The GMCNA Committee

The President serves as the figurehead of the County, representing GMCNA at both a local and national level. They provide leadership and strategic oversight to ensure the effective running of the County and its activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Represent the County at official events, meetings, and forums, both within the region and nationally.
• Oversee the leadership and direction of the County Committee, ensuring alignment with the broader goals and values of the sport.
• Provide strategic guidance and support to the County Committee and its members.
• Act as an ambassador for the County, raising the profile of netball and promoting its growth and development.
• Lead the County’s decision-making processes and ensure governance standards are upheld.
• Offer support and advice on key decisions and policies when needed.

The Vice President supports the President in their duties and assumes leadership in their absence. They play an active role in overseeing the direction and leadership of the County Committee.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the President in representing the County at events and meetings.
• Step in for the President and carry out leadership duties in their absence.
• Work closely with the President to ensure the smooth operation of the County Committee and its activities.
• Assist in overseeing the leadership of the committee, ensuring decisions align with the County’s strategic vision.
• Provide advice and support to committee members and offer guidance on key issues.

The Chairperson coordinates and leads the GMCNA Committee and meetings. They act as the primary link between Northwest Netball and England Netball.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of the committee’s strategy and governance framework.
• Lead the Executive Committee, ensuring alignment with the broader goals and vision.
• Offer support and guidance to all committee members, assisting them in their respective roles.
• Serve as the final decision-maker when necessary.
• Provide advice and assistance to local leagues and clubs regarding any queries or issues they encounter.
• Ensure that netball is thriving within the County, aligning with the Adventure Strategy while meeting local needs.

The Vice Chairperson provides essential support to the Chairperson, assisting in the execution of their duties and stepping in when needed. They are also an active member of the Executive Committee.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Chairperson in leading committee meetings and executing the committee’s strategy.
• Take on delegated responsibilities from the Chairperson as needed.
• Step in to fulfil the Chairperson’s role in their absence or when unavailable.
• Be an active member of the Executive Committee, contributing to strategic planning and decision-making.
• Collaborate with other committee members to ensure smooth communication and coordination across the group.
• Assist in addressing and resolving issues or queries from leagues and clubs.

The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the financial management of the GMCNA Committee, ensuring transparency and accountability in all financial activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collate and manage accounts, reporting on income and expenditure at each meeting.
• Link financial data to cost centres, highlighting any concerns to the Chairperson.
• Monitor and offer guidance on spending, allocating yearly budgets for various areas of the committee.
• Produce invoices and follow up on the reimbursement process.
• Monitor applications for financial funding and manage the coordination of funds.
• Liaise with schools and coordinate their budgets in relation to netball activities.
• Prepare financial accounts for auditing purposes.
• Monitor memberships, liaise with England Netball, and provide membership reports to the Committee.
• Be an active member of the Executive Committee, contributing to financial decision-making and strategy.
• Support each area of the county with their budgets, addressing any specific financial matters such as umpiring assessment fees.

The Secretary is responsible for ensuring smooth communication and effective record-keeping within the GMCNA Committee.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings and take detailed minutes in the absence of the Minutes Secretary.
• Receive and manage correspondence, passing relevant information to the County Committee or designated personnel.
• Write on behalf of the County Committee when requested by the Chairperson.
• Keep the County Committee informed of important England Netball updates, including news from newsletters, magazines, etc.
• Prepare AGM papers and circulate them to relevant parties in advance.

The Minutes Secretary is responsible for accurately documenting and distributing the proceedings of various committee meetings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Record proceedings at County Committee meetings.
• Record proceedings at the County Annual General Meeting (AGM) in conjunction with the County Secretary.
• Produce detailed and accurate minutes from the above meetings.
• Distribute minutes, agendas, and notifications of upcoming meetings to all relevant parties.

The County Performance Officer is responsible for leading and delivering the strategic vision for performance netball within the County. They play a pivotal role in supporting the development of athletes, coaches, and the County’s performance programmes in alignment with England Netball’s goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings, reporting on any performance-related updates.
• Work collaboratively with the CNA to produce, implement, and monitor the County Performance Plan in alignment with the England Netball vision.
• Attend the Performance Technical Support Group (TSG) to ensure performance objectives are met, and help monitor and deliver the performance aspects of the County Plan.
• Lead and manage the County Performance Programme, including overseeing the performance budget and ensuring compliance with the England Netball Performance Service Level Agreement (PSLA).
• Track and report on the number of athletes progressing from the County to the National Performance Programme.
• Organise and manage County Screening Events to identify and select athletes for the County Performance Programme.
• Follow England Netball’s guidance to recruit and deploy appropriately qualified and experienced coaches for performance programmes.
• Promote and encourage coaches within the County to access Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge.
• Ensure the delivery of quality Satellite Academies, County Academies, and match days in line with England Netball’s guidance, aimed at developing athletes who can graduate to the Franchise Programme.
• Act as the conduit for performance-related communications between regional and county levels.
• Maintain an open-door policy for coaches to observe the County Performance Programme, fostering an environment of learning and collaboration.
• Work in close partnership with the CNA on shared objectives and initiatives, promoting the overall development of netball across the County.
• Respond to queries related to the performance section of the County’s work, providing support and advice where necessary.
• Collaborate with the England Netball performance department to deliver performance opportunities and initiatives within the region.
• Act as an advocate for netball and promote the County Performance Plan, ensuring its integration into broader County strategies.

The Umpiring Secretary is responsible for overseeing all umpiring-related matters within GMCNA, supporting the development and coordination of umpires at all levels. This role ensures effective communication, growth opportunities, and high standards for umpires across the County.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings, providing updates and input on umpiring issues and ensuring that umpiring concerns are addressed in broader County strategies.
• Actively participate in the TSG, contributing to decision-making and fostering clear communication between the TSG, umpires, and the County community.
• Organise and coordinate ‘C’ and ‘Into’ Umpiring Assessments and Pre-Assessments to develop both new and existing umpires. Provide feedback to ensure continuous improvement in umpire standards.
• Develop and implement a Mentoring Programme to support umpire growth, aligning it with County goals and ensuring accessibility for all eligible umpires.
• Maintain an accurate, up-to-date list of umpires, assessors, and tutors within the County, ensuring records are regularly reviewed and updated and periodically arrange local standardisations sessions for assessors and mentors.
• Act as the primary contact between the County and Leagues for umpiring enquiries and concerns. Facilitate communication on umpire appointments, issues, and opportunities at Performance trials and play days.
• Oversee the development of umpires by coordinating training, workshops, and certification opportunities. Ensure clear progression pathways for umpires within the County.
• Appoint umpires and Tournament Referees for all County school competitions, ensuring proper coverage and quality officiating for each event.

The Coaching Secretary is responsible for managing coaching activities, ensuring the development of coaches, and supporting clubs and leagues in their coaching initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings to represent coaching matters.
• Attend TSG on behalf of the County fostering collaboration and effective decision-making.
• Organise CPD (Continuing Professional Development) opportunities throughout the County to support coach education and certification.
• Liaise with England Netball to maintain up-to-date lists of Coaches, Testers, and Tutors within the County.
• Serve as the main point of liaison between Clubs, Leagues, and the Committee regarding coaching matters.
• Encourage and support the continuous development of coaches across all levels.

The Publicity Officer is responsible for raising the profile of netball across the County, ensuring positive coverage, and promoting the sport through various media channels, both online and offline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings to represent publicity matters.
• Collaborate with the Northwest Media and Marketing team to promote netball initiatives.
• Prepare and submit articles/information to England Netball Magazine where appropriate.
• Prepare and send match reports to local press to raise awareness of netball events.
  Liaise with relevant persons and organisations to enhance the visibility of netball throughout the County.
• Develop and manage the County’s social media presence, ensuring it remains up-to-date and engaging.
• Monitor and keep the County website updated with the latest news, events, and relevant information.

The Competitions Officer is responsible for managing the County League and ensuring the smooth operation of competitions, from creating rules to reporting results.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings to represent competition-related matters.
• Set up a sub-committee to create and maintain the rules and regulations for the league.
• Create fixtures for the County League and produce regular results updates.
• Identify any concerns or issues related to the league and bring them to the Committee’s attention.
• Direct any relevant issues or complaints to the appropriate contact, such as disciplinary or safeguarding matters.
• Monitor and evaluate the league’s performance, providing feedback to the Committee at meetings.

The Development Officer is responsible for promoting the growth of netball across the County, with a focus on increasing participation, especially at grassroots levels, and developing strong links with schools and other partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings to represent development-related matters.
• Keep the County Committee informed of key developments throughout England Netball and with wider partners.
• Work with schools to develop relevant competition structures, addressing identified needs.
• Liaise with relevant personnel and organisations to raise the profile of netball throughout the County, focusing on increasing participation across all levels and age groups.
• Help develop and promote Bee Netball programs to engage younger players and foster early participation in the sport.

The Disability Officer is responsible for ensuring that netball is accessible and inclusive for individuals with disabilities, working to develop opportunities for participation and ensuring that all players, coaches, and officials are supported.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend County Committee meetings to represent disability-related matters.
• Work with England Netball, regional teams, and local organisations to promote and develop inclusive netball opportunities for players with disabilities.
• Liaise with clubs, schools, and leagues to ensure appropriate support and adaptations are in place to enable individuals with disabilities to participate.
• Ensure disability-specific events, training sessions, and competitions are organised and accessible to all participants.
• Raise awareness about disability netball, promoting the benefits of participation to players, coaches, and volunteers.
• Assist with the recruitment and development of coaches, officials, and volunteers who support disability netball.
• Monitor progress and provide feedback to the Committee on disability participation and development within the County.

The County Safeguarding Officer acts as a point of contact for Club Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) when concerns are raised at the club level or within a league. They are also responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all participants within GMCNA programs, particularly concerning performance programmes and the GMCNA County Junior League.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a point of contact for Club Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) when safeguarding concerns are raised within clubs or leagues.
• Occasionally serve as a contact for clubs where individuals feel unable to approach their own CSO.
• In the event of serious safeguarding concerns, follow England Netball’s Safeguarding Reporting Procedures:
• Consider the concern and assess its severity.
• Support the CSO or the individual to report the matter to the appropriate authorities, including police and social services.
• Advise the CSO or club on next steps.
• Liaise with the England Netball Lead Safeguarding Officer and/or Regional Safeguarding Officer as necessary.
• Note: The County Safeguarding Officer is not responsible for receiving, recording, or investigating serious or repeated incidents of abuse or poor practice. That responsibility lies with the England Netball Safeguarding team.
• On occasion, assist the England Netball Safeguarding team in carrying out enquiries and interventions with clubs or individuals to resolve low-level or isolated incidents of concern.
• Deal with safeguarding concerns raised in relation to Performance Programmes being run by GMCNA, ensuring proper support and protocols are followed.
• Support any concerns raised in the GMCNA County Junior League, ensuring that safeguarding measures are adhered to and addressing issues as they arise.

Guidelines for Safeguarding:

1. If the concern is clearly safeguarding-related, the issue should be reported to England Netball, typically by the Club Safeguarding Officer.
2. If the concern relates to harm of a child or adult at risk outside netball (e.g., in the home or community), report the matter to your local social care team (often called MASH, or similar).
3. Contact England Netball’s safeguarding team for advice on how to manage such concerns.
4. If there is an immediate risk of harm or crime, contact the police directly.
5. If unsure whether an issue constitutes safeguarding, the County Safeguarding Officer can offer advice and guidance.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Support Club Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) by offering advice on wellbeing, safeguarding, and protection within clubs and leagues.
• Promote good practice and ensure safeguarding policies are implemented in all clubs and leagues.
• Maintain a record of all contacts made with clubs and keep an up-to-date list of all Club Safeguarding Officers.