Welcome to
​​​​​​​
Netball Wellington Centre

​​​​​​​Representative Programmes - U16, U18 & Open

We are excited to select teams to represent our Centre in each of the following age grades in 2024:
​​​​​​​Under 16           up to 2 teams
Under 18           up to 2 teams
Open (18+)       1 team

To successfully do this we welcome a pool of skilled netball players to make the most of this opportunity so please put your name forward and show us your best!

Sign-up
U16 & U18 grades: link will appear here once sign-up opens late-February. Close-off 12pm 1 April 2024
Open grade: link will appear here once sign-up opens late-June

IMPORTANT: Before signing-up, we ask that you please carefully complete Step 1 and Step 2 below.
Still unsure?  Consult our FAQs section - bottom of this page

Step 1: Eligibility check - if both points apply to you, carry on to Step 2

  • Under 16: must be 14 or 15 years of age on 1 January 2024; or
    Under 18: must be 16 or 17 years of age on 1 January 2024; or
    Open: must be 18 years of age or older on 1 January 2024
    plus
  • Must currently be registered, fully financial (all fees prior to 2024 paid in full) and actively playing for a current school or club affiliated to the 2024 Netball Wellington Centre winter competition played at either Ākau Tangi Sports Centre or Hataitai Netball Courts.

Step 2: Tryout, training & tournament commitments - once aware of dates/your availability please sign-up.
Players considered for selection should be available to attend all trainings & tournaments.
However if you cannot avoid missing a few dates, you may still sign-up!  ​​​​​​Please clearly communicate clashes to us. 
Refer to FAQs bottom of page.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


U16 programme details
Date and time may be subject to change once team selected

Tryouts held at Hataitai Netball Courts, 43 Ruahine Street, Hataitai, Wellington.

  • #1 - Tuesday 2 April 2024 6pm-8pm - skill-check stations (all take part)
  • #2 - Sunday 7 April 2024 10am-12pm - fun mini tournament (all take part)
  • #3 - Tuesday 9 April 2024 6pm-8pm - game play (callbacks)

Trainings: Up to 2 hour duration - Sundays 10am-12pm & Tuesdays 6pm-8pm held at the Hataitai Netball Courts.

Tournaments:
Selected players must be available to play at all of the following events

  • Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 June 2024 - Marjorie Jenden Tournament hosted by Netball Wairarapa at Wairarapa Trusthouse Netball Centre, 15 Colombo Road, Masterton.  Both teams attend.
  • Sunday 9 June 2024 - Betty Steffensen Tournament hosted by Netball Manawatu at Vautier Park, Palmerston North.  Both teams attend.
  • Sunday 16 June 2024  - Wellington Regional Combined Centres (WRCC) U16 Rep Fixture hosted by Kapi Mana Netball Centre at Mungavin Avenue Courts in Porirua (host/venue TBC). Both teams attend.
  • Sunday 7 July to Tuesday 9 July 2024 - North Island Junior Championships hosted by Netball Taranaki at Waiwhakaiho Park Netball Courts, ​​​​​​​605 Devon Street East, New Plymouth (travel dates - depart Saturday 6 July, return Tuesday 9 July).  Attended by both teams.

Fee:
TBC per participant. Ballpark figure advised at tryout sign-up. Final sum confirmed following selection.
​​​​​​​Rep t-shirt and hoodie available at extra cost.


U18 programme details
Date and time may be subject to change once team selected

Tryouts held at Hataitai Netball Courts, 43 Ruahine Street, Hataitai, Wellington.

  • #1 - Tuesday 2 April 2024 6pm-18pm - skill-check stations (all take part)
  • #2 - Sunday 7 April 2024 10am-12pm - fun mini tournament (all take part)
  • #3 - Tuesday 9 April 2024 6pm-8pm - game play (callbacks)

Trainings: Up to 2 hour duration - Sundays 10am-12pm & Tuesdays 6pm-8pm held at the Hataitai Netball Courts.

Tournaments:
Selected players must be available to play at all of the following events

  • Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 June 2024 - Marjorie Jenden Tournament hosted by Netball Wairarapa at Wairarapa Trusthouse Netball Centre, 15 Colombo Road, Masterton.  Both teams attend.
  • Sunday 9 June 2024 - Betty Steffensen Tournament hosted by Netball Manawatu at Vautier Park, Palmerston North.  Both teams attend.
  • Sunday 23 June 2024 - Dale Wortman U18 Invitational Fixture hosted by Netball Wellington Centre at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre in Wellington.  Both teams attend.
  • Monday 15 July to Thursday 18 July 2024 - Netball New Zealand U18 Champs hosted by Dunedin Netball Centre in Dunedin (travel dates: depart Sunday 14, return Thursday 18 July). Both teams attend.

Fee:
​​​​​​​TBC per participant. Ballpark figure advised at tryout sign-up. Final sum confirmed following selection.
​​​​​​​Rep t-shirt and hoodie available at extra cost.


Open programme details
Date and time may be subject to change once team selected

Trials held at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre, 72 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington.
Proposed 2024 dates below - final dates TBC

  • #1 - Tuesday 16 July 6-8pm (all take part)
  • #2 - Sunday 21 July 9.30-11.30am ​​​​​​​(all take part)

Trainings:
8 week commitment.  Up to 2 hour duration traditionally held Sunday mornings 9.30am -11.30am and Tuesday evenings 6pm-8pm at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre. Some flexibility for change possible.

Tournaments:
Selected players must be available to play at all of the following events​​​​​​​

  • Sunday 11 August 2024 – Manawatu Open Grade Fixture hosted by Netball Manawatu in Palmerston North.
  • Sunday 25 August 2024 - NWC Open Grade Invitational Fixture hosted by Netball Wellington Centre at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre in Wellington.
  • Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 September 2024 – Netball NZ Open Champs hosted by Dunedin Netball Centre at the Edgar Centre (travel dates: depart Monday 9, return Saturday 14 September).

Warm up match/es TBC with other open grade teams - other fixture/training dates may still be advised

Fee:​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​TBC per participant. Ballpark figure advised at trial registration. Final sum confirmed following selection.
​​​​​​​Rep t-shirt and hoodie available at extra cost.


For more information or if you have queries about our representative programmes please contact:
Community Development Officer John Neho - admin@netballwellington.co.nz
or
​​​​​​​Community Performance Manager Sandra Edge - eto@netballwellington.co.nz

​​​​​​​Celebrating previous success...

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What if I can't make it to the tryout dates?
We highly recommend everyone attends all three dates to show us your skills as much as possible plus allow selectors the fairest opportunity to observe you in action for due consideration. Attendance before tryout #3 is most important as #3 is reserved for callbacks.
If circumstance mean you're not able to make one or two dates, that's ok.  Please still sign-up and attend - just let us know your reason for absence when you sign-up.
​​​​​​​If circumstance mean you're not able to attend any of the three dates, that's ok too. Exemption may be granted. Please still sign-up yet also provide reason for absence via email to admin@netballwellington.co.nz so exemption may be granted and selectors are made aware you would still like to be considered for selection.

What does the tryout process involve?
Tryouts are held for each age group after which teams will be selected (number of teams will depend on pool of skilled players available). Named players are then expected to commit to attend weekly team trainings (two per week - Tuesdays 6pm-8pm & Sundays 10am-12pm) along with up to four game days/tournaments in the build up to a final regional/national level tournament to end the season in July. Click here to view our full Netball Wellington Centre Representative Team Selection Procedure

What if I'm unavailable for trainings or tournaments?
If not able to attend every training & tournament, you may still be considered. It really helps to know which dates you cannot attend in advance. Please still sign-up and state unavailable tournament/training date/s at bottom of form yet also provide reason for anticipated absence via email to admin@netballwellington.co.nz for special consideration.

How much does it cost to be a rep?
Players are expected to pay a fee plus a team fundraising quota to be involved in our programme. Fees contribute to transport & accommodation costs, food during tournaments, and tournament entry fees. Cost differs per age group given older groups may need to fly to attend the final tournament. In addition, for uniformity and team spirit, players must purchase an NWC rep training t-shirt and hoodie. If already own, no need to repurchase.

A ballpark fee is advised at time of sign-up (see sign-up form) with final fee confirmed following selection. Final sum may be subject to change depending on the time that players may be engaged in the programme. At this stage, transport costs to/from game days/tournaments leading up to nationals/final tournament will be user pays.

What if it's a struggle to pay fees?
As a Centre we work hard to reassure you that we do our best to support successfully selected rep players by assisting where we can including offering part-payment plans (weekly/fortnightly), strongly supporting team fundraising ventures and offering the potential for players to work towards paying off their fees by assisting with some of our NWC holiday and after-school development programmes.

Do I have to list three playing positions?
No. Please take care to list up to three positions in order of preference. If you're only comfortable playing two, that's fine. Please leave blank unless happy to be observed in that position. You may be asked to fill gaps to ensure games can proceed. We do appreciate your assistance and it will be noted if not playing in your prefered position.

Can I tryout for an older age group?
No. U16 will not be considered for U18 selection & U14 will not be considered for U16 selection. If special circumstances are identified (eg, lack of positional coverage in higher grade) dispensation may be granted by NWC and discussed with individuals.

Can I tryout for another Centre?
​​​​​​​Each of the five netball centres within the Wellington region (Netball Wellington Centre, Netball Hutt Valley Centre, Kapi Mana Netball Centre, Netball Kapiti and Netball Wairarapa) may select their own U16, U18 and Open teams. Players are expected to tryout for their registered centre therefore it's not usual for dispensations to be granted to tryout for another centre. Exception may apply for individuals who are allowed to play winter competition within two netball centres (eg, school team + club team). In this instance, following non-selection at their first choice of centre, a player may decide to try out for their alternative netball centre of their own free will and dispensation is not necessary.

What if my Centre isn't holding any rep tryouts?
If a Centre is unable to hold their own rep age-grade tryouts, players are free to choose an alternative Centre.  To ensure transparency we ask that the affiliated Centre gets in touch with us at admin@netballwellington.co.nz to let us know if not intending to select their own team so we don't trample on any toes.

Can I sign-up on someone's behalf?
Yes. However if a parent/caregiver, coach or school sport coordinator completes sign-up on your behalf, we ask that they please ensure each individual player is aware of tryout, training and tournament commitments and agrees to attend. This helps avoid no-shows.

Are there any development opportunities for younger players?
Yes! From 2020, we no longer select an U14 or Year 9 rep team. Instead we started an NWC U14 Player Development Programme (PDP) in an effort to widen opportunities at this age. This programme takes place from July to September - sign-up opens mid-July. To be eligible you must be at college (not Year 8) and 13 years of age or younger on 1 January of the year of attendance. View full U14 PDP details here. To be added to our mail list to be notified once sign-up opens, email admin@netballwellington.co.nz providing your name & age group.

Can I get on a mail list to be advised when rep tryout sign-up opens?
Sure thing - just email Community Development Officer John Neho at admin@netballwellington.co.nz and let him know your name & age group you are interested in.

Who can I contact to clarify something or ask more questions?
​​​​​​​
Please feel free to email Community Development Officer John Neho at admin@netballwellington.co.nz or phone 387 6017.