Welcome to the 2018 U.S. Open Netball ChampionshipsTM!

Inviting all netball players, officials, and fans from around the globe.

WELCOME to the 2018 U.S. Open Netball ChampionshipsTM - the most prestigious and largest Netball event in the USA.  We are very excited that this year is Netball America's 10 year anniversary celebration, so lots of exciting things planned for Orlando, Florida, USA!  It is also our intention to make this event a valuable learning experience and provide you with many Netball opportunities while visiting Orlando.  You can read about last years event here and view the photos here.

The event will be held Friday October 26th - Sunday October 28th, 2018. Registration is open to ladies, mixed and international teams.  For individuals wanting to participate we'll place you in a team. 

This event is sold out every year so I suggest you get your team deposit in early.

Event price includes:

• World class organized tournament
• Tournament is indoor and played on 4 wooden sprung courts - plenty of seating for players and spectators
• Netball legend Vicki Wilson, OAM and current Fiji National Coach will be providing coaching clinic for players and coaches
• Umpire technical session for players and umpires
• Umpire practical training for US umpires
• International umpires to help assess umpires at event
• Basic self-defense seminar for participants
• Free global live event broadcast
• Heavily discounted rates with many benefits at event hotels
• Qualified umpires & scorers provided
• Travel agents to assist with group flights and transportation
• Free breakfast and wi-fi during stay at Championship hotel
• Friday evening welcome reception with Vicki Wilson.
• Certified athletic trainers and medics
• Free water and gatorade
• Injury insurance coverage for US participants 
• Event tshirt and water bottle
• Opportunities for Netball America to provide you with letters etc to help fundraise
• Netball trophies/medals for top 3 in each category
• Tournament location and hotel just 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport

The registration link is below and we also ask that you consider purchasing raffle tickets for only $1 as all purchases go directly back into our netball programs and we have great prizes from Victoria's Secret, Estee Lauder, jewelery, perfume and other great prizes.  Also, our Be An Inspiration program help provide opportunities to underserved girls.  Any donations of $50 or more and you'll receive a souvenir tournament netball.

Registration details are below, please email us with any questions.  Stay tuned on details through our new event website - www.USOpenNetball.com and follow us on facebook and twitter.

We look forward to a spectacular event in Orlando 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

Draft Agenda

Friday October 26th

Check-in at the Championship Hotel.
3-5pm USA University Team Training, USA open squad training and training for coaches and players who are registered at the US Open
6-8 PM: Umpires & Coaches classroom sessions
8PM: Netball America AGM

Saturday October 27^th  
8.30am - Mandatory managers meeting
9.00am - Opening ceremonies
9.30am - 4.30pm - Saturday seeding rounds

Sunday October 28^th
8.00am - 2.30pm Playoff rounds and finals. 
2.30pm - 3:00pm Closing ceremonies & award presentations.

There are 2 tournament categories: ladies and mixed.  After seeding games finish Saturday the ladies will be split into two pools - Division I and Division II.  Mixed competition will stay in one category.

Match Protocols: Appendix A 

Membership: Applies to US Participants Only
To ensure the ongoing growth and development of Netball in America and its membership base - all US participants must be registered members of Netball America.  Qualification for the membership US Open rate does not allow for breaks in membership nor does it accept participants who only intend to register as a member in order to participate at the US Open member rate.  US Clubs who only have certain individuals register as Netball America members for the purposes to participate in the US Open do not qualify for the member rate.  This is not in the spirit of Netball America membership nor is it fair to those members who pay their yearly membership.  

Anyone wanting to participate in the US Open must have membership monies paid by September 30th, 2018 in order to receive the Full Club Member US Open rate.  Also, if a club/individual wants to participate and was not a paid member of Netball America in the prior year, then they will pay the non-full club member rate plus membership for the current year.  The Non-Full Club member rate also applies to those that do not register their full club as Netball America members and only register US Open participants.

International Teams:
To assist with the development and growth of Netball in America, International Teams/Participants will have the following entry requirements:

• To qualify for the International team/individual participant rate, international teams will be required to provide 2 officials - either 2 umpires or 1 umpire / 1 scorer for the tournament and international participants will be required to either umpire or score in order to get the reduced rate.  There will be a minimum number of games the officials will need to work.
• If international teams/participants do not want to supply officials then they pay the without official fee rate.

Refundable Team Deposit:
All teams will be required to pay a $100 deposit.  This will be refundable at the end of the tournament (within 15 days), providing the following conditions are met:
- Teams do not foreit any games
- International teams provide the officials as stipulated in the rules
- Teams do not damage any of the equipment, championship hotel or venue

Registration:

• A team may register more than 12 players and more than 5 team officials, however only 12 players and 5 team officials can sit on a bench at one time.
• Each individual player or team, including coaches/managers (those sitting on the bench) are required to complete registration & pay applicable fees.
• Players may only register for one team.  Players will not be allowed to play in the ladies and mixed categories, unless it falls under the exception category below and has been pre-approved by the Organizing Committee.  However players/coaches may coach teams in another category, however we can't guarantee that these teams won't be playing at the same time.
• Every team, official & volunteer to complete a registration form.
• In order for a player/manager/coach to qualify to play for their team in any Sunday playoffs, the person concerned must play/participate on the bench, in at least 1 seeding game on the Saturday , i.e. a player must play at least 1 game in the Saturday rounds, a coach must coach at least 1 game.
• Every participant, official & volunteer required to complete a waiver (Appendix B).
• Every participant, official & volunteer required to complete the KissimmeeSports survey (Appendix C).
  

Awards:  Trophies will be awarded to:

1. Top ranked team in ladies division I
2. Top ranked team in ladies division II
3. Top ranked team in the mixed category

Other awards will be given for 2nd and 3rd place teams.

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

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

Excellence in Umpiring Award - Awarded to a tournament umpire who shows outstanding qualities throughout the tournament.

First Aid:  Masseuses, EMT/medical and qualified sports medicine trainers will be onsite.  Teams required to bring own tape to wrap ankle etc.  If you don't bring your own tape you will need to buy tape for $10 per roll.  If someone is required to go to the hospital then a member of their own team should accompany them.  Please do not ask any of the Netball America volunteers to transport or stay with someone at the hospital.  This is a liability issue.  Our medics have access to addresses and phone numbers for the local hospitals, pharmacy and can also call an ambulance if needed.  The medics will also have a supply of bandages etc for sale.

Food: Free water and gatorade provided to participants.  Food & beverages will be on sale.  Drinks and food are not allowed inside the venue due to vendor contracts.  Bags checks may be conducted.  The Orlando Sports Center has the right to refuse entry to the facility and fine a participant should any outside food or beverages be bought into the facility.

Netball Clothing & Equipment: Pre-event orders will be available.

Hotel & Transportation:  Refer Appendix D.  Note - teams are responsible for their own flights and ground transportation to/from airport and event venue. 

Registration includes: 

• Three days of Netball events
• 4 indoor netball courts with electronic scoreboards for each court
• Coaching clinic for coaches and players with Vicki Wilson
• Umpires and rules clinic
• Water/Sports hydration drinks
• Certified EMT/medics & athletic trainers
• Qualified Officials
• US Insurance coverage, note international participants need to have appropriate travel insurance
• Discounted hotel rates
• Souvenir event t-shirt, waterbottle & event program
• Reception
• Participant gift bag

Registration Fees:

All registration fees must be paid by October 15th.  A $50 late fee per team will be applied to any payments after this date.   A team must pay a deposit in order to secure a spot in the Championships.  This deposit is non-refundable.  Teams who pay this deposit will be honored with the early bird rate until October 15th.  Any payments after October 15th will result in a $50 late fee.  Individuals and teams may register additional participants up until the close of registration on Friday October 26th and this will not result in a $50 late fee however the person will be required to pay the late registration fee as outlined in the table below.

Type of Registration	Early registration (per person) (on or before Sept. 15th)	Late registration (per person) (on or after Sept. 15 - Oct 15th)
Member Rates Netball America Full Club member rate. Netball America Non-Full Club Member rate or membership paid after September 30th, 2017.	$ 100 / person   $120 / person	$ 120 / person   $140 / person
International Rates International participant (where team provides 2 officials or individual provides 1) International participant (where team/individual doesn't provide officials)	$120 / person $150 / person	$140 / person $170 / person
Non-Member Rates Non Netball America member	$150 / person	$170 / person

 

APPENDIX A – Match Protocols

All matches played according to 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.  Game times will be set closer to tournament.

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 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 / forfeit

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.  For a final game draw, teams will get 1 min break, no switching of ends, players may switch positions.  Time will then be 4 minutes with no breaks.  If a 2nd tie occurs then it will be the first team to lead by 1 goal.

If a team doesn't show up for the Sunday playoffs this team drops to the lowest seed of that pool and all subsequent teams move up one seed in said pool.  If a team needs to forfeit a game during the playoffs due to injury/lack of players/sickness/emergency the team they were facing automatically advances or wins the match or any ranking or medal associated with that match.  The forfeiting team will lose their $100 team deposit.

3) Categories:  3 categories: Ladies Division I, Ladies Division II and Mixed.  Based on the number of entries it will be at tournament organizers' discretion as to any adjustment to categories and timing of games.  Each category will need a minimum 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 and level.  Umpires are required to have at least a national C grade Netball America badge, unless otherwise approved.  International umpires are welcome and may contact us.   Umpires will be provided with a tournament uniform to wear.

Umpires, scorers, timers wishing to officiate apply here.  Include qualifications and experience.   Umpires wishing to be scheduled for a practical test should email us. 

5) Teams:  Players can only register in one category. A mixed team must have a minimum of 1 male player and may have up to a maximum of 3 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 played for injury stoppage.

8) Alcohol Policy:  Regulations do not permit consumption of alcoholic beverages in public areas.

9) Tobacco Policy: Smoking tobacco and carrying lit tobacco products is prohibited in building.  Smoking must be at least 25 feet of building doorways.

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

Click here to download event waiver.  These waivers must be signed by every participant, volunteer and official.  We would prefer to receive these back in advance.  Please email copies to USOpen@NetballAmerica.com.

All information on the waiver must be completed.  If any information is missing the waiver will not be accepted and the person may not take the court until all information is completed.



APPENDIX C – KissimmeeSports Survey

Click here to download the mandatory short survey to complete for the city.  Every participant, official and volunteer needs to complete this.

APPENDIX D – TRAVEL INFORMATION Hotel Information CHAMPIONSHIP HOTEL Comfort Suites, 2775 Florida Plaza Blvd, Kissimmee, Florida, 34746, USA CLICK HERE TO BOOK A ROOM   Rate is $109 per night plus taxes - includes up to 4 adults per room.  Group rate finish at the earlier of rooms sold out or August 15th, 2018.   Tournament rate includes free hot breakfast, free wifi & free parking. Hotel amenities include heated outdoor pool, outdoor jazuzzi, bar and restaurants. Rooms include a microwave and fridge. FLIGHT INFORMATION The closest airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO). International teams please contact Ros@NetballVisions.com who can help you get the best flight details, take care of your international flights and you're able to just make a deposit and pay them off over the year.

APPENDIX E – NATIONAL 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?

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