Representative Policy and Procedures 2026

1. PURPOSE

To select players with the qualities and competencies for our representative teams to play high quality netball and be competitive at scheduled competitions.
To identify, select and appoint coaches and managers to coach and manage our representative teams to further their personal development.
To provide a fair and transparent selection process.

2. TEAMS

Mid Canterbury Netball will select and prioritise appropriate teams to compete each year.
In a year when a tournament is held in Ashburton, MCN may choose to introduce an additional team where appropriate.
In 2026 the MCN teams shall be:

MCN Senior A -Mid Canterbury Netball will select a Senior A team to compete for the Hanan Shield each year. MCN may also choose to send the Senior A team to Nationals and/or other tournaments, to be reviewed yearly.In 2026 the MCN Senior A team shall compete for/at:
1. The Hanan Shield- Sunday 16th August, EA Networks Centre Ashburton

and may also compete at one or both of:

Mid Canterbury Senior Whakataetae 5th - 7th September, EA Networks Centre Ashburton
Netball NZ Open Champs- 10th- 13th September, Rodney Green Arena, Hawkes Bay

MCN U18 - In 2026 the MCN U18 team shall compete at:
1. Kings Birthday U18 Tournament - 31st May and 1st June, Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch

And may also compete at:

U18 Nationals - 13th - 16th July, Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch

MCN U16 Teams – In 2026 the MCN U16 teams shall compete at:
1. South Canterbury Hit Out - 17th May, Timaru
2. U16 Tupuranga Championship - 30th May - 1st June, Nga Puna Wai, Christchurch

3. COACHES AND MANAGERS

Selection of Coaches and Managers:
1. Mid Canterbury Netball Personnel (MCN) will manage the selection process for Coaches and Managers, through advertising all roles and responsibilities on the MCN website and MCN Facebook page.
2. All position descriptions will be advertised and all persons interested in coaching and managing must complete and submit the appropriate MCN application form by the posted deadline date.
3. The MCN Board will be presented with all applicants and recommendations for ratification. A parent, if he/she is the best applicant, may be selected as the coach or manager of any rep team and this includes a team on which the parent has a child playing. Where qualifications are determined to be equal, the position may be given to a non-parent coach at the approval of MCN.
4. It is preferable that all Rep coaches hold a minimum of a NNZ Community Coaches Award, or are working towards this or engaged in learning, however consideration will be given to those with relevant experience
5. Coaches and Managers must disclose conflicts of interest. In the event of a conflict of interest, MCN may choose to remove a Coach or Manager from any or all decision-making processes.
6. MCN personnel will interview all interested applicants, even if there is only one applicant. (If outside personnel is required, MCN will seek the appropriate personnel to conduct the interview). The purpose of the interview is to assess the knowledge, skills, and character of each applicant.
7. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be advised personally of the selection decision.
8. Head coaches for teams will be selected first and then they will assist MCN to appoint their team personnel.
9. Managers are required to have held a full NZ Drivers’ licence for a period of 2 years.
10. All necessary documentation will be provided to coaches and managers.
11. Coaches and Managers of U16, U18 and Senior A teams will be required to be Police Vetted.
12. All Representative personnel need MCN approval
MCN travelling teams will have a maximum of 4 personnel and will be appointed annually. Appointments for travelling Rep Personnel will include:
1. Head Coach
2. Manager
3. Other appointments may include: Assistant Coach, Assistant Manager, Physio.

4. SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will go out at the start of the season for Selectors.
Selectors must be available to attend all trials.
The selection panel will consist of the Head Coach and two other people, which could include an assistant coach or co-coach if applicable, for a total of 3 selectors as appointed and approved by MCN
MCN personnel will meet with all selectors to distribute and discuss team lists and MCN Policies and Procedures prior to trials.
The Head Coach is to be the Convenor of Selectors unless the coach has a family member trialling in that grade, in which case MCN may appoint a “Head Selector”.
If a Head Selector is appointed, that person will take the lead in:
1. Organising the selectors during observations prior to trials
2. Being visible to all at trials and be the one who speaks to the players at trials
3. Communicating queries and selections to MCN Personnel
4. Ensuring selection policies and procedures are adhered to
5. Making a final decision if it involves the coach’s family member
6. Sending the named trialists to MCN for approval prior to trials
All selectors are to have equal input into team selections. Head selector has the final say.
Selectors will take every care to be fair, independent and professional and make strenuous efforts to ensure that all players have a genuine opportunity to show their best skills to selectors. The selection panel will organise themselves in such a way so that they endeavour to see all eligible players at least once. Players can be observed in:
1. MCN club trials or competition
2. Secondary school team trials or competitions
3. MCN Pre-season training programmes and/or events
4. Any other competitions/events that the selection panel deems relevant e.g Club training sessions with approval of the coach and/or Emerging Talent Sessions
5. Clubs may be asked to nominate players
6. The selection panel shall be encouraged to approach coaches of teams the players are in to gather more information on players as required to ensure we have the best selected to trial.
7. The selection panel will also consider team balance where the 10 - 12 best individual players may not provide the best team combination. Ideally teams should have a variety of combinations to cover such events as sickness and injury.
8. Written feedback will be available for all unselected players, which could be from the MCN Selection forms or an approved selection form. A feedback template will be provided to the Head Selector by MCN and must be returned to MCN NDO at the end of the final trial.

5. THE TEAM AND PLAYERS

The major criteria for selection will be based on the performance of the player at the trial and team balance.
Each team will have 10-12 players. An additional three non-travelling reserves must be named by the selectors. These players may not be published but may be asked to attend practices.
1. Any team heading away for a National/South Island/4+ day tournament will be made up of 12 players and may include a maximum of 3 players of origin and import players.*
2. *A Player of Origin: someone playing in the NM Zone who had previously played 3 seasons for MCN. Must be playing at a higher level than a MCN player. If deciding between a player of origin and a MCN player and there is no difference, then the MCN player must be selected.
3. *An import player or talent brought in to play in the U18 or Senior A team, of greater skill level than any available MCN player. Maximum of 2 import players allowed.
4. Players who are registered with more than one Centre need to confirm that MCN will be their Lead Centre on the registration form, prior to trailing.
Players selected in a team must be registered with a club/school in the MCN competition and financially sound with MCN. MCN reserves the right to make an exemption if appropriate.
MCN Management Board endorses the philosophy of players playing in their own age group.
1. U18 players may be considered for the Senior A team if no U18 team is available.
Teams are to be approved by MCN. Centre Manager to check eligibility before publication on the MCN website and Facebook page.

Desired competencies and qualities of players:
1. Sound skill base and consistency of performance on court.
2. Displays tactical understanding and has established consistency in making appropriate decisions in demanding situations.
3. Incorporates flair and innovation in their game.
4. Is committed to achieving and maintaining fitness required for this level of competition.
5. Can sustain intensity in performance throughout the game.
6. Shows good discipline on and off the court which also includes respect for coaches, managers, umpires and other players.
7. Shows the potential skills and capabilities to represent the region at a higher level.
8. Shows good teamwork and works to get the most from players around them.
9. Shows an understanding of the expectations and can apply learning and make changes.
Consideration may be given to other such factors that the selection panel considers in its sole discretion to be relevant and appropriate to the overall assessment of a particular player. These may include:
1. Positional balance within the squad.
2. Whether a player’s performance and/or contribution has been affected by extenuating circumstances such as illness, injury, bereavement, parental leave, work/study.
3. MCN reserves the right (after consultation with MCN personnel) to remove players from the team following selection if, in the reasonable view of MCN, they have failed to comply with the MCN Policies and Procedures, have displayed inappropriate behaviour or conduct, unsatisfactory attitude, lack of commitment, non-compliance with training requirements, financial requirements, or non-attendance at MCN events.
Players who are not selected for a MCN Rep team may approach MCN Personnel for personal feedback if they wish.
Replacement Players
1. Replacement players must be considered from the 3 reserves named with the team first. The coach must consult with MCN as soon as possible to advise the reason for the replacement. Should there be the need for a replacement outside of the 3 reserves named, the trialists will provide the next replacement. The Coach must consult with MCN and other selectors in this instance.
2. Players are expected to be available for all fixtures and practices as required. There may be occasions when some flexibility to this policy is accepted. Consultation with MCN is required in these circumstances

6. TRIALS

Dates for trials will be set by MCN and made public on the MCN website and Facebook page.
Ages for players are taken as at 1 January each year.
Trials for all representative teams will be designed to suit competition dates each year. Players may be selected to trial. Selectors may observe all players prior to naming trialists.
1. Players may be invited to a second trial
2. After the first Senior A trial, the Head Coach may invite Players of Origin or Import players to attend if there is a gap in available talent from current MCN players.
Trialists must fill out an online registration form prior to the trials, agreeing to Mid Canterbury Netball’s Policies and Procedures. By accepting an invitation to trial, trialists agree to commit to the whole Rep season. Tournament dates and MCN expectations, including representative fees, will be made available to trialists prior to trials. Any player not able to commit to all these events/fees may not be eligible to be selected.
All efforts will be made to ensure trialists are given an opportunity to trial in their preferred position/s.
Players will be informed of the process for trials and how the announcement of the team is to be made.
Trials will be designed by the coach/es in conjunction with the selection panel of each age group and may consist of skills and drills, fitness testing and trial games which may be conducted by invited coaches or personnel.
No player is to be given any indication that they have a position in the team prior to trials or prior to the announcement of the team.
The selectors may tell players who clearly are not in the running for a team not to attend subsequent trials at that level.
If there becomes any extenuating circumstance that may prevent a player from attending a trial, an “application for leave of absence representative trial” form must be completed at least one day before the trial date.
Appropriate level umpires should be used to control the trial games.

7. Grounds for Appeal

a. A player (the Appellant) may lodge an appeal against a decision of non-selection to a Mid Canterbury Netball Team in accordance with this clause by serving Mid Canterbury Netball with written notice of appeal within 7 days of non-selection on one or more of the following grounds (but no other grounds):

i. This selection policy has not been materially followed and/or implemented to the material detriment of the Appellant;

ii. The Appellant was not afforded a reasonable opportunity to satisfy the requirements in this selection policy;

iii. The decision not to select the Appellant was affected by actual bias; and/or

iv. There was no material on which the selection decision could reasonably be based.

b. Upon receiving the appeal, the Mid Canterbury Netball Board shall appoint an appeals panel consisting of three people to consider the appeal and determine the appeal. The appeals panel may determine their procedure but must provide a reasonable opportunity for the selectors and the Appellant to be heard before making any decision together with any other player that may be affected by the decision.

c. The appeals panel may confirm, amend, or replace the selection decision or refer the decision back to the selectors to reconsider.

8. ANNOUNCEMENT OF TEAMS

The team will be announced by MCN via the website and Facebook within seven days of the final trial.
MCN may hold a meet and greet with Rep Personnel at the start of the Rep season.

9. FEES

All representative players are required to contribute 50% towards tournament expenses to be determined each year by MCN.
1. In consultation with the Board, Teams may choose to undertake one fundraiser.
A separate uniform hire of $20 is also payable per player.
All players may purchase a subsidised MCN hoodie; alternatively one may be made available for loan by MCN.
Players may apply to the MCN Hardship Fund for financial support,

10. END OF SEASON

All representative management and players are required to complete a feedback form and submit this to MCN Personnel within a week of the end of the Rep Season.
MCN may hold a feedback/review discussion at the end of the Rep season for players and personnel.
Players may be asked to act as Rep advocates at the beginning of the 2026 season and visit or speak with clubs to foster excitement and champion their team to help raise the profile of Reps.