News | REGIONAL NETBALL FINALS
The 8 teams (2 from Durham, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and Teesside) qualified for the final, which was held at Newcastle University’s Cochrane Park Sports Ground on Monday 18th May by winning their county High 5 finals which were held in March 2009.
The event was able to take place through a new partnership that has been developed over the past year with SUNEE and the senior competition Managers in the North East Region. This new and exciting partnership has plans for 2009/2010 to develop 5 new regional finals in 5 different sports with SUNEE providing student volunteers and facilities and the competition managers providing the links with the schools and the directions of how the competitions should be ran in accordance with NGB rules and regulations.
Student volunteers from Teesside University and Sunderland University netball teams were the backbone of the event, taking the roles of umpiring, scoring and timekeeping. Prior to the event they all successfully completed a High 5 awareness Course to give them the necessary skills and knowledge for them to deliver their roles to a high standard.
Teesside Student volunteer, Mahe Walter said: “It’s great to be involved in an event like this for us as it gives us a experience of the bigger picture. I have been volunteering and coaching netball in a after school club so this event adds to the experience I have been getting through coaching by taking on other roles and working with different people”
As well as officiating roles on the day, the University students also gave the children something to aspire to when Teesside 1st Team V Sunderland 1st Team in a demonstration match at the end of the day showcasing the level of netball the children can potentially play at when they are older.
All children got a medal, T-Shirt and certificate but it was Ovingham School, from Northumberland who also took away the winning shield with Durham High School coming close runner ups and Pallister Park, based in Teesside, who came third.
As well as competing in the finals, the children also got to meet Netball Superleague player Tessa Burton, who attended the event, gave the presentations and also her autograph to the many children who are now her fans.
Team Northumbria Superleague player, Tessa Burton said: “It is good to see everybody coming down, like all the parents and the netball clubs, and with everybody getting involved with the umpiring, and the kids skills are excellent for their age which is really good to see.
She added: “The grassroots initiative is great, it is a really good set up, getting the kids involved and putting on tournaments like this is awesome to see.”
Overall, the event was a great day for everyone involved, One of the organisers of the event, University of Teesside Sports Development Officer, Vickie Todd said: “The event was a huge success, it was great to have a partnership with the Senior competition Managers to be able to provide the children with a pathway to compete at a regional level, they all had a fantastic day and loved the demonstration match between University of Teesside’s 1st netball team V Sunderland Universities 1st Team.
She added: “The student volunteers from Teesside and Sunderland University were outstanding, they took on all the event roles of umpiring, scoring, time keeping etc… and acted as positive role models for the children to aspire to, their support was invaluable to making the event a success.
Article written by SUNEE journalism scholar Sam Holdsworth
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