2024 Chukka Chat Christmas Edition

A Message from the President

2024 has been a big year for WA Polocrosse and 2025 will see another selection process, visiting teams coming including a possible international visitor and WA teams going.

A big thank you everyone for the encouragement to take on the top job and for your support during the year as I was hesitant, but it has been very rewarding. I have enjoyed the chats around the fires and camps.

I would like to give a special mention to our Executive Team, our SEO and our Zone Reps for the work they have done for you during 2024.

 Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and please stay safe and we’ll see you at the AGM in March.

Craig Bassett

President

Polocrosse WA

Coaching Wrap up

What a year for our Coaching and development!  Not only have we had multiple tours, a Nationals and a Level 1 Coaching Clinic - will 7 new coaches!.  We have also managed to squeeze in an Intermediate Clinic with Gerald O'Brien. We thank Dean and Kate Ryan along with BJ and Marijke Thomas for helping feed and house our participants, Gerald for his time and guidance and of course our Director Of Coaching, Mandy Marriott who makes the magic happen. 

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Player Eligibility 2025

The PA actions to the Player Eligibility Policy as per the below.  If you are wanting to represent WA in Barastoc 2025 or Darwin 2026 and originate from another state this will apply. An exemption will be required unless the players in question have been a member of PAWA for the required 2 years. Please email your request to the SEO outlining the below criteria before nominations open.

11.1 National Championships & Interstate Competition Player Eligibility
POLICY
The following policy sets out the requirements to be eligible for selection in a State or Territory team at any
Australian National Championships or interstate competition.
a) The State or Territory of the Club you first register with each calendar year (or renew your existing
membership with) is deemed to be your home State or Territory as a registered player. Your home State
or Territory in the year preceding an Australian Nationals or interstate competition is the State or
Territory that you are eligible to represent at the next Australian Nationals or interstate competition i.e.
with relevance to the 2022 Australian Polocrosse National Championships, a player’s home State or
Territory is that to which their Club is affiliated with in 2021.
b) To represent a State or Territory at a National Championship you must be a registered playing member of
a Club in that State or Territory as at the Nomination End Date* and also be a registered playing member
of a Club in that State or Territory from the commencement of the relevant Australian National
Championships or interstate competition event until the completion of that event.
*Nomination End Date means the date that the event host Club, in consultation with the PAA, determines
to be the team nomination end date for the relevant Australian Nationals or interstate competition event.
c) You must have resided in Australia for two years and must not have represented any other country at an
international level for two years prior to the date of the relevant Australian National Championships or
interstate competition event. For example: If you have represented a country other than Australia at the
2019 Polocrosse World Cup, then you are not eligible to represent any Australian State or Territory at the
2020 Australian Polocrosse National Championships even if you have resided in and played club
polocrosse in Australia for the two years prior to the 2020 National Championship.
d) If States or Territories are unable to fill a full side for the Australian National Championships or interstate
competition in accordance with points a-c above, exception may be requested for two players only in a
team of seven.
e) States or Territories must seek consent to borrow players from other States or Territories via the relevant
State Association before making the request in writing to the PAA Board. Requests for exception,
accompanied by the relevant State Association’s agreement, should satisfy the following requirements:
1. the player/s must have nominated for their home State and not been selected in their home State
before being eligible to be a borrowed player;
2. the eligibility exception request must set out the reasons why the exception is required and all
circumstances that are relevant to the request;
3. the eligibility exception request must be signed by a PAA Councillor from the requesting State or
Territory and a PAA Councillor from the agreeing State or Territory.
The PAA may grant an exemption in its absolute discretion, considering all relevant factors including
any extenuating or exceptional circumstances.

Touring 2025

First up on the calendar for 2025 season is the Intermediate Tour to Victoria 15/16th March. That will be followed by Albury Juniors and then Barastoc across multiple grades, numbers dependant. The Victorian Tour will require those that attend to offer a loan horse in reciprocation for the Victorians when they visit us in September.

WA v Victoria (Event Date 15/16 March) Nominations Open 6th January, Close 20th January and are announced the 27th January

Albury Junior Mixed and Sub Juniors (Event Date 17/20 April) Nominations Open 3rd February , Close 17th February and are announced 24th February

Barastoc Nominations (Event Date 2-4 May) Open 14th January, Close 28th January and are announced 10th February

2024 AGM ( Held in 2025)

2024 AGM (held in 2025) is being held on a Sunday with the option for members to attend a casual dinner the Saturday evening prior. Paperwork for the AGM (Annual General Meeting) will follow shortly and will require nominations for Intermediate Development Officer and Junior Development Officer along with Selectors (5 per division). These positions will require a CV to be uploaded at the time of lodging the AGM paperwork.

Affiliating and Memberships in 2025

When affiliating in 2025 you will be charged the 2024 fee with the PA increase until the AGM when the PAWA (Polocrosse Association of Western Australia) fee is set.  If you affiliate prior to the PAWA AGM you will be invoiced the PAWA portion post AGM.

You can see the PA 2025 fees in the image here.

Affiliating can be done as of January 2nd and all instructions can be found on the website here Renew Your Membership

2025 Autumn Carnivals

Thanks to the clubs that helped plan the Autumn dates, we can confirm the following dates and will ratify them at the AGM. Get excited Polocrosse is coming......