Preparing For Matches
Westoning Netball Club has rules for safety and appearance:
Rules : Firstly, aquaint yourself with our player & volunteer rules and code of conduct. These are very important, not least because your conduct will influence other's impressions of our club. We want those to be good impressions. Go to the Document Library to download & read them.
Appearance : it's important for teams to demonstrate good discipline, and a team identity is strengthened and enforced on oneselves and others when kit and equipment is well maintained.
Safety : netball, like most other sports, has it's fair share of accidents and we need to minimise the risk of injury.
The following guidelines will seem a little obvious to some of the more seasoned netball players and parents, but we need to be sure our policy is clearly stated in case there is some doubt:
Fingernails trimmed  | Cut your fingernails! Yes, they need to be cut short to avoid those nasty little accidents that can draw blood, lift skin or most painfully, tear a nail off the fingertip. A sudden lapse in concentration and a poorly received pass can take off a fingernail in the blink of an eye. |
| You will not be allowed to play in a competitive match with un-trimmed fingernails. However, one or more of the club coaches usually carry some clippers or nail scissors just in case. |
Earrings removed
| It may not seem obvious, but earrings can cause a few problems. A ball struck hard against the side of the head (or some other physical contact) might push an earring stud through the skin behind the ear. Also, dangling earrings could get ripped out if accidentally snagged. Take earrings out completely; in a competitive match you will be asked to remove them before play commences. You will NOT be allowed to play with taped-up earrings either, so please be aware that if your ears have been recently pierced you will still be asked to remove the studs OR be excluded from playing until such time as they can be removed. |
Hair tied back
| Don't worry, you don't need to cut your hair, but you do need to tie it back, plait it or braid it. Whatever suits you, provided it is secured away from your face. |
Water bottle filled
| Please don't turn up for training or competitive matches without a full water bottle. A sudden but unquenchable thirst during the interval will only put you off your game. Also, it's probably not too hygenic to share water bottles or drink out of the nearest tap! Please do not bring fizzy drinks; although we don't check the contents of water bottles, if we see a player with a fizzy drink, we'll ask you not to consume it before or during a match. Fizzy drinks contain gas which ends up in the stomach and can make physical movement uncomfortable. |
Kit cleaned & well maintained
| Please make sure that the club strip (top, skirt and fleece) are clean and un-creased before each competitive match. The club prides itself on well-drilled and disciplined squads, so looking the part is important. (Don't iron tops and skirts, they're synthetic and will melt!) Also please ensure that your fleece is labelled. At the end of some matches or training sessions, someone always seems to pick-up the wrong fleece top. (They are your fleece tops, not the clubs. The skirts and tops belong to the club, but don't need labelling as you're always wearing them!) |
| Clean and serviceable sports footwear is not optional; it is a must-have. If you wear 'fashion' trainers, you will be asked to change shoes. Generally, that type of shoe does not have appropriate sole tread to ensure good grip. They're also flimsy and not very professional, and we care enough about you and our club to insist on the right kit. If you have velcro fastened shoes there's no problem with laces. Otherwise, always make sure your laces are properly tied, double-knotted if possible. If you can, fold the loose ends away, or at least make sure that no part of the lace touches the ground when standing still. Muddy trainers will certainly not be allowed in indoor venues, and in some circumstances outdoor venues either. |
OK. You're prepared. You're fired-up. You look like a professional.
Now spit the chewing gum out and go play!