Pulse debt is part of mooted fee hike

BY KATIE FARMAN - WAIRARAPA NEWS

Netball Wairarapa is still coming to grips with news of a potential rise in affiliation fees, requested by Netball Wellington Region (NWR) for the upcoming season.

Centre manager Kim Whiteman said NWR has proposed an increase in fees from about $15,000 per annum to $30,000.

One of the major reasons for this being to help NWR pay off debt to Netball New Zealand incurred by the Pulse franchise netball team.

Whiteman said she was flabbergasted by the potential rise and if brought into effect, could force a dramatic rise in team fees charged to local schools and clubs by Netball Wairarapa.

She said she also has concerns it may lead to a decrease in player numbers in the region.

"As grassroots netball, the last thing we want to do is place any extra financial burden on our players.

"I mean we just don't have that sort of money lying around," she said.

"I especially resent it because even if we could pay we wouldn't receive any visible benefits from it."

Following a special meeting of club and school delegates late last year, Whiteman said Netball Wairarapa has proposed accepting a partial affiliation to NWR which would see things continue locally as they have done in the past.

This means Netball Wairarapa would only affiliate Premier One and Two as well as Primary Grades One and Two.

She said a decision on the matter will be made following Netball Wairarapa's AGM on March 29, and following discussions with other netball centres, such as Hutt Valley, Kapiti and Kapi Mana, which also face similar fee hikes. "If these fees go ahead we would have no choice but to pass this cost directly onto our players and I'm concerned that we'd risk losing these players from the game altogether."

In the meantime Whiteman is awaiting the results of an independent review carried out on NWR.

She said the review meeting will be held on February 4.

"I think for us it will be another interesting meeting.

"It's quite segmented and we do not get a lot for our fees, so I will be interested to see what the independent review thought."

On a brighter note, Whiteman is excited about this week's Netball Wairarapa Talent Week, which will culminate with Netball New Zealand assistant coach Wai Taumaunu holding a special coaching clinic at the Colombo St courts tomorrow for the region's top Year 9 to 13 players.

Whiteman said Talent Week, which will also feature athletics coach Mark Harris hosting a special training, will launch a busy start to 2010 that includes new initiatives such as a Mums 'n' Bubs day; twilight netball for primary, secondary school and family grades; and the Fast Net pre-season tournament, held on March 14.