Mother Earth futureFERNS

The Mother Earth futureFERNS competition is Netball New Zealand's official junior netball programme. At our Centre, this includes the Fantail Grade (Year 1-2); the Tui Grade (Year 3-4); and the Kotuku Grade (Year 5-6). Your competition coordinator Anna Pryde. Please email hokinetball@gmail.com with your queries. Read the Netball NZ Parent Behaviour Code and Player Behaviour Code.

About the Programme:

Mother Earth futureFERNS is Netball New Zealand’s official junior Netball programme for Year 1 - 8 children.

To ignite a lifelong involvement in Netball, a sequential programme has been developed that is at the right level for the players at each stage. The emphasis is on fun activities conducted in a safe environment. Small sided games are the preferred training method and are proven to be the most appropriate way to enhance skill and tactical development.

Mother Earth futureFERNS is focused on enabling individuals to experience personal achievements and the benefits for the players and parents are:

Players

FUN
Development of sound fundamental Netball skills
Participation in a safe learning environment
Playing with their friends and meeting others
Active physical involvement
Lifelong love of Netball

Parents

Reassurance that their child is participating in a NNZ endorsed programme
Enhancement of the child’s social and fundamental skills
Ability to share skills and knowledge with the Netball community
Opportunity to learn more about Netball
Opportunity to spend time with and play with their children
Prospect to make new friends
Value for money

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What are the benefits of futureFERNS?

More Passes, More Play, more FUN.

Mother Earth futureFERNS has been developed after considering the findings from the Junior Netball Review, local research, academic research, other sports and feedback from pilots run in 14 Netball Centres throughout the country in 2013.

The new junior Netball programme meets the players’ social, physical and cognitive needs and abilities. Children are not mini adults so their sport is being modified accordingly.

Some of the benefits are:

More touches on the ball which means more opportunities for development.
Focus on developing the fundamental movement skills.
Less players on court, therefore less complicated decision making.
Modified equipment and court size – scaled down from the adult version to fit the children.
More attempted and successful shots at goal.
Developing a lifelong love of Netball.

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Year 1 & 2

Introduces Netball to 5-6 year olds. The aim is to develop fundamental movement and ball skills. The game follows the preceding skill session and 4 v 4 is played on one full third of a full sized court with the emphasis on equal participation. Modified equipment is used.

Year 3 & 4

The focus for this age group is learning basic skills in a modified game of 5 v 5, using two-thirds of a Netball court. Mother Earth futureFERNS Year 3 & 4 is designed to be fast and fun, maximising participation and touches of the ball. With modified equipment and less players on the court, in 5 v 5 the game is less complicated. Five players in each team and rotating positions ensures everyone gets an equal chance to develop their skills. Modified equipment is used.

Year 5 & 6

Year 5 & 6 play 6 v 6 which is a fast game providing lots of touches on the balle. The 6 v 6 game is played on a full size court with three positions on each team. Players rotate to prevent early specialisation in positions. The emphasis is on all players getting plenty of touches of the ball and the opportunity to develop a broad skill set.

Year 7 & 8

Players have now developed a considerable understanding of the game. The broad emphasis goes on to skill improvement as well as participation and fun. Performance, challenge and playing are keys for this age group. Ensuring positional rotation and playing at least half a game will give each player the opportunity to participate and develop.

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