Grading system

What grading is

Grading is the process of evaluating each player’s skills, physical abilities, netball knowledge and game mentality before the season begins. The goal is to place every player into a team and division (A / B / C grades) where they’re evenly matched with their peers and have the best chance to keep developing their game.

During trials, players rotate through positions while independent selectors score them against a shared rubric. No single person decides a placement — selectors’ scores are pooled with previous coaches’ reports and trial data, and the grading committee reviews the whole picture before teams are confirmed.

What is scored

Seaforth Netball uses the Manly Warringah Netball Association (MWNA) competency framework. On grading day, each grader scores every player across six core competencies on a 1–5 scale. The rubric is identical for every grade and every age group, which keeps comparison consistent within and across pools.

Footwork

Balance, change of direction, agility, landing technique.

Ball handling

Catching, releasing, ball-security under pressure.

Attacking play

Passing accuracy, spacing, leads, decision-making.

Defensive skills

Defensive pressure, intercepts, recovery, body positioning.

Game sense

Court awareness, anticipation, rule adherence, structure.

Attitude

Coachability, intensity, sportsmanship, teamwork.

In addition to the on-the-day rubric, each player’s coach submits a season-long competency report ahead of grading. The coach’s report extends the six grading-day competencies with two further measures — passing / decision-making and positional suitability — capturing context that a short trial may not fully reveal.

What happens on grading day

1. 1

   Check in

   Players sign in at the check-in desk and pick up a sticker code for the day (e.g. C055). Graders only ever see the code, never the player’s name — that keeps scoring bias-free and lets players be judged on what they do on the court rather than who they are.

2. 2

   Mini-games

   Players are allocated to courts with peers around their level. Short games rotate opponents and positions so a wide group of graders sees every player in different match-ups — not just from one angle.

3. 3

   Independent scoring

   Each grader scores on their phone against the same rubric — footwork, ball handling, attacking play, defensive skills, game sense, attitude. The player’s coach has already submitted a pre-grading report which appears as context next to the live scoring screen. Any large disagreement between the coach’s view and the day’s scores is flagged so the grading committee can take a closer look.

4. 4

   Final placement

   The convenor’s live dashboard tracks scoring progress throughout the day. At the end, every grader’s scores are pooled with last season’s data and coaches’ reports, and the grading committee reviews the full picture before teams are confirmed. You’ll get an email when your team is set.

Pathways

Who runs grading

Netball Australia sets the broad coaching and skills development frameworks the sport uses across the country (most notably the Netball Skills Development Framework). Grading itself is decentralised — it’s organised and run by your local netball club.

At Seaforth Netball Clubthat means a selectors’ panel of experienced coaches and umpires, supported by the club’s grading committee. The committee consolidates selector feedback, previous coaches’ reports, and trial data before finalising team rosters.

Continuous improvement