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Updated 20th May 2013
The U16 A Squad won the U16 Regional Versatility Tournament held at Bromsgrove School on Sunday 19th May. Well done to all five teams who participated. All the girls played well in warm sunshine! Results are avalable here.
Please note that Birmingham 3 and 4 in the U16 section are in fact two Year 9 teams, so still U14s and our Birmingham 1 team in the U14s were a Year 8 team.
What is the Netball Excel Pathway?
The Netball Excel Pathway is the England Netball process for developing athletes with the attributes to attain excellence. The programmes within the pathway are focused on developing athletes to reach their potential and form the foundations to enable England Netball to be the 'Number 1 Ranked Team in the World'.
Winning the Netball World Championships and becoming the best team in the world is one of England Netball’s clearest goals. The England Performance Pathway is a vital part of establishing England as the number 1 team in the world, by generating world class athletes. County Netball Academies such as those in Birmingham are the first step on the Performance Pathway.
What Netball Academies does Bimingham have?
Birmingham has three academies - two satellite academies aimed at Under 14 athletes (school years 8 and 9), and one county academy for Under 16s (school years 10 and 11). This season we are attempting to hold a small under of sessions for Under 12s (school year 7) to give players a taster of what is involved in an academy.
Can you tell me more about the Satellite Academies?
The Satellite Academies are the first entrance into the Excel Pathway and the focus is on individual development. This stage coincides with peak motor learning, therefore athletes are learning how to train and develop the skills of Netball. They are also learning basic technical/tactical skills, and ancillary capacities, including warm up and cool down, stretching, hydration and nutrition, recovery, relaxation and focusing.
Is the County Academy the same as the Satellite Academies, but for older players?
No, The purpose of this programme is to focus on working with another player. The emphasis remains on training and skill development with competition being used to test and refine skills.
How can I be part of the Birmingham Netball Academies?
Athletes have to be nominated by either a club coach or school teacher who has attended a Talent ID Course. During May, all Birmingham Netball Clubs and Schools will be asked to identify players who would be suitable for the academies and invite them along to a screening day which is provisionally booked for Sunday 1st September. The nominated player will then be given a website address and a registration number so that they can complete an online form (provided by Progenitor Solutions) and submit it. Once submitted, each player will receive an acknowledgement via the email address they have provided.
How many weeks do Netball Academies run for?
Athletes selected for the County Academy will be asked to commit to 30 weeks of training sessions each year whilst those in the Satellite Academies, for 15 weeks. This is a significant increase on what has previously happened and venues and coaches are being finalised during May and June to try and meet the number of weeks stipulated by England Netball. It may be, that for the 2013/2014 season, a reduced number of sessions will be held. This will be confirmed before the screening on 1st September.
When are the Academies held?
This is still be to be confirmed but most likely at Stockland Green Leisure Centre on a Tuesday evening from 7-9pm, Dame Elizabeth Sports Centre, Bournville on a Sunday morning and the NIA during the weekend.
How much does it cost to be part of the academies?
This is still to be confirmed. For anyone struggling to pay county academy fees, it is always suggested that athletes approach their schools to seek financial help through the Gifted and Talented Programme. We are also hoping that England Netball will provide financial help towards Birmingham Netball facility hire. This is still to be confirmed.
Who are the Academy Coaches?
We currently have five Level 2 Coaches who coach at the academies but more are being sought to cover the number of weeks the academies are hoping to run for. The current coaches are Vicky Allen, Sue Bell, Lynne Hadley, Bev Parris and Val Thomas.
What about netball competition for the Academy Players?
Competition is outside the Excel Pathway programmes, in clubs (Birmingham Intermediate Netball League and Regional Leagues) and school competition. However, there is a limited number of opportunities to play against other counties in the West Midlands Region such as Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, South Staffordshire and Herefordshire on a Tuesday evening. These have been played at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls and are normally available once or twice per season for each county. There is also the West Midlands Versatility Tournament, held in May of each year.
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