look forward to seeing you on the courts from early Sep and here’s to a great season of winter netball. And a big welcome to the new teams and clubs we have joining us this year!
Regards, Debbie Sims
