ACE Netball Club

The following information explains how ACE Netball Club creates teams each Winter season in the U7 through the Cadets age group (up to U20).  For more detailed information on the grading process, refer to the ACE Grading Policy [new link available late January 2025]. 

ACE Netball Club has the wellbeing of all players at heart and a goal of each player being in a team environment where they can develop a love of the game to promote participation in netball long term. We want each player to have the chance to:

• Compete with and against other players of similar ability, making matches balanced, more enjoyable and less one-sided, to enhance players’ motivation and enjoyment of the sport

• Develop their confidence given reduced pressure of comparison against significantly more advanced teammates

• Improve without the overwhelm of comparison

• Experience quicker skill development with coaches able to tailor skill development to the team’s specific needs ensuring the right level of challenge and stretch. 

Club grading is an extensive process undertaken each Winter Season to create teams from U9 through to the Cadets age group (up to U20).  Players are encouraged to attend grading for the best opportunity for fair team placement. The process is coordinated by the Player Development Officer, the ACE Grading Committee and involves many volunteers over a number of months.

Players U7-U9s

The Under 7 to Under 9s age groups at Pine Rivers Netball Association (PRNA) are non-competitive. Our U7 and U8s teams are generally put together based on friendship groups and registration numbers. At registration, players may nominate a friend with whom they would like to be placed in a team and ACE will do their best to place friends together.

Although U9s are non-competitive, ACE grades players based on their current foundational skill level to promote the individual player's progression towards competitive netball. Coach feedback from previous years is used as one input to assist in this process as well as compulsory pre-season skills sessions, specific to this age group. A group of experienced coaches, neutral to the cohort will be involved in the skills sessions to group the cohort into teams for the season. We endeavour to keep U9 players with at least some of their teammates from the year prior.

Players U10 to Cadets (up to U20)

ACE Netball Club grades players from U10 to U20s and allocates them to teams based on ability, skill and age through a structured and fair grading process. Grading is essential for team composition and determining in which division teams should be placed for the upcoming season.

Opens Divisions and Pre-formed Teams

Physical grading is not required for Opens Teams, or players who played in an Opens Team in the previous season. Players will be placed in teams based on continuity for the team, position and/ or availability.  Players U16-U120 can opt to join a pre-formed team by completing the Expression of Interest process for that season by the specified date (in the prior season). Where we do not receive registrations from at least 8 of the players registered in pre-formed teams by the registration cut off date, then the players registered in that team must attend the grading session applicable to their age group and their pre-formed team request will be cancelled for that season.

Grading Process

• On registration, players are given the opportunity to nominate their two preferred positions from which their grading will be based on. When choosing positions for grading, players should choose the positions where they can best showcase their skills.

• If unsure of which position/s to nominate, we recommend contacting the player’s coach from the season prior for feedback or contacting ACE via player.acenetball@gmail.com.

• The panel of 4-5 independent graders attending each grading session are highly experienced coaches, usually with at least a Development Level Coach Accreditation (or have commenced working towards). 

• During grading, our players are observed on court in their nominated positions and then are ranked on a points system across the cohort. 

• Players will play at least two games in their nominated positions during grading.

• Selectors consider the following attributes when grading:

• Footwork: Ability to land, pivot, and move effectively.

• Ball Handling: Passing and Catching: Accuracy, strength, and decision-making.

• Game Sense: Positional understanding and ability to read the play and react.

• Defensive and Offensive Play: Ability to intercept, block, and create opportunities.

Selection of Teams 

• Teams are selected by the panel of graders for each age group/ session, based primarily on the player’s performance during the grading session in conjunction with:  

• Recommendations and general feedback from selectors on grading day

• Coach’s feedback from the previous season 

• Observations of games by the Grading Committee through the previous Winter Season. 

• The grading panel’s findings are discussed at length during and after the grading sessions. These assessments in conjunction with the feedback from the player’s coach from the previous season contribute to the formation of teams for the upcoming season.

• Teams are assembled (where practicable) based on skill and position based on all three court areas - shooting, midcourt, defence based on the player’s nominated positions.

• Parents with specific requests based on challenging family situations such as custody issues are encouraged to contact the committee as soon as practical. These situations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the committee to provide the best outcome for the player.

Generally, ACE endeavour to create teams that comprise of 8-10 players, where possible covering all court positions to maximise court time for all players. However, where player availability is more variable such as teams with senior high school and/or university students, teams may include up to 12 players, based on team requirements.

Other Considerations

Players unable to attend grading

If a player is unable to attend grading sessions, the player will be best placed in a team according to previous knowledge of the player by the Grading Committee, Player Development Officer and feedback from the previous season’s coach and the playing position of the player.

Where players are unable to attend grading, please notify ACE via secretary.acenetball@gmail.com ASAP.  

New players 

New Players to the Club have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills to the Grading Committee at the grading sessions. It is essential that all new players attend their grading session. Players new to ACE Netball Club who are unable to grade, will be placed in a team based on the information the player has provided on registration. This will include the player’s previous club and the division played. If the information is not available and cannot be obtained from their caregiver, the player will be simply placed in a team with an available space.