Booking
- This is a Borough Championships level event.
- If an event is full, schools will be placed on a waiting list and be notified of this.
- MSSP will contact schools should places become available in the build-up to events.
Event Eligibility
- This is a Borough Championships level event.
- Schools are encouraged to select their strongest squad. School squads should be well prepared and have time to practise with the competition rules before attending this event.
Team Eligibility
- Age: Year 5/6
- GIRLS ONLY event.
- Squad size: Maximum of 8, minimum of 6 players in a squad. If your squad size is less than 6 players you will not be able to progress to a medal winning position.
- Whilst rotation sheets will not be checked, MSSP expects playing time to be shared amongst all players, and positions rotated for each match.
Kit & Equipment
- All schools MUST bring their own First Aid kit and first aid qualified member of staff.
- No jewellery, wrist bands/watches or hair adornments may be worn, earrings must be taped or removed.
- Fingernails must be cut short and shoe laces securely tied.
- Set of bibs, with the 5 positions initialled front and back.
- Each team must bring their own warm up netball.
- Staff may be asked to keep score during the games.
Sport Format
- Bee Netball
- 5-a-side teams rotating positions
- standard netball court
- size 4 netball
- ring of post lowered to 9ft height
Rules
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- A squad is made up of the following playing positions: Goal Shooter, Goal Attack, Centre, Goal Defence and Goal Keeper.
- Whilst rotation sheets will not be checked, MSSP expects playing time to be shared amongst all players, and positions rotated for each match.
- First Centre Pass or choice of ends will be decided by ‘rock, paper, scissors’.
- Teams will change shooting ends at half time if applicable.
- Each match will start and finish on the umpires whistle, which will be blown immediately after the sounding of a central bell/hooter.
- Players have 4 seconds to pass or shoot.
- Must receive centre pass in centre third.
- Players must stay within their position boundaries.
- In netball children cannot move when they are holding the ball. This is known as the footwork rule.
- A player cannot bounce the ball more than once.
- Players cannot pass or bounce the ball (see rule above) to themselves, it must touch another player or the post before they can catch it again.
- When shooting, if the ball does not make contact with the hoop or another player, the shooter cannot re-catch the ball. This will be considered a replayed ball and the opposition will re-start play with a free pass.
- If a shot is taken before the whistle has blown to end the play, and the ball goes through the net, the goal will count so long as the player released the ball from their hands before the umpire blew the whistle.
- Ball cannot be thrown over a complete Third without being touched or caught by another player. A free pass is given to the opposition to take where the infringement took place.
- When a child is holding the ball, their defender must make sure they step back at least 1 metre from the player’s landing foot. Once 1m apart the defender may use their arms/hands to block the pass or jump to intercept it.
- The defender cannot touch ‘contact’ the ball or player with their body though and they also cannot mark the player with their arms to stop them moving.
- Free pass – if a rule is broken by a player such as replayed ball, footwork, or being out of their position (such as off court with the ball or over their boundary line on court) a free pass is awarded to the other team. Any player on that team can take the pass.
- Penalty pass – if a rule is broken which involves contact, the player which broke the rule must stand next to the opposition as they take a penalty pass (anyone on the team can take the pass but the rule breaker must remain next to them, quiet and still, and cannot join back into the game until the pass has been made).
- Please be aware that England Netball no longer run their ‘High 5’ Netball Programme, and this has been replaced with ‘Bee Netball’. With Bee Netball, schools are encouraged to follow the ‘Stingers’ match play for years 5 and 6. The game remains similar to ‘High 5’ with five-a-side teams and rotating positions etc.
- The key change with the ‘Stingers’ rules is that children may now defend as they would in standard netball rules. They must maintain a distance of 1m between their own feet and the landing foot of the player in possession of the ball; but they CAN now use their arms/hands to shield/intercept the path of the ball once it is released (they cannot touch the ball while the opposition still has it in their hands though). Previously they could only make one jump to intercept.
Competition Format
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- Points awarded are: 3 for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss.
- Group placing determined by: points accrued, goal difference, goals scored, head to head result (if 2 teams), sudden death shootout.
- For further info on Bee Netball in your school please visit https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/school-games/
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Draw Format – TBD
Awards
- Winners: GOLD medals and certificates
- Runners Up: SILVER medal and certificates
- 3rd Place: BRONZE medal and certificates
- REFSPECT winners – Certificate
- Participation certificates will be presented to all participants.
NGB Info
For more information on supporting this sport in your school, please visit: England Netball | Year 5/6
First Aid
MSSP will have a basic first aid kit and qualified person at all events but will not be available to tend to less urgent first aid, as they will be delivering the event. As part of the school’s risk assessment a qualified first aider should always be with the school team (including travel) to tend to their children during the event.
Team-sheets
To help us support our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion aims, all school teams must complete and submit the attached MSSP Event Entry – EDI Team sheet to register for this event. We do not require the children’s names, just initials or first names are fine. This data is vital to help us improve equity and access for all. We want all Merton students to be able to represent their schools in activities they enjoy and, in an environment, where they feel a sense of belonging. The data you provide us will help us to review and improve our offer as we strive to achieve this.
Risk Assessments
Please see the Risk Assessment in the ‘Resources’ section on the event webpage for event specific planning and considerations.
mertonssp.org.uk/competitions
REFSPECT
MSSP values the contributions by all those involved in making our events a FUN, safe and enjoyable environment for children to take part in sport. To ensure our events continue to be successful we promote our REFSPECT campaign. We expect everyone attending our events to maintain respect for the rules, officials, opponents, teammates and themselves. Only designated staff and volunteers will be allowed on the side-lines. All spectators are to remain behind the barriers, providing positive support and encouraging a fun and fair event.
If any staff, adults or children are deemed to be in breach of our REFSPECT codes of conduct they will be asked to leave the event, and the Head Teacher of the relevant school will be informed immediately.
For more information about REFSPECT and codes of conduct for attendance at our events, please click here
mertonssp.org.uk/refspect
Photo Consent
Photographs will be taken at this event by staff members from MSSP and may be used for promotional material. If you have any children that do not have permission to be photographed, please inform a member of staff before the start of the event.
Please ensure your school only take photographs of their own students and do not share any photos of other children on social media without consent from that school.
Social Media
For information and updates from our events, please follow and use the platforms below:
Email: info@mertonssp.org.uk
Instagram: instagram.com/mertonssp
MSSP Duty of Care
MSSP have a duty to take all measures that are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the health, safety, wellbeing and welfare of all participants and any other attendees involved in the relevant event. MSSP have tried to ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken in its duty of care being discharged, and to the requisite standard of care, MSSP have ensured the following guidance and actions have been adhered to and carried out:
That the advice of the UK Government and public health authorities has been followed
That the bespoke guidance and protocols issued by the relevant NGB, federation and/or umbrella organisation (if applicable) have been followed.
Safeguarding and DBS
MSSP acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and the requirements of the Partnership’s host organisation, the Harris Federation.
We recognise that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. We aim to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children and young leaders:
have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport or physical activity at MSSP events in a safe and child centred environment are protected from abuse whilst participating or officiating at MSSP events.
All MSSP staff at the event are fully vetted and enhanced DBS checked. It is the schools’ responsibility to ensure any staff and volunteers who attend the event comply with the host venue safeguarding and welfare policy and can provide documentation to support this on request.
If you have any concerns about a child at our event, please make sure you say something. The MSSP safeguarding team contact details will be on display at all events or for more information on who to speak to please click here
mertonssp.org.uk/contact
Comments, Compliments and Complaints
MSSP aims to deliver a first-class service to all its stakeholders. We see all feedback, whether good or bad, as a valuable way for us to learn and improve. Therefore, we welcome all comments, compliments and complaints. For further details, please click here
mertonssp.org.uk/comments-compliments-and-complaints