ABA did a thorough review of the national team championships in Palmerston North, including feedback from players, coaches, parents.
Here are the key findings:
1. We struggle on the court in actual competition. Our players train and don’t play enough competitive matches. Our program, especially Saturday morning age groups, needed to be rebuilt to have better on court performances. The Yonex Youth Super League is the start of this rebuild.
- Term 3 YYSL Singles ladder
- Term 4 YYSL Doubles ladder
- Term 1 2024 YYSL alternating weeks Singles and Doubles
- Term 2 2024 YYSL teams for Palmerston North selected and all players will compete/train in their teams.
- All YYSL Saturday sessions include tactical training.
2. Social media coverage was outstanding and kept everyone informed.
3. The accommodation was overall a success. This venue allowed the players to have freedom and access to a wide range of facilities at no extra charge - gym, full indoor football field, etc. Having all teams together allowed for us to build a stronger culture and gave coaches/managers the opportunity to meet daily to review progress.
4. Take portable nets with us to set up in the indoor facility at accommodation.
5. With an anticipated increase in number of players for 2024 we will utilise two buses not one. This will allow greater flexibility for pick up and drop offs.
6. The experiment of having managers who can assist with coaching worked and gave our teams additional support that really is required with our teams often playing over 3 courts at the same time.
7. Alternating shirts helped reduce pressure on managers who had time to organise washing. The shirts will be the same for 2024 so no need for parents to buy new shirts. There is a need to standardise shorts worn as ABA was warned by BNZ on several occasions about players' shorts not being appropriate or compliant.
8. Ensure we have coaches who understand our culture and support each other.
9. Adjust the menu to suit our player’s needs. Breakfast was adjusted during the stay as our players didn’t eat as much variety of cereals as provided and instead preferred eggs provided on two days. Massey has already discussed options where they provide additional food so that after the late sessions players can heat up additional meals.
10. Ensure parents provide their children with debit cards not just cash, and show them how to order at McDonalds, and check out at a supermarket to take pressure off coaches/managers who were teaching children to do these things. The very young children in Under 13 were not ready for travel and the coaches were having to do everything.
11. The majority of ABA parents/players have very high expectations for the Palmerston North Nationals arrangements of food, accommodation, etc. We have to balance these priorities and overall the feedback tips towards increasing our budget.
12. We cannot rely on grant funding for rep tournaments as this is increasingly difficult to get. ABA must continue to underwrite a loss for this representative program.
13. Recommend all players/teams do fundraising for 2024 and start early. ABA signed up for and offered parents/players the fundraising option of selling Samosas, which no one participated in. ABA also offered support for Bunnings BBQ’s, which only the Under 17 team took part in two events, both of which ABA supported through Social Media. ABA further allowed this team to sell drinks at ABA events.
14. Based on parent feedback in particular, we will ensure less disruption with naming of teams for Palmerston North July 6 to 11 being required to participate and commit to their teams.
15. Teams will be selected and announced by March 1, 2024. Teams will start training together sooner, working towards Palmerston North in July. Players will be encouraged to train together during the first school holidays likely 16th to 18th April as part of the representative school holiday program.
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