A big congratulations to our New South Wales U21 team on their series win over New Zealand at Narrabri. The team won all three games with Makayla Elford taking out ‘Best Female Player’ and Tom French ‘Best Male Player’. Tom’s horse Chad also picked up ‘Champion Horse’ for the series. 

The team consisted of: 

Makayla Elford – Narrabri 

Hayley Constable – Narrabri 

Emily Wamsley – Guyra 

Holly Turnbull – Galloping Gully 

Tom French – Jugiong 

William Brodigan – Cubbaroo 

Luka McLachlan – Inverell 

Marty O’Sullivan - Albury/Holbrook  

Coach: Brad Wamsley – Bunnan 

Manager: Yolanda Stevenson – Merriwa 

The PANSW Board would like to congratulate Narrabri Polocrosse Club on another successful Junior Challenge event. It was fantastic to see so many of our young, up and coming players take to the field in a display of skill and sportsmanship. 

We would also like to congratulate the juniors who played in the Presidents team against New Zealand on the weekend, in particular the NSW contingent of Brittany Schwager (Narrabri), Olivia Erland (Yass), Riley Clarke (Lake George), Harry Davis (Quirindi), plus coach Lucy Grills (Albury Holbrook) and manager Katie Yeo (Yass). 

The NSW Umpires Committee would like to remind all umpires that scoresheets must be completed in full before being handed in. Ensuring that all the appropriate information is collected is vital for several reasons and is the responsibility of the game umpire(s).  

Ensuring all our players feel safe on and off the field is a high priority for the PANSW Board. This includes ensuring the support coming from the sidelines, in particular for our youth, is positive and supportive. 

Play By The Rules, a collaboration between Sport Integrity Australia, Sport Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission, have some excellent resources that we are looking to share with the wider polocrosse community over the next few months.  

This month's helpful tips are for parents to ensure they bring their best self to the sideline! 

These tips include: 

• Be a good role model – children watch and learn from you, so make sure you set a good example. 
• Avoid a ‘win at all costs’ attitude – although you may think winning is important, so make sure you set a good example. 
• Be aware that your abusive behaviour may be against the law – ask yourself, “would my mother be upset or offended by what I am saying or doing?”. If the answer is yes, then it’s best to sit down and be quiet.  
• Try not to be critical of coaches, referees or umpires – many are volunteers who give their time to make sport possible for all our children, and some are just learning. If you have some constructive advice for them, leave it until after the game or have a chat with the head coach or referee. 

Members are also reminded that they are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct as printed in the Polocrosse Australia Rulebook. In the rulebook there are Codes of Behaviour for coachers, players, umpires, spectators and clubs. The PANSW Board would like to draw particular attention to the Code of Conduct for clubs which advises that clubs are responsible for ensuring it's members abide by the relevant code of conducts in the rulebook.