Games will begin at 10am and the competition will close at approximately 5pm. All entries must be received by Sunday 24th June, after which time entries will not be accepted. If a team has entered and withdraws after the 24th June, then that team will still be liable for entry fees and further action could be taken by the Competitions Committee.

Team entries cost £15 per team and all payments should be made to England Korfball Association.

Entries are for the following age groups:

Under 9s - playing mono korfball and girls may play as boys and vice versa, as long as each team consists of at least 2 players of the opposite sex, to reflect the mixed team nature of the sport.

Under 11s - again boys can play as girls and vice-versa, where legal teams exist substitutions cannot be made to replace girls with boys and vice versa, excepting where an injury occurs and in the interest of the game.

Under 13s

Under 16s

Under 19s

All teams will be under the age group on 1st September 2011. Any player over the age group that is intentionally played without prior consent will automatically render that team/club illegal. Teams can play as composite teams, but will under no circumstance be allowed to win the competition.

EKL clubs are reminded of their responsibilities to National Competitions and the recently introduced bonding system. I would appreciate that all clubs participating in the EKL please indicate how many referees they will be supplying to NYD and their names, so that this information can be passed on to the EKL RC. This is a very referee intensive competition and we do rely on everyone’s goodwill to assist with the event.

I would like to that everyone in advance for their wonderful co-operation to make this event work so well.

Frank.Sieber@blueyonder.co.uk

I don't understand this. With only 4 in a team, and at least 2 of each sex then boys can't play as girls and vice versa as you are only allowing a legal line-up. I thought it was at least 1 player of each sex to prevent all male teams...?

Cara

So at least one girl/one boy per U9 team of 4.

And at least two girls/two boys per U11 team of 8 i.e. so each section has at least one girl/one boy.

There was a time when NYD was packed full of teams of all ages.

Junior development has been a key focus for the governing bodies over the years which led to the introduction of the infamous 'junior points' rule, but what is the current state of Junior Korfball in England?

My only current involvement presently is through AFM Sports and Korfballshop.com selling balls, baskets and equipment and from our perspective one of the major growth areas has been college and university in recent years, along with school Korfball in the midlands.

What is the 'recently introduced bonding system?'

U9
MK
Norwich Dragons
Sprowston x 2
Swavesey x 2
Tigers
Cambridge City x 3
Bromley

Under 11
MK
Norwich Dragons
Norwich City
Sprowston
Tigers
Tornadoes
Cambridge City
Wilingham
Bromley
Harrow
Milton Road

U13
Bearsted
MK
Norwich Dragons
Bec
KV
Tigers
Tornadoes
Bromley

U16
MK
Beck
Norwich Knights
Tornadoes

U19
Nomads
MK
Norwich
Tigers

No Under 9 teams entered from Kent and just 1 from London

Just 1 U11 team from Kent and 2 from London

In terms of Under 13 teams 2 each from London and Kent

Compared to recent years does this suggest a downturn in terms of junior development in the South East?. In the past few years Kent has been the main growth area for juniors providing the majority of the players in the youth national squads so why the decline in the number of teams entered?

I can only answer for Nomads... we have a low number of kids training and when we worked out our teams we had enough in every age group (9/11/13) IF all were available, unfortunately between 2-5 were unavailable in every age group meaning we could not field a team in any of them! Obviously this highlights what we already know, our numbers have dwindled and we need more kids. We're on it and hope to put up better show next year.

As poor as it is that numbers have reduced it's still great to have so many junior teams playing in one place and I hope it's a great day for all participating.

Meanwhile our U19s are looking forward to Cambridge.

It is no longer possible to hire a coach for the day as economically as it was in the past. Cost of fuel etc, etc.

It is important to take into considerations all the factors, I've given one example, there are a lot more.

Regards

(On behalf of Crewe and Nantwich)

Bill Berry

Numbers could and should have been higher - but like all the replies before the costs have increased to travel and having squads just about big enough to make an 8 is stressful chasing players to confirm. I also enjoyed the logisitcs of booking a 53 seater coach for the 42 players and parents to then find out most were driving so we only had 14 needing the coach and then downsizing to a 20 seater and having 23 turn up yesterday morning - so I had to drive.

Anyway - it was fun and our players had a great time and I ate far too many cheeseburgers.

I would also like to remind everyone to get your entries in for Korfstock on 14th July. We are running U9s (we have 6 teams at present), U11s (6 or 7 teams), U13s (3 or 4 teams). We need booking forms returned and we need a few more teams. For the side shows we have added zorb balls and a mechanical rodeo bull. All for FREE.

Thanks
DARREN

www.korfballinmk.co.uk

Jackie

We missed the presentations at the end because we were still playing our last match, so I have no idea where my U11 school team came (though clearly not in the medals ;o) and I would like to write a piece for the school newsletter.