NWPPA Grading Policy
This policy relates to state league competitions only.
Our Aim
Newman Water Polo Players Association is committed to ensuring team grading is conducted fairly and effectively. The aim of this policy is ensure grading of teams is undertaken in this manner, and in the best interest of the Club and players.
Why we grade our teams
Water polo WA has A and B divisions across all state junior league ages. Teams within these divisions are graded by WPWAI after 3 we eks to ensure all teams are playing in the appropriate competition. NWPPA endeavours to grade players to ensure the best chance of success for all teams and the greatest level of enjoyment and development of our players.
Stronger players always enjoy the challenge of a harder faster competition and do not develop to the potential if graded to a lower team to be kept with a friend.
Similarly, players who are placed in teams above their ability will also not develop to their potential when being overshadowed by more competitive opponents.
Players and parents are urged to be objective and reasonable in their expectations, and to encourage their children to be happy in their chosen sport no matter what team they are ultimately placed in.
Players Playing out of age group
The general policy of the club is that all players play within teams of their own age group. However, on occasion, there may be exceptions to this rule.
During grading, should the Coaching Panel identify a player of exceptional talent for whom a
team of similar ability does not exist within their own age group, then that player may be offered the opportunity to play in a higher age group.
In addition, should the club have insufficient player registrations in adjacent age groups to form full teams, players may be requested to play up an age group in order to form a team of composite age. In such instances, the players asked to play up an age group, will be selected based on them being of similar ability to the other players in the team which they will be placed. The opportunity exists for those players to play in both age group teams.
Policy
Selection will be based upon the following criteria:
- Swimming ability
- Ball handling skills
- Attacking skills
- Defending skills
- A commitment to attend competition, training and club / team events
- good sportsmanship (values)
- abiding by our club’s Code of Conduct
- must be financial members of the club
- will be selected on their performance, commitment, values and behaviour, not their personal characteristics or attributes (e.g. race, sexuality, religion)
- may beprecluded from selection if there is a concern about their ability to compete safely.
- Grading will occur over afour weekperiod, prior to commencement of the state league season.
- Dates will be communicated in writing via the website
- Coaches with committee representatives will form the selection panel
- Players joining the club after the season commences will be placed in a team based uponcoach assessment
- If there are concerns about team selection or if a player believes s/he has not been treated in accordance with the selection policy, a formal written complaint to the club committee should be made
