The Forbes under 17’s representative team came home after a huge long weekend in Gosford where they competed in the NSW Netball 2018 State Championship 17/U Division 3.

The Gosford Netball Association marked the 50th hosting of the iconic championships and 96 teams from 71 associations travelled from all over NSW to participate on the Central Coast.

Held over the June long weekend annually, the NSW Netball State Championships is three days of competition bringing together elite netballers from across the state.

This year’s championship didn’t always offer agreeable weather, with one round being postponed on day two due to heavy rain and dangerous playing conditions.

Nevertheless, the Forbes team strived forward and achieved incredible results. The girls played 20 games over three days and placed 8th out of 21 on the ladder, a result which they are very pleased with.

All games were played skilfully and fought to the end, with losses being close and within only a few points of the other top teams. In total, 11 games were won and one drew.

The team’s representation both on and off the court was impeccable, with positive comments from umpires on the girls’ sportsmanship and attitude.

There was great support with many travelling to cheer the girls on from the sidelines.

There were many creative dress ups at Saturday, 26th May’s netball competition, when the FNA players and committee members went ‘Crazy For The Kids Cancer Project’ fundraiser. This day is an annual event held across all netball associations in NSW, to raise much needed funds for the charity. Although the final figure is not known at this stage, players and committee members enjoyed the fun day of ‘Crazy Hair and Sock Day’. A huge thank you to Elsa Cusack who cooked magnificent cakes that were sold out very quickly.

Best dressed in NetSetGo were Zoe Amery and second Chloe Amery. Best dressed were Ella White in Giants and Tara Higgins in Possums. Well done to the Vixens and Joeys for best dressed teams. Elsa Cusack was awarded best dressed socks.

Friday Netball

Friday netball continues this week from 5pm until 6pm for any boys and girls who would like to learn more skills and have fun playing netball. Friday netball is free and players do not have to be registered or play in the Saturday competition to join in the fun.

Learning Umpires

Learning umpires are very welcome and any parents who would like to learn the rules or how to umpire should also come along to Friday netball or ask at Saturday competitions. It is very handy sometimes for parents to learn to umpire and help out if an established umpire is unavailable.

Canteen Duty

Thank you to the volunteers who have helped in the canteen. Everyone is reminded that orders for hot chips should be placed during the 11-10 round of games, so that the chips can be cooked and ready when games are finished.

Long Weekend

There will be no Saturday competition over the June long weekend

and no Friday netball either.

The Saturday competition of the Forbes Netball Association (FNA) was in full swing last weekend when all players received their team uniforms. Coaches are still needed for all the teams and volunteers are asked to come forward. Thank you in anticipation.

New players are still welcome in all divisions and anyone interested in playing should send an email to secretary.forbesnetball@ gmail.com or come to the office on Saturday.

Friday Netball

Friday netball will be organised from 5pm till 6pm each week, through school terms. Friday netball is free to all boys and girls who would like to learn more skills and have fun playing netball.

Players do not have to be registered or play Saturday competition to join in. Anyone interested in volunteering help at Friday netball is very welcome. New coaches and new umpires wanting to learn should join in the session.

Regional Carnivals

There are two regional carnivals in the next two weeks where an 11 years team will be playing. Boys and girls turning 10 or 11 in 2018 can play in the teams. An 11 years team has been entered for the Dubbo regional carnival on 27th May. The first 10 players to nominate for each carnival will make up the team. Parents may email as above, or come to the office on Saturday to nominate.

A bus will be running to the carnivals and all players and parents

can travel on the bus provided. Parkes carnival will have private

transport. Volunteer umpires are needed for all carnivals.

Canteen Duty

Parents and teams are rostered to do canteen duty each week. The canteen is the main fundraiser of the FNA and thank you to the parents who have already volunteered working in the canteen.

The netball night competition for both mixed and ladies teams played the last round of the competitions last week. Thank you to all the umpires who have umpired every week so games could be played.

The next night competition will start in August. Anyone who would like to continue playing ladies competition netball should come to the Saturday competition at 9am, to be put into a team. Saturday competitions
will be played through until August.

Regional Carnivals

The next regional carnival is in Bathurst on Sunday, 20th May. A bus will be running for players and parents. An 11 years team has been entered and the first 10 players to nominate will make up the team. Players can be turning either 10 or 11 in 2018.

Players to nominate so far are: Delilah Karaitiana, Hannah Williams, Clare Williams, Lilli Cronin and Matilda Cronin. Five more players need to nominate to make up the team. Parents can email to secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com.

The Dubbo carnival is on 27th May and again an 11 years team will be entered.

The Forbes Netball Autumn Night Competition for both mixed and ladies teams saw the last round of games this week.

The two top teams on the point score ladder in each competition, will play in the finals on Wednesday, 16th May. Presentations will be held immediately after each final.

The next round of night comps will start in August, where again both ladies and mixed teams can enter.

Any teenagers and ladies who would like to continue playing netball should come down to the courts on Saturday morning at 9am for more games. The Saturday competition is played through until August.

Players can send an email to seretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com to inform the committee before Saturday.

Regional Carnivals

The next carnivals in the region will be in Bathurst on 20th May and Dubbo on 27th May. Any players turning 10 or 11 in 2018 who would like to play in the above carnivals should send an email or put their names down this Saturday. A bus will be running to both carnivals and parents are also welcome on the bus.

The Forbes Netball Association (FNA) players will be back on the courts this week after a short break for the school holidays. The committee hopes everyone had an enjoyable holiday break.

The autumn night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams is drawing to a close, with finals to be played on 16th May between the two top teams on the point score ladder.

The competitions have been played since February, but there are still unregistered players.

Teams have been forfeiting if players have not paid their registration to NNSW and FNA, plus their competition levy of $40 per player per team.

The competition levy pays for the costs associated with the running of the competitions. Without this levy being paid, the FNA will not have the finances to organise competitions. Unregistered players will not be allowed to take the court.

Monthly Meeting

The April monthly meeting was put back because of the school holidays and was held on Thursday, 3rd May at at the Forbes Services Memorial Club. All night competition teams must be represented and will receive two competition bonus points.

Parents Representative Meeting

All parents of representative players are asked to attend a meeting on Thursday, 31st May at 7.30pm at the Forbes Services Memorial Club. All information relating to state championships and state age championships will be discussed.

Forbes Carnival

The Forbes All Age Carnival will be held on Sunday, 6th May. Age groups are 11 to 15 years and Open. Helpers will be needed to serve in the canteen and barbeque starting at 6.30am, to put up tents and then during the day of competition. Thank you to those who have already volunteered. The rounds of competition will start at 8.30am.

The Forbes Netball Association spring night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams came to an end last week when finals were played in both divisions.

The ladies final was very close throughout the full game, with the lead often changing and spectators kept on the edge of their seats, as they cheered on their favourite team.

The final result was Forbes Engineering 32 defeating Postie 31.

Forbes Engineering held a two goal lead at the end of the first quarter, winning it 10- 8, but Postie fought back in the second to even the scores at the half time break to 15 all.

Monique Point on led the way for Engineering, showing great vision in all areas. Lisa Drane and Carmen Jelbart also proved to have a big impact for their Engineering team.

The third quarter had Engineering ahead by two goals with Postie players Aurella White, Ellie Flick and Caitlin Duncan fighting hard for their team.

The lead changed many times and the final quarter was very exciting as both teams scored goal for goal.

Postie took the lead with a minute to go, but Engineering fought hard and regained the lead, finally scoring the winning goal with seconds to spare.

The experience of the Engineering team came through in the last minute but the young Postie team showed what they are capable of as they gain experience in tight games.

The final of the mixed competition was played between the new team of H & S and the younger team of Zenith.

The final result was Zenith 24 defeating H & S 10.

Zenith took an early lead in the first quarter winning it 5-2 and at half time increased by a goal to lead 10-7 with all players working hard.

The teenagers of Zenith showed great skills, led by Ellen McLinden who never gave up, setting a great example of determination and fighting spirit.

Will Driscoll of Zenith intercepted many passes and kept turning over the ball to his team. Krystal Girot, shooter for Zenith who is also coming back from 12 months of injury, showed all the skills she has learnt before her break.

H & S are a new team, with the men catching on to netball very early in the competition. The team was lead by Ness Campbell and Hannah Cudaj who never gave up trying.

Zenith took a commanding lead in the third quarter, winning by 18-8 and continued to increase the difference in the final quarter.

Congratulations to all the players whom showed outstanding sportsmanship throughout both final games.

Best and Fairest for the ladies competition was Alyssa Crowe from Golfie.

Best and Fairest for the mixed competition was Ellen McLinden from Zenith.

Dates have already been set for some events in 2018. The new Fast 5 night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams will run from mid February and all of March, and finish before Easter. The Forbes All Age regional carnival will be held on 6th May.

The Forbes and district primary schools gala day will be held on Monday, 5th March. The Saturday competition ‘Come and Try’ day will be held on 10th March. Regional League will be played in Orange on 25th February, 25th March and 15th April.

Netball Courses: There are many netball courses available on the NNSW website. These courses are available for any member to up-skill and update accreditation. Play By The Rules and the Australian Sports Commission also have courses available for updates.

The Spring Night competition finals will be played next week, 29th November. The finals will be played between the two top teams on the point score ladders. If the finals are cancelled due to rain, the teams that finished first on the ladder will be declared the winners.

There will be new forms available for netball to be played in 2018. Both Fast 5 and Walking Netball are being rolled out by NNSW in 2018, and the FNA will be participating in both.

Fast 5 will be played on Wednesday nights, from mid February and all of March 2018. Walking Netball will be played on Saturdays along with the normal 2018 Saturday competition.

Fast 5: Volunteers are still needed for the Fast 5 competition to be run. NNSW staff will come to Forbes and help and support the new committee. This competition will be run very differently to the normal netball competitions and a new committee must be formed. Anyone interested can email Tiff Nicholson at secretary.forbesnetball@gmail.com. There are many videos available on the game of Fast 5.
Representative and Assistant Coaches: Expression of interest are being called for representative coaches and assistant coaches for FNA teams competing in State Championships in 2018.

Suitable applicants will be allocated to teams that are formed. Anyone interested should contact Tiff Nicholson on above email. Coaches and assistant coaches will be supported if required.

The new Fast 5 committee is being formed. Anyone who would like to be on the committee should email Tiff Nicholson on secretary. forbesnetball@gmail.com.

The Fast 5 competition will be played on Wednesday nights, in mid February and all of March 2018, finishing at the Easter break.

New committee members will need to volunteer before the competition can run. The committee will have the help and support of Netball NSW staff, as this competition will be run very differently to any of the competitions played in the past.

Volunteers for the Fast 5 committee so far are: Jess Priest, Jack Piercy, Ellie Flick, Brianna Duncan, Jack Priest and Aurella White.

The Fast 5 committee has no age restrictions.It is however recommended that they currently be attending secondary school, to open men and women, which will be the playing age of the competition.

The FNA committee has also expressed interest with Netball NSW for the presentation of walking netball in 2018.

This will also be a fun and very different form of the game. More details will be made available as soon as the FNA is informed.

There will be no FNA meetings during December and January.