HDNA considers a fourth division

THE Horsham District Netball Association remains split on the issue of introducing a fourth division, as some clubs struggle to field teams while others deal with a glut of players.

The association - which already has A, B and C Grade divisions - had a proposal to add a C Reserve division voted down at its annual general meeting in November.

Association president Linda Kelly said the idea of adding a fourth division still had merit however, with clubs scheduled to vote again on the issue at a meeting on Wednesday.

Ms Kelly said the new proposal would focus on creating an A Reserve division rather than a C Reserve to encourage players to be more engaged.

She said the association would go ahead with the proposal if at least six clubs agreed to field a team in the new division.

Ms Kelly said a fourth grade was necessary so that clubs were not forced to close their doors on players who wanted a game.

"We don't like to turn players away if we can help it and it has an effect on the football as well because if some of the netballers can't get a game, then the footballers go elsewhere as well," she said.

"I would say support for it is probably still a little divided, but I haven't spoken to all the clubs.

"I think that it would be showing the strength we've got in the district league and we'd be catering for more girls who would like a game of netball."

Some clubs are opposed to the new division however, including Noradjuha-Quantong, which initially supported it.

Noradjuha-Quantong senior director of netball Kylee Walter said there was simply not enough clubs in the league who had the numbers to field a fourth team.

She said her club initially had too many players to fit into three teams, but now had a good number of players for each team after several left for other clubs.

"We were for it, but now that we've got three teams we're not for it at all," Ms Walter said.

"We had about 40 players and probably about seven have decided not to play and have gone to other clubs.

"I know a few clubs that have about 40 players, but the consensus I was getting is that it probably won't go through because a lot of clubs are still struggling for numbers."

Ms Kelly said many clubs were extremely interested in a new division however, and the association was optimistic about its chances of passing the proposal on Wednesday.

"At the moment, from what I've heard, there are good numbers at most clubs," she said.

"You've always got to go in there optimistic, so we wouldn't be putting it forward if we didn't think we had a reasonable chance of getting it through."

Ms Walter said while it seemed like a simple solution to set up a new division, it was ultimately not the best way to handle the problem.

She said all clubs appreciated that the association was in a difficult position with so many players being turned away from clubs.

"If there are players who are all from one club and they've played there, it's hard to tell them to go play somewhere else," she said.

"It's a very hard situation for some of the teams who might have to do that."