Welcome!

Dear Netball Fans from around the globe!

WELCOME to the 2013 CallidusCloud U.S. Open Netball America Championships - the most prestigious Netball event in the USA.  This is an especially exciting year as it is the 5 year anniversary for Netball America - so there will be plenty of special highlights at this event.  We are excited to hold this event in a state of the art venue at McEachern High School, Atlanta, Georgia.  It truly is a world class venue and even more spacious than last year!!  It is our intention to make this event a valuable learning experience and provide you with many Netball opportunities while visiting Atlanta.  The event will be held Friday November 8th - Sunday November 10th. Registration is open to ladies, mixed and international teams.  For individuals wanting to participate we'll place you in a team. 

Event highlights:

• Tournament being played in a 117,000 sq ft, 15 million dollar facility that opened in August 2011.  Athletes will have access to weight & locker rooms
• 4 full sized Netball courts, including a warm-up court 
• Netball travel agent to assist with team flights, hotel reservations & transportation
• Electronic clock & scoreboard
• Qualified umpires & scorers to officiate
• Certified instructors to run Netball education and skill clinics for players, umpires & coaches
• Certified masseuses, athletic trainers and medics
• Water and PowerICE
• Early registration prizes
• A special Saturday evening function
• Goody bags
• USA Rep. teams playoff - West Coast, East Coast, Southeast Regions & Collegiate Team USA
• Special guests

Registration details are below, please email us with any questions.  We closed registration early last year, so get in quick!  There is a large softball tournament in the area that weekend, so we suggest you reach out to Tania today to reserve hotel rooms.

We look forward to a spectacular event in Atlanta in the spirit of friendly competition and good sportsmanship.

Yours in Netball,

 

Sonya Ottaway
President Netball America
www.netballamerica.com
e/m: president@netballamerica.com

General Information

Agenda

Friday November 8^th
Friday events will be held at McEachern High School.  Shuttles will be provided
Annual General Meeting: 1.30 - 3.15pm
Early team tournament check-in: 3.30 - 8pm 
Clinics: 3.30-5.30pm.  Participants will earn Continuing Professional Education credits toward National Umpiring & Coaching Accreditations 
USA Rep. Team Playoffs: 6.00-8.30pm

Saturday November 9^th  
Team check in 7 - 8.30am  
Officials and managers meeting 7.30am 
First game commences 8am 
Five year anniversary celebration dinner and dance

Sunday November 10^th
First game commences 8.30am.  Tournament will finish by 4pm

Draw will be created using our tournament scheduling software and scores will be posted real-time online.  A draft schedule will be available 1 month prior to event.  There are 3 tournament categories: competitive ladies, social ladies,  and mixed.  Last year only 1 team signed up for social category, however we encourage teams who finished lower in the rankings to sign up for the social category.  

Match Protocols: Appendix A

Registration:  Up to 12 players per team:

• Each individual player or team, including coaches/managers required to complete registration & pay applicable fees
• Every official & volunteer to complete a registration form
• Every participant, official & volunteer required to complete a waiver (Appendix B)

Awards:  Trophies will be awarded to:

1. Top ranked team in ladies categories (competitive & social)
2. Top ranked team in mixed category

The Netball America Cup will be awarded to the top placed competitive ladies Netball America member team.  Current title holder is the Southeast Region Strikers.

Sportsmanship Award – To one team in each category who shows outstanding sportsmanship.

Annual Umpires Award - Awarded to a Netball America umpire who shows they have what it takes to be a first class umpire.

First Aid:  Masseuses, EMT/medical and qualified sports medicine trainers will be onsite.  Teams required to bring own strapping tape. 

Food: Free water and PowerICE.  Food & beverages will be on sale.  Drinks and food not allowed inside gym area - there will be dedicated eating areas.

Netball Clothing & Equipment: 10% discount on pre-event orders received by Sept 30th.

Hotel & Transportation: Stage and Screen Travel are making group travel bookings (Appendix C).  They are working on airport transfers.  Free parking at High School. 

Social: Registration includes the Saturday evening social. Stay tuned for details.

Registration includes: 

• Two days of Netball in a world class facility
• Education & skill clinics 
• USA representative team finals
• Transportation to/from preferred hotel to all events
• Water/Sports Hydration drinks
• Certified masseuses, EMT/medics & athletic trainers
• Qualified appointed Umpires, Scorers & other Officials
• Insurance coverage
• Souvenir event t-shirt & event program
• Team Photograph
• Social event
• Goody Bag
• Last year teams who re-register by early bird deadline have a chance to win a prize.  Another prize will be given for all teams that complete early bird registration

	Early registration (per person) (on or before July 31st)	Late registration (per person) (on or after Aug 1 - Sept 30th)
Netball America member or International participant	$ 100 / person	$ 120 / person
Non Member Participant	$150 / person	$170 / person
Deposits are non-refundable	$100 discount given if team of 12 registration paid in full by July 31	Teams who pay team deposit by July 31 will be able to complete final pmts at the early registration rate if paid by Sept 30

 

APPENDIX A – Match Protocols

All matches will be played according to the International Rules of Netball unless otherwise indicated.

1) Time: Captains required to toss and report results to both umpires and score desk before start of game.  Matches will consist of two 12-minute halves, with a 2-minute half-time interval. 

Teams will be notified when there are 30 secs and 10 secs remaining prior to the start of the game and the end of an interval.  At the 10-second warning whistle, teams must move into playing positions for start/re-start of play. 

• If a team fails to take the court by the start/re-start of play, Umpire shall penalize for deliberate delaying of play
• If a team fails to take the court within 1 minute of the designated time for start/re-start of play, Umpires shall award the game to the non-offending team

2) Points:

3 points awarded for a win
1 point for a draw
0 points for a loss

In the event of a draw, goal differences will be the first tie breaker rule.  Goal difference is calculated by the total number of goals scored minus goals conceded.  If a teams points and goal differences are equal, then goals scored will be used as a 2^nd tiebreaker with the team scoring the most goals winning.  Only finals will have additional time played for draws.  Time will be 5 minutes each way for 2 halves.  If a 2nd tie occurs then it will be the first team to lead by 2 goals.

3) Categories:  3 categories: Ladies Competitive, Ladies Social, and Mixed.  Based on the number of entries it will be up to tournament organizers discretion as to any adjustment to categories and timing of games.  Each category will need min. of 4 teams.  Competition will be round robin.

4) Officials: Umpires and scorers will be allocated to matches by tournament Director of Umpiring according to performance.  Umpires are required to have at least a national C grade Netball America badge, unless otherwise approved.  International umpires are welcome and may email us.  Netball America Umpires will be paid for officiating.   Umpires will be required to wear Netball America Umpiring uniform provided. 

Umpires, scorers, timers wishing to officiate can apply here.  Include qualifications and experience.   Umpires wishing to be scheduled for a practical test should email us.  National Theory exams are scheduled for May 27 to June 3 and September 30 to October 6.

5) Teams:  Players should be aware if they register in the ladies & mixed categories that there may be scheduling conflicts.  Note - ladies cannot register for the competitive and social competitions.  A mixed team can have up to a max. of 3 (three) male players on court.  The males will need to spread out (1 as GS,GA; 1 as either C,WA,WD; and 1 as GK,GD).  Teams cannot have 2 males playing GS/GA or GK/GD at the same time.  Only registered coaches/managers are allowed on the team bench. 

6) Scorer/Timer: Each court will have its own individual scoring system and courts will run on a central timer.

7)  Injury Time: Due to running a central timer no additional time will be played for injury stoppage.

8) Alcohol Policy:  School regulations do not permit possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages in public areas.

9) Tobacco Policy: Smoking tobacco and carrying lit tobacco products is prohibited in all buildings on campus.  Smoking must be at least 25 feet of building entrances/exits.

10) Animals Prohibited: Only properly trained & certified service animals are allowed inside.

The decision of the tournament organizers shall be final and without appeal.

APPENDIX B – Waiver

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RELEASE

In consideration of Netball America, Inc. permitting the undersigned on Friday November 8th to Sunday November 10th, 2013 to participate in the CallidusCloud U.S. Open Netball America Championships, USA representative team playoffs, and/or Netball Clinics. The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees, as follows:

1 I am fully aware that Netball tournaments and clinics may be physically demanding and that, accordingly, there may be risks directly or indirectly related to my participation, including, but not limited to, the possibility of physical injury (including catastrophic injury, or death) which might result not only from my actions, inaction, or negligence, but the actions, inaction, or negligence of others, the rules of play, the conditions of the premises, or any of the equipment used.  This includes any risks not reasonable foreseeable to Netball America Inc, and McEachern High School.

2 I acknowledge the provisions of this Acknowledgment and Release and I expressly assume all risks relating to my participation in the Netball tournament and/or clinics and I accept personal responsibility for the damages following any such injury.

3 I hereby forever release and discharge Netball America, Inc., the Netball America Board of Directors, Management team and committees, the members, its teams and volunteers (collectively referred to as “Netball America”) against any and all causes of action, claims, suits, controversies, agreements, promises, judgments, demands or claims whatsoever, that I or my spouse, heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns have or hereafter, at any time, shall or may have against Netball America, arising out of or in connection with my participation in the Netball tournament and/or clinics.

4 By signing I accept responsibility for all medical expenses incurred that exceed the limits or are outside the tournament insurance coverage. 

5 As a player at the CallidusCloud U.S. Open Netball America Championships, I may be admitted to any hospital or medical facility for diagnosis and treatment.  In case of injury, accident or illness, I authorize the head coach or on-site medical/first aid staff to provide appropriate medical treatment.  If an emergency transport is deemed necessary, I authorize the same to summon an ambulance to transport me, the individual to the hospital.  I request and authorize physicians, athletic trainers, technicians, first aid personnel, nurses, and dentists, to perform any diagnostic, treatment, or operative procedures, and x-rays.  I accept total responsibility for any and all medical costs that exceed the limits or are outside the tournament insurance coverage.

6 I grant full permission to Netball America Inc to use my name and likeness, where lawful, with no obligation to compensate me, in and in connection with any photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, recordings or other record, whether print, on-line, audio or video, of this event.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and agreed to this Acknowledgment and Release as of the date stated below.

 __________________________________                   ______________________________
 Signature                                                                       Signature of Parent (u/18)

 

_________________________________                    ______________________________
(Please Print Name)                                                         (Please Print Name)

____________________                                              ___________________
Date                                                                                Date

Email Address: ________________________________________

Address, City, State, Zip, Country:  __________________________________________________________________                             

                                                                   

Phone #:_____________________________

APPENDIX C – TRAVEL INFORMATION are here to help you obtain cost effective travel rates.

They can assist with team flights, hotel and ground transportation needs.  To obtain the group rate you will need to book through Stage & Screen - please do not contact the hotel.   For reservations contact Tania O'Donaghue at tania.odonoghue@stageandscreen.travel or call Tania on +1213-622-2798. The international airport is Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL). DISCOUNTED ACCOMODATION: Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel and Conference Center, 500 Powder Springs St, Marietta, Georgia, 30064, USA  $95.00 for single/double occupancy.  Special Note - There is another large sporting event on in this area the same weekend so we suggest to reach out to Tania now.  No deposit required.
Hotel Information: 7.9 miles from McEachern High School 25 minutes from Atlanta International airport Free wireless internet Fridge in each room 24 hour pantry market Free parking Fitness room Golf course Pool & whirlpool Tennis court Pets welcome For participants wanting to stay in Atlanta Sunday night to attend the post Championships celebration, stay tuned for another hotel (closer to downtown) and please indicate this to Tania.   DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO HOTEL  Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL)Take I-75 to Exit 265 (n. Marietta parkway/120 Loop). Go west on N. Marietta Parkway, 2.5 miles to Powder Springs Street. Continue straight and go 0.2 miles. The hotel entrance is on the right. From the North: Take I-75 South to Exit #265. Turn right on N. Marietta Pkwy which turns into Powder Springs Street. Travel 3.5 miles. Hotel entrance is on the right. From the South (including from the airport): Take I-75 North to Exit #265. Turn left on N. Marietta Pkwy which turns into Powder Springs Street. Travel 3.5 miles. Hotel entrance is on the right. From the East: Take I-20 West to I-75 North to Exit #265. Turn left on N. Marietta Pkwy which turns into Powder Springs Street. Travel 3.5 miles. Hotel entrance is on the right. From the West: Take I-20 East to I-75 North to Exit #265. Turn left on N. Marietta Parkway which turns into Powder Springs Street. Travel 3.5 miles. Hotel entrance is on the right.

APPENDIX D – ANTHEM

The Star Spangled Banner - Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

APPENDIX E – THINGS TO DO

The world's largest aquarium - GeorgiaAquarium.org
Premium shopping outlets - premiumoutlets.com
Football - www.atlantafalcons.com
Atlanta Hawks Professional Basketball - www.ticketmaster.com
Inside CNN Studio - www.cnn.com/tour/atlanta
World of Coca-Cola - www.worldofcoca-cola.com
Atlanta Citypass  - Atlanta.net/citypass

Register Now!