USANA MEMBERSHIP

The United States of America Netball Association (USANA), is the recognized governing body of netball in the USA. We are affiliated to the International Federation of Netball Association (IFNA) who is the world governing body for netball and the American Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) who is the governing body for netball in the Americas Region, which includes Bermuda Canada, The Caribbean and The United States. We currently have member associations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Georgia and Florida, with affiliates throughout the United States. The hope is to be able to have full associations in every state in the not to distant future. Our membership is split into seven Regions:

North-East which shall include the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island;

East which shall include the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, (including Washington, D.C.);

South-East which shall include the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and  the US Virgin Islands;

South which shall include the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico;

Central which shall include the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming;

North-West which shall include the states of Alaska, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota and Oregon;

South-West and Pacific which shall include the states of Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii.

The diverse range of players who have migrated to the United States and who are currently taking part in netball makes for a melting pot of cultures and style of play. When members come together for rallies and tournaments it is a truly exciting spectacle.

With the size of the United States  and the continued migration of netball players we are quite sure that there are players in every state throughout the country. Any state with an association or group of people charged with developing netball are eligible to become a member of USANA.

You need not be a state with an area association which is ready to compete on the national stage. USANA welcomes all netball playing states and different levels of membership are available depending on your developmental needs.

USANA's is very keen to welcome new members on board and provide support in developing netball in your state.

Please contact USANA's National Development Officer Kunkell Blaine for further information on the development of netball in your area.

Please note that our Constitution has been amended but has not updated on the Website. Vital information in regards to membership has been updated.

Creating an Association

Introduction

These pages are designed to help you develop your own Association. You will find information here about Committees, Meetings, Constitutions etc, and resources and links to many documents and sites you can use to get started.

In this section you will find a Flowchart, and information on Planning and your Initial Public Meeting.

Flowchart

To create an Association you may need to do the following;

• Work out the initial interest and the reason you are creating the Association
• Collect and review community information (councils, parks etc)
• Get key community input (other parents, players etc)
• Is the organization viable? - if not, don't continue, if it is, continue
• Hold a public meeting
• Raise a motion to establish the Association - if it is passed continue, if not don't
• Establish an interim committee
• Hold an inaugural meeting
• Establish the organization

Planning

Although people may feel the establishment of a new Association is required, or have a strong personal interest in developing the sport of netball, this is not enough to accurately gauge the extent of potential demand for the Association or its likelihood of survival.

Planning is the first essential element in ensuring a Netball Association enjoys continuing success. Therefore the process needs to be approached as if you were seeking to create a small business in the area.

A detailed planning process helps the Association to see where it is going and how it is going to get there. The way in which the Association members and committee go through the planning process and the issues that arise in that process are more important than simply being able to hold up a few typewritten pages. However, planning usually takes place in an environment of limited knowledge, in which facts and values are debatable. It is important to have factual data against which other types of information (e.g. assumptions, opinions, input from the community) can be evaluated. The information will also be invaluable when developing the Association’s plan and seeking funding assistance.

Some questions that need to be answered during the planning process are:

• What are the netball activity patterns and interests of the local community? 
• What facilities currently exist?
• What is the demographic profile of the community (e.g. age, sex, occupation, income)?
• Is the demographic profile expected to change over time?
• What is the current population and expected growth rate?
• What future plans does the local council have for the area?

The next step is to complete that checklist:

• Does netball already exist in that area?
• Is it active?
• Does it cater for its members?
• Are there already netball courts in the area? If so is there sufficient demand to sustain another netball Association?
• What is the potential for funding/sponsorship in the area?
• Will the new netball Association be able to share existing facilities/equipment or will they need to purchase their own? At what cost?
• Is storage available at the facility? If so, will this need to be shared?
• Where will funds come from?
• Will there be enough volunteers to help with establishing the new Association?

If it appears that there is sufficient demand as well as the necessary resources within the community, then the establishment process can proceed to the next stage. This involves holding a public meeting, forming an interim committee and conducting the inaugural general meeting.

Initial Public Meeting

A public meeting maybe beneficial when starting up a Association because it provides the catalyst for initiating marketing of a new organization and it also gives the public the possibility to ask questions pertaining to the new Association. Therefore the meeting should be offered to all of those who are interested in being part of the new netball Association, whether as players or as officials, such as committee members, fundraisers and coaches. The meeting needs to be widely advertised in a number of different ways using a variety of sources (local paper, radio, TV, Internet, community centers, schools etc). Some people (e.g. sport association and local government representatives, politicians, high profile guest speakers) may be personally invited to attend.

The first meeting needs to be well structured to ensure that the outcome is achieved (determining whether a new netball Association is sustainable). The following is a suggested meeting process:

• Welcome and explain briefly the reason for the meeting
• Record names, email addresses, home addresses and telephone numbers of those present and any special interest or skills of the people attending and those who may have been unable to attend
• Summarize the key findings and issues arising from the research and initial community contact phase
• Guest speakers
• General discussion and opportunity for questions (make sure that a temporary secretary takes notes)
• Re-evaluate whether to form the netball Association
• Vote on whether to form the netball Association
• Elect an interim committee (chairperson, secretary, treasurer) to coordinate further development of the Association structure
• Determine a timeline for the establishment process (e.g. Bylaws, general meeting).

Membership Benefits
 
 Membership to Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA).
 Membership to the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA).
 An annual umpiring and coaching course in your Area.
 Membership card enabling you to attend USANA events.
 
 Discounts at USANA events.
 Be a part of an organization that will be instrumental, with your help and support, in making NETBALL an Olympic sport and get the recognition it deserves.
 Be kept abreast of changes in rules and the sport as a whole.
 Development of the game thus ensuring better and wider competition for all members.
 The ability for Clubs , individuals, and Area Associations to join or renew their membership registration in one package.
 More proficient umpires as a result of the continuous training throughout the United States.
 
 The opportunity to participate in the national netball trials for possible selection to represent the United States of America by playing netball.
 
 Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Edna Greer via email at MembershipSecretary @USANetball.com