Wednesday 27 January 2010

England Netball Seeks Head of Marketing, Commercial & Events



Job Title
Head of Marketing, Commercial & Events

Organisation
England Netball

Salary
Circa £45,000.00 pa

Location
Hitchin

Type of Contract
Full-time; Permanent

Job Description
This is an exciting time to be working in English Sport; National Governing Bodies have received unprecedented investment through the recent Whole Sport Plan awards and the London Olympics is on the horizon.

England Netball is a progressive Governing Body with a growing participation levels, a No3 World ranking and regular TV coverage of our Superleague so is well positioned to capitalise on being in the spotlight. Netball is a unique sport as it is the only sport that is played predominantly by women & girls and that presents many challenges as well as opportunities.

As a consequence, we are looking to recruit a highly self motivated individual to head our marketing, commercial and events team and grow our `non grant` revenue streams and to continue to raise the profile of the game and encourage and enable increased participation.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate:

ATTITUDE
A high performing team player with the energy, drive and enthusiasm self manage within agreed parameters; a `can do` action based approach that delivers positive outcomes and solutions and inspires and motivates staff, volunteers and partners.

COMPETENCIES
The ability to lead, manage and develop an enthusiastic team to nurture their talent to deliver positive outcomes. Acting as a positive role model, advocate and team member to inspire and motivate improved performance within the Marketing & Sales/Business Development/Commercial team and across the wider organisation.

The ability to think and act strategically ensuring a coherent and cohesive approach that integrates the Marketing & Sales/Business Development /Commercial function with the rest of the Association’s activity.

A clear understanding of Marketing & Sales/Business Development/Commercial principles and practices and how they can be applied within a sporting environment on a Business to Business and Business to Customer basis.

Excellent management skills including planning & control, influencing and negotiating, decision making, communication and change management

A track record for the achievement of key deliverables, business targets and priorities on time and within agreed parameters and budget guidelines.

The ability to interact with key internal and external stakeholders and partners including Board Directors, Business Partners, National Sporting Agencies and NSL franchises.

EXPERIENCE
Experience of working in Marketing & Sales/Business Development /Commercial within a sports environment at a senior manager/director level, whilst not essential experience an understanding of netball would be a distinct advantage.

For a full job description and application form please follow the link below.


How to apply
Go to http://www.englandnetball.co.uk/About_Us/Recruitment/Jobs_with_England_Netball.php


Closing Date
12pm Thursday 18th February 2010

Interview Date
TBC

Sue Harris Netball NZ CoachForce reports from the Cook Islands



Coach Development at the Pacific Mini Games
Sue Harris, Netball NZ CoachForce, has been working in the Cook Islands.

I was extremely lucky to have been asked to go to the Cook Islands (Rarotonga) recently, to assist coaches in and around the running of the Mini Pacific Games. What a fantastic experience it was!

Prior to the start of the netball tournament at the Mini Games, coaches were invited to attend NNZ’s Player Centered Coaching and Game Analysis modules, as well as an informal session looking at expanding TGfU ideas and developing player pathways/High Performance programmes. It was great to have a large number of local coaches involved with these workshops, including Margaret Matenga (fantastic!) Fiti Tauisi also came across from Samoa to take part for his own professional development. They all really enjoyed the module content, and were very keen to share and try new ideas.

During the tournament I was available to support the coaches of all the competing Countries (Cook Islands, Tokelau, Fiji, Tonga, PNG and Niue). I was also invited to assist team Tonga during one of their training sessions which became one of my highlights during my time over there – they were great fun to work with, and were totally focused on improving their performance and trying new things. After our session, the girls were really keen that I got a photo taken with Cathy, their Goal Shooter. I have no idea why they found it so funny…she’s only about 195cm and I’m at least 159cm!

After my ‘official’ duties at the games were completed I was invited to attend a coaches meeting with one of the local clubs (Avitu). The plan was that we would discuss NNZ’s Player Centered Coaching approach, and also perhaps discuss some development programme ideas. I was expecting 4 or 5 coaches to be there, but found that 9 turned up early and ready to go! A session that was supposed to last for 90 minutes went for well over 2 hours as all of the coaches had plenty of questions and were very keen to explore more of everything. It was a great night and fantastic to see everyone so committed to providing opportunities for their players to grow and develop their netball skills.

Tex who attended our PCC module, and umpired during the Mini Pacific Game’s also coaches the Cook Island Men’s team. This team is affectionately known as the “Fairies” or the “Queenies”. Tex asked me to run a training session for his team just before I left, which turned out to be another great night. By half way through our session, I had 15 players (mixed with the boys were a few girls who had been watching and decided to join in) who always wanted ‘just one more go’ of the TGfU activities we were practicing. The only reason we finished (some 20 minutes later than scheduled) was because the sun had dropped so far, we couldn’t see the goal posts any longer. They really enjoyed the Player Centered/TGfU style of coaching, and after initially being a little reluctant/nervous to answer questions or make suggestions, towards the end of the session they were more than ready to give an opinion to me, or to anyone else prepared to listen!

If I was asked to sum up my time in the Cook Islands in 5 words I would have to use words like: friendly, open, keen, hospitable and food. I’m sure I piled on a couple of kilos in excess baggage due to the endless supply of food everywhere we went! I felt it would have just been rude not to try everything. Unfortunately for me (and my waistline) I liked everything, from Poke to Ika Mata to Taro to Paw Paw!

So on my return, I’ve asked myself a few questions:
Was this trip worthwhile from a work perspective? Definitely.
Do I feel NNZ’s presence at the Mini Pacific Games was valuable? Absolutely.
Do I believe that the coaches from this region are open and receptive to learning and developing their coaching?
Without a doubt.
Would I be keen to go back? In a heartbeat.
(And one more…..Is Weight Watchers phone number in the phone book?)

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Listen to BBC programme about GOAL


Empowering young women through sport

'GOAL', started in 2006 as a female-only project that contributes to the Government of India’s aims to empower young women and its efforts to promote sport, in particular netball, in the run-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. It's run by the NAZ Foundation - a charitable organisation whose main focus for 14 years has been on projects to raise awareness and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in India. The project uses netball as a means to reach young women aged 13-19 in some of the poorest communities in Delhi, acting as an entry point to a wider educational programme which challenges gender restrictions in a strongly patriarchal Indian society. None of the girls participating had played netball before, as sport is commonly seen as a male preserve and difficult for Indian girls to access.
Sunita Thakur a freelance jornalist went to visit the NAZ Foundation in Delhi, and spoke to some of the girls involved in 'GOAL'.

Listen to this programme from the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2009_30_thu.shtml

Goal wins Beyond Sport Award


Many congratulations to all those involved in the GOAL initiative, after it was named Best Project by a Sports Federation or Governing Body at the global Beyond Sport Awards ceremony, held in London in July. IFNA Director Sue Taylor is pictured (above) collecting the award on behalf of IFNA from Dame Kelly Holmes.

The programme runs across India, it is delivered by NAZ Trust and is supported by Standard Chartered Bank, which provides financial investment, management support and a network of employee volunteers across the region who use their core skills to assist with the programme.

IFNA provides training, coaches and identifies opportunities for the future development of promising players, while working with local NGOs to deliver the programme to their existing female clients.

To date, GOAL has brought netball to over 500 players across India, and has also given many women valuable life skills. We are thrilled with the award – well done to all involved

Tanzania Seeks Head Coach


TANZANIA NETBALL ASSOCIATION




Job Advertisement: National Coach for Tanzania

(2nd Announcement)


Issued on: 20/01/2010

Tanzania Netball Association is seeking applications for a National Coach with ability to develop the popularity, profile and playing standard of netball in Tanzania. The National Coach Position will focus on the development of the national program with specific emphasis on the progress of the National Team. In the short term CHANETA (TANA) which is now ranked 22nd in the World and 4th in Africa aims to be among the top 15 teams in the World by year 2012. The urgent need for year 2010 is to qualify for 2011 World Cup (from Africa continent).



Applicants are expected to demonstrate/possess:

Ø Current coaching success at elite national or international level

Ø Experience and knowledge of structures and strategies to ensure progressive development pathways for players and coaches

Ø A recognized coaching qualification (Level 2 or higher)

Ø Key personal qualities including commitment, drive, innovation and adaptability

Ø Overseas coaching experience will be an asset

Salary and benefits for post in include:

i. Salary – between US $. 3,500 – 5,000 per month depending on the qualifications, experience, track record and motivation.

ii. Accommodation (or accommodation allowance) – descent housing or allowance to be provided in Dar es Salaam or close to the national team regular camp - to be discussed upon recruitment

iii. International travel (return ticket for contract period) – to be paid for

iv. Vehicle or access to vehicle – any of the two will be possible depending with situation on ground

v. Relocation allowance – available - to be discussed upon recruitment

vi. Mobile phone plan – to be discussed upon recruitment

For information regarding job profile, and submission of application, please contact Mr. Joel Mwakitalu, Advisor to Tanzania Netball Association at: sportsadvice@yahoo.com

Applications close on 6th February 2010


Joel Mwakitalu

Sports Advisor

Tanzania Netball Association

P.O. BOX 42747

Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Tel: +255 784 657718

Fax: +255 22 2850972

Netball around the world - Weekly Round Up

25 January 2010




Pre-season preparations for the third season of the ANZ Championships are now well under way, with two warm up tournaments confirmed for the franchises.



The Southern Steel will once again host a three day tournament in February, featuring the Queensland Firebirds as well as Kiwi sides Northern Mystics, Central Pulse, Tactix and the Steel. The Australian Institute of Sport will complete the line up for the tournament.



The competition’s official pre-season tournament will then take place at the start of March, when the Sydney Olympic Park (SOPA) Netball Cup is staged with seven of the competition’s ten teams committed to playing. Home side the NSW Swifts, winners of the SOPA Cup in 2008 and 2009, will face stiff competition from the Adelaide Thunderbirds, the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, Central Pulse, Melbourne Vixens, Queensland Firebirds and the West Coast Fever as the teams look to finalise combinations ahead of the 2010 ANZ Championships.



The Cayman Islands Netball Association Senior League launched its 2010 season this week, with an expanded competition split into two divisions. With interest in the game continuing to grow throughout the Islands, a national U16 trial has also been held, with the selected players travelling to represent their country in Barbados at the Caribbean U16 championships at Easter.



In Zimbabwe, netball is also rising up the sporting agenda, with the Bulawayo Netball Association looking to integrate teams from the country’s Community Sports Development Programme (CSDP) into their regular league competition. It is hoped that these plans will not only increase the number of people taking part in regular netball sessions but will also drive the standard of play up and ultimately improve the standard of the country’s international teams.



Former Fijian international Simone Nalatu has expressed an interest in returning to her country’s national team by making herself available for the final Pacific Cup trials to be held in Suva in March. Currently based in Queensland, Nalatu is expected to line up with other overseas-based international Talei Bari, Marjorie Parr, Sala Hide and Lusi Robanakadavu when the final trials for the 2010 side take place on 6 March.



With the severe weather conditions in the UK abating, the fixtures backlog in the Netball Superleague is starting to resolve itself. Surrey Storm continue to lead the table with three wins from three, after a 64-29 win against Leeds Carnegie, with former champions Mavericks and TeamBath close behind. This week, Storm hosts TeamBath in the match up of the round, while former finalists Loughborough Lightning will be looking to score the side’s first win of the season against close rivals Mavericks.