frequently asked questions
Does our team need a uniform?
All players in your team are required to be wearing matching tops (or of the same basic colour). Players can wear shirts, leggings or shorts with no pockets. SCNA will provide bibs for all teams, however teams are welcome to bring their own bibs. Umpires will enforce team uniforms from the beginning of week three (3) of each season. Teams or players not adhering to uniform codes will not be able to take the court, which may result in a forfeit.
Does our team need bibs?
SCNA will provide bibs for all teams, however teams are welcome to bring and wear their own bibs should they want to. A team’s own bibs can only be worn if they are not the same colour as the opposing team.
How do I register a team?
All teams are to be registered through NetballConnect by the team’s nominated Team Manager. There are step-by-step instructions available to assist with the registration process: Registration process for a team (link to follow) Registration process for individual player (link to follow) SCNA requires all teams to pay team fees in full prior to the start of the upcoming season. Fees are to be collected by the Team Manager and paid directly through NetballConnect in a single transaction. Please note that no money will be taken in person on game day.
Does our team need a coach?
SCNA teams do not require coaches, however any team with players under the age of 16 is required to have a parent/guardian onsite with them at all times. For BEGINNER teams, an on-court coach is allowed for each game. That person must be clearly identifiable with a purple vest as provided by the Association. If a BEGINNER or JUNIOR team does have a coach, the coach will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check to the Association, and will be required to read Netball Victoria’s Child Safety Policy and complete a signed declaration.
What does a Team Manager do?
Every team that registers to play in an SCNA season will be required to have a nominated Team Manager. This individual will be the main point of contact between the Association and the team, and will be required to pass relevant SCNA information on to players. It will also be the job of the team manager to register the team through NetballConnect, and to then ensure all players register themselves individually prior to the start of the season. Every team manager for BEGINNER and JUNIOR teams will be required to provide evidence of a current Working With Children Check to the Association, and will be required to read Netball Victoria’s Child Safety Policy and complete a signed declaration.
How many points does our team get for a win?
Premiership points are awarded during competition seasons as follows: (a) four (4) points for a win or a forfeit win; (b) two (2) points for a draw or a bye; and (c) zero (0) points for a loss or a forfeit loss. In the event of Teams being equal on points, positions shall be determined by the percentage of goals scored for and against each Team (with a higher percentage from the relevant Teams leading to higher position on the ladder). In the event of Teams being equal on both points and percentage, positions shall be determined by the greater number of goals scored by those Teams.
How do I register an individual player?
All players must be registered individually through NetballConnect, either by registering for the entire season and joining a team, or by purchasing a Single Game Voucher (SGV). If a player is registering to join a team for the entire season, they will be prompted to pay their annual Victorian Netball Association (VNA) Insurance through NetballConnect. This amount is in addition to SCNA team fees, and gets paid directly to Netball Victoria. VNA is compulsory for all players and will provide cover for a full 12 month period (calendar year). VNA for BEGINNER and JUNIOR players for 2024 is $66 VNA for SENIOR players for 2024 is $86 As our SCNA Summer Season starts before the end of a calendar year, NetballConnect will prompt players to pre-pay their insurance while registering to join our Summer Season to ensure you are fully covered for the duration of the season. For more information about Netball Victoria Player Insurance click link (link to follow). To register a player for an upcoming SCNA season, click here for a step-by-step guide (link to come). Single Game Vouchers can also be purchased by registering as a player through NetballConnect. SGVs for BEGINNER and JUNIOR players are $3, and $5 for SENIOR players. Registration process for Single Game Voucher (link to come) Please note: players cannot take the court if they are not registered for the SCNA competition or cannot show proof of single-game insurance. Penalty: If a team is found to have used a fill-in player who did not purchase a SGV, the non-offending team will be awarded four (4) premiership points for the match plus retain any goals scored, regardless of the game outcome. Offending team will forfeit goals scored, and will receive zero (0) premiership points. Only players from the non-offending team will be considered to have participated in the game. Committee may discuss further sanctions for repeat offenders which will be considered on a case by case basis.
How many Single Game Vouchers can one player purchase?
Players may decide to pay for a Single Game Voucher every week rather than pay for a full year of VNA insurance. There is no limit to the number of SGVs a player can purchase, however each voucher is only valid for a 7 day period so a new one needs to be purchased before each round.
Can boys play in the SCNA comp?
Yes, the Association observes the Netball Victoria Gender Regulation in regards to mixed competition. Boys are able to play in the BEGINNER and JUNIOR competitions up to the age of 13 with no restrictions, and can join any other competition that is marked as ‘mixed’.
Can we get a fill-in player?
For BEGINNER and JUNIOR teams, fill-in players are allowed, however players shall only be permitted to play in a higher section or age group and cannot fill in for another Team in the age division in which they are already a registered player of an existing Team. In addition, every fill-in player must have current VNA insurance or purchase a Single Game Voucher. Penalty: Non-offending team will be awarded four (4) premiership points for the match plus retain any goals scored, regardless of the game outcome. Offending team will forfeit goals scored, and will not be awarded any premiership points. Only players from the non-offending Team will be deemed to have participated in that game. Committee may discuss further sanctions for repeat offenders which will be considered on a case by case basis. SENIOR teams requiring fill-in players are able to borrow any eligible player from another SCNA SENIORS Team at any time without penalty. SENIOR players may play a maximum of four (4) games for another Team other than the Team to which they are registered in a single season without transferring to that Team for the duration of the season. Teams looking for fill-in players can post to our Surf Coast Netball Players Facebook group.
Can we borrow a player from another SCNA team?
For BEGINNER and JUNIOR competitions, players shall only be permitted to play in a higher section or age group and cannot fill in for another Team in the age division in which they are already a registered player of an existing Team. Once a player has played three (3) games with one SCNA team in a single season, they are considered to be a registered player of that team and no longer able to play with another SCNA team in the same age division for the duration of the season. SENIOR (18+ years) teams requiring fill-in players are able to borrow any eligible player from another SCNA SENIORS Team at any time without penalty. SENIOR players may play a maximum of four (4) games for another Team other than the Team to which they are registered in a single season without transferring to that Team for the duration of the season. Senior Teams may borrow players from JUNIORS as long as the player is 15 years of age and their inclusion has been approved by both Teams and game umpires. Penalty: If a team is found to use a non-eligible fill-in player, the non-offending team will be awarded four (4) premiership points for the match plus retain any goals scored, regardless of the game outcome. Offending team will forfeit goals scored, and will not be awarded any premiership points. Only players from the non-offending Team will be deemed to have participated in that game. Committee may discuss further sanctions for repeat offenders which will be considered on a case by case basis.
How much does it cost to register a team?
Team fees will vary from season to season, depending on the number of teams in each competition. For our upcoming Summer Season 2023/24, the team fees are as follows: Beginners (7-10 years) $1,100.00 All Juniors $1,100.00 Seniors and Mixed (18+) $1,300.00 The SCNA requires all teams to pay team fees in full prior to the start of the next season. Team fees cover all court hire and umpire fees for the season. Fees are paid directly through NetballConnect in a single transaction by the Team Manager. Please note that no money will be taken in person on game day.
Can team fees be refunded if our team can no longer play?
No refunds will be given on registration fees once round 2 of the new season has commenced. If there are extenuating circumstances, a refund will be considered for a team who can no longer play the remainder of the season.
How many players do we need in a team?
All teams must have 7 registered players in order to join our summer or winter season. We recommend having 8 or more players to share costs more effectively and to help cover player absence/illness.
What happens if our team is running late for a game?
A team must have a minimum of 5 (five) players to take the court. If a team does not have the minimum number of players, the game clock will start at the scheduled time and the opposing team must be on the court and in position, ready to start play. One goal will be awarded to the opposing team for every minute they wait for the offending team/players to take the court. If the offending team has not taken the court by the end of the first quarter, a walkover will be declared. In the event of a walkover, a ten (10) to nil (0) score will stand in favour of the non-offending team. Only players from the non-offending Team will be deemed to have participated in that game. Players of the offending Team will not be deemed to have participated in that game.
If I play netball for another League, Club or Association, do I need a clearance to play in an SCNA season?
No, the SCNA does not require players to seek clearances in order to participate in other Leagues, Associations or Competitions. In the event that an SCNA player is required to request a clearance by another League, Association or Competition, the SCNA will grant the clearance immediately, unless the player in question owes money to the Association.
Who scores the games?
Every team is required to supply one person to assist with scoring each game who must be at least 16 years of age. All SCNA games are live scored using the NetballConnect app. Anyone helping to score will be given appropriate training prior to commencement of the game. All players in attendance are to be marked off through the NetballConnect app prior to the commencement of the game. Players who do not appear on the electronic scoring device before the game commences must be added through the live scoring app or will be unable to take the court once the game begins. Penalty: Committee will consider sanctions for any Team who does not provide a suitable scorer.
​What do we do if our team needs to forfeit an upcoming game?
If your team needs to forfeit a scheduled game, notification must be given in writing to info@scna.net.au explaining the reason. SCNA will then notify the Team Manager of the opposing team, who will be given the option of using the court for practice, and will notify umpires that the game is not going ahead. If a Team notifies the Association of their intent to forfeit MORE THAN 24 hours before the scheduled game time, the opposing team will be awarded four (4) points for the win. Only players from the non-offending Team will be deemed to have participated in that game. Players of the offending Team will not be deemed to have participated in that game If a Team notifies the Association of their intent to forfeit LESS THAN 24 hours before the scheduled game time, the opposing team will be awarded four (4) points for the win plus ten (10) goals. The offending team will lose four (4) premiership points. Only players from the non-offending Team will be deemed to have participated in that game. Players of the offending Team will not be deemed to have participated in that game. If the situation occurs where both teams need to forfeit the same game, neither team will be awarded points.
What happens if games have to be cancelled by SCNA?
If a game needs to be cancelled prior to the scheduled starting time, affected teams will be contacted directly by SCNA and/or notifications will be sent through NetballConnect or via SCNA social media pages. When games are cancelled on account of a factor beyond the control of the relevant Teams (e.g. power outage, or other extenuating circumstances, weather or some other cause) the match will be deemed a draw. Both Teams will be credited with two (2) points and five (5) goals each and the competition will continue as per the fixture. If a match that has commenced needs to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, both teams will receive two (2) points regardless of the score at that time.
How can I stay updated with SCNA news?
Following team registration, all team managers will receive periodic email notifications from SCNA through NetballConnect. Team Managers and players are also encouraged to follow SCNA on Facebook and Instagram where important information will be posted. If you need to contact SCNA for any reason, you can email info@scna.net.au, send a message via our social media pages, or look at the Contact Us page for more options.
Do we have finals?
For BEGINNER teams playing in either the winter or summer season, there are no finals. Instead, teams will continue the round robin format for the entire season. For JUNIOR and SENIOR teams, the last two (2) weeks of each season will be finals. Semi Finals will take place in the penultimate week (teams 1 v 4 and 2 v 3) with winners from semi final games playing in the Grand Final.
How many games do I have to play to be eligible for finals?
In order to be eligible for finals, a player must have played a minimum of five (5) games with the same team in a single SCNA season. They must also be registered to that team through NetballConnect. If a player does not meet these requirements, they will not be eligible to take the court for semi finals or grand finals. If it is discovered that an ineligible player took part in a finals match, the win will be immediately awarded to the non-offending team.
Will games be played on extremely hot days?
In the case of extreme weather conditions where the court temperature inside the stadium reaches 30 degrees, all quarters of affected games will be reduced as follows: BEGINNERS (7-10 years) 5-minute quarters, 3-minute ¼ and ¾ breaks, 4-minute ½ time break JUNIORS (11-17 years) 6-minute quarters, 3-minute ¼ and ¾ breaks, 4-minute ½ time break SENIORS (18+ years) 8-minute quarters, 3-minute ¼ and ¾ breaks, 4-minute ½ time break If this occurs, umpires may also call additional mandatory breaks after four (4) minutes of play if required. In the event of weather conditions where the court temperature inside the stadium reaches or exceeds 35 degrees, all games will be cancelled. Affected teams will be notified by the Association. Any games cancelled prior to half time will be recorded as a draw. Games cancelled after half time will have their scores stand.
Can I take photos or videos of my child or team?
Teams or individuals wanting to take photographs or video footage during any Association game must seek approval from the opposing Team Manager or Coach. Committee members taking photographs or live footage for Association purposes will be clearly identifiable with a purple SCNA vest, and will seek approval from both Teams prior to the game/s. All Teams and individual players have the right to refuse having their photo taken, and their request must be respected. No photographs or video footage is to be taken at BEGINNER or JUNIOR matches without the consent of both Team Managers.
Will teams be graded?
If there are more than ten (10) teams in a single competition, the Association will consider grading the teams into two (2) grades. This will usually take place during rounds 1-3 of a new season and will be communicated as required to all team managers.