Australia Institute of Sports in the Caribbean

Australia tours Jamaica this week. The Observer reports on Friday that they defeated Jamaica 55-31 in the first game. What does this mean for Jamaica - well that they will put in a whole lot of work between now and next year. They certainly have the resources to do so.

Isn't it interested to note that the Institute would come all the way to the Caribbean and would not as much as pay a visit to any of the other islands?

Do you think it was the President of IFNA who is Jamaican that brokered this visit? I wonder who is looking out for the interest of the rest of the Caribbean?

Click on the photo for the link to the Observer's story.

Are Sponsors Exploiting Netball?

How much is our sport worth?

Digicel should be ashamed to be seen with this huge cheque, the making of which could be worth more than the figure written on the cheque itself.

That is a PR issue which I would deal with on my PR blog however here I want to encourage netball clubs, organisations and associations around the Caribbean not be exploited by corporations.

Small contributions like this should really be a behind the camera donation and should not be considered a sponsorship to warrant this level of return. Yes as a donor/sponsor I am looking for some return on my investment but this is where the good corporate citizenry comes in because there should be some equitable correlation between the donation and the return.

Netball is a rich sport. We have all the mothers, sisters, aunts and nieces. We have the people with the real spending power in the community and we have to demand our rightful due.

(Click on the picture to read the Virgin Island Platinum News story and have a laugh as this pitiful cheque was actually featured in an article that spoke to Digicel's billion dollar expansion plans for the region)

Netball In Tobago

This picture was taken from the Tobago News, click on it to read their story.

It was reporting on the Tobago Zone of the Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Netball league. While I was happy to see the young ladies exercising I was very dismay at their size.

Caribbean women we really have to take stock. The Diabetes Foundation is my client, and I am stunned at the Diabetes Statistic for Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean. We have to control our eating urges and exercise more self discipline and self love in our lives.

OECS Under 23Tournament on the Horizon

The OECS Under 23 Tournament is set for the Beausejour facility in St. Lucia from July 5-11.

Along with St. Lucia, the other countries that have confirmed their participation are: St Kitts, Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda and St Vincent & the Grenadines.

Hurray for the OECS! The tournament will be indoors and will present them with a good opportunity to look at their talent coming up to next years' junior worlds.

Jamaica may have Australia to compete against but the OECS have a wonderful resource in each other and I salute and encourage them to make the most of the competition, and help to build each other's game. Unless all the teams of the Caribbean are strong we will go no where. Jamaica has always from as long as I can remember chosen to absent itself from Caribbean netball until they were forced to by the world body.

If the Caribbean collaborate as a unit and have regular goodwill tournaments we are sure to be a world threat as we are born with the natural talent but lack the level of competition and financial infrastructure to elevate us. Netball is the one sport that the Caribbean has always had a decent world ranking in and it is time for us to really exploit this.

Netball lacks global profile and competition

I found this article by Phillipa Barker - Hogan so interested that I posted it here. Click on the blurb for the link.

In an effort to get my seven-year-old daughter's focus away from Disney Channel and towards her new sport, netball, I tuned into the trans-Tasman championship last weekend and was impressed.

Jamaica's Marvadene Anderson makes sponsorship history

One of this blog's earliest stories was on Jamaica's gentle giant at the U16 tournament in Antigua.

Jamaica's goal shooter Marvadean Anderson has gone on to become the first member of Jamaica's national Under-16 squad to receive sponsorship under the Jamaica Netball Association's (JNA) Adopt-A-Player Programme.

Click on the picture for the Observer Newspaper story.

New CEO for IFNA

The International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA), based in Manchester, England, has announced that Urvasi Naidoo has been appointed to the vacant post of Chief Executive.

Urvasi who is a lawyer by profession has experience working as Senior Counsel and Company Secretary at the International Cricket Council (ICC) under her belt.

Molly Rhone, President of IFNA said:

“We are very delighted to welcome Urvasi on board as we look forward to the next stage in both the Federation’s and the sport's development. Urvasi has an impressive track record, having previously worked as a Brand Protection Lawyer for the Salt Lake Winter Olympics.”

"As the market place becomes increasingly competitive, effective communication with our stakeholders, the media and those interested in the sport are vital if we are to succeed in our mission to grow Netball in new territories and make it even more attractive in established ones.”

We have to fix It - Annette Beckett

I don't know whether I will be able to keep up with the events that are about to unfold in netball in Barbados but I will try. On Monday June 16, which is my tomorrow there is to be a meeting of clubs which was called by "the clubs". My guess is this has sprung from the recent talk that has been spreading of the President's alleged plan to hand pick candidates for the two post left vacant by the resignations of Nisha Cummins and Denise Alleyne.

Annette invited the netball Facebook group to attend, she wrote:

"Hi All;

At the moment, we in the BNA are having some problems relating to governance specifically.

A meeting has been called by the clubs for the clubs at the national stadium on Monday at 5.00pm to discuss these difficulties with a view to moving forward in a practical way.

Now is the time for us all to put our hands up and help our sport.

We are part of the problem, therefore we can be part of the solution. Lets do it...
club reps...see you on Monday.
Others..give us your ideas for us to take to the meeting"

My ears will be to the wall for the out come of this...

Hot Shots

It seems that I have misled my readers. Structural Systems Silver Raiders has not won the Barbados League - YET. I am told that they have one more game against Banks Spurs which is shrouded in controversy.

Well I promised you my uncut views on the season and before my telephone rings off the hook, here goes. I am sure that it will ring even more after this some how...


Umpiring
I am starting with the umpiring because this is what I am closest to. Angela Gibbs started the season brilliantly as the scheduler and coordinator of the umpires. She was doing a fantastic job until controversy struck and she resigned prematurely ending what I considered to be the best management of the umpiring fixtures since Deborah Lynch-Theobalds gave this up for a higher calling.

Then between Stephanie Greaves and Mona Alleyne the scheduling was a disaster. Some umpires were fixtured twice an evening while others did not make the fixture for an entire week. Check out last week's fixture and you will see what I mean. There has also been numerous problems with umpires not showing up. As a matter of fact, Veronica Rock who is preparing for the series between Jamaica and the Australian Institute of Sport at the end of the month mentioned that she was at the stadium on Monday with gear, was not scheduled but was ready to umpire. She was not asked, while Tony Brathwaite who is creeping along in his umpiring and will probably go no further than Barbados netball, got to umpire twice.

I was not scheduled for a bit despite my offer to umpire twice a week, now I get at most one day. According to Kizzy Marvel, Banks Spurs and National player who I had to discipline in the last game I umpired, I will never become an international umpire. She said it out of spite but at the rate the scheduling is going she just might be right because I will definitely not be getting in the match practice.

Standard of Play In Barbados
The standard of play this season was very poor, no wonder the country has fallen so low in the world ranking. In the lower divisions there are glimpses of hope for the future, but at the rate the administrators are going, there maybe no future.

The Executive
The BNA executive has failed netball and held Barbados up to criticism. On failing netball - There has been no fund raising - yet there is a fund raising committee, there is no promotions - yet there is a pr committee, there are no teams in training (well until last week) - yet there is an AFNA tournament this year, an under 21 tournament next year, and there was an invitational in Singapore.

On holding Barbados up to criticism. After accepting Singapore's invitation to travel to that country this year to play in a six nation tournament, the executive pulled out last month on the the grounds, I am told, that they have no funds to carry the team. The host was providing everything other than airfare. At this late stage in the game, they had everything prepared from printed tickets to painted buses. This was not only a fantastic opportunity for Barbados to prepare it's under 21 team for worlds next year, but it was also a fantastic sports tourism opportunity for the country. To withdraw at this late stage makes us look unprofessional and disorganise as a people. I would like to see who will invite Barbados anywhere anytime soon.

Singapore is faced with looking for a replacement at this late stage. Their website now quotes the participating countries as:

Botswana (from Africa, finished 10th in the World Champs 2007)
Northen Ireland (from Europe, World ranking: 21st)
Papua New Guinea (from Oceania, World ranking: 14th)
Samoa (from Oceania, World ranking: 6th)
Singapore (from Asia, Asian Champions & World ranking: 15th)
Another Nation to be confirmed

more controversy
Nisha Cummins who I have a lot of respect and admiration for resigned as VP last week. Denise Alleyne has also resigned. I think that this executive has a lot to answer to and I hope that the general body asks the questions when the time comes.

The call in programmes was also hot all week long. Even Reds Pereira got in the do last night on VOB calling for the president, Octavia Gibson to call in and answer the charges being made by callers. These are some sad days for Barbados netball. Unfortunately they are not the saddest as the more things changes the more they remain the same. The sport has had its share of controversies and netball has always won out. Let's hope that this too passes swiftly.

Foundation School, Barbados' U15 Champions

Congratulations to the Foundation school for winning the schools' under 15 championship in Barbados. Rhea Holder was spectacular - by far the most talented player on the field she led her team to a comprehensive victory over the Garrison school.

BTA Announces Top Netball Coaches for Summer Camp

(BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, June 19, 2008) The Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) is preparing to host its second annual sports camp for children aged nine to 17, in its bid to drive more family business to the island during the summer holidays.

The camp which runs from August 5 – 29, at the University of the West Indies will include participation from children of visitors and locals. Registration is free.

Participants will have access to a cadre of iconic athletic coaches from the United Kingdom and the West Indies. Each of these trainers was handpicked because of their extensive achievements at the professional level and without being paid, have committed to the camp simply because they want to give back.

Coaches include football celebrities Mark Bright, Sir Geoff Hurst, Alan Hansen and Peter Shilton, while the cricket clinics will be conducted by legends Desmond Haynes, Wayne Daniel, Gladstone Small and Mike Gatting.

For the first time there also will be training for netball enthusiasts by talented England players Olivia Murphy, Alex Astle, Kendra Slawinski and Fiona Murtagh.

Structural Systems Systems Silver Raiders are the Bajan Queens

Structural Systems Silver Raiders sat back and watched the Barbados Netball Association division one crown being handed to them on a platter by Pine Hill St. Barbados last night.

St. Barnabas had to get pass top team C.O.Williams Rangers but was below par succumbing to Rangers 35-39.

Look out for my uncut views on the season, the players, officials and the BNA coming this weekend.

Thanks to Julie Phillips for the below stats on the game.

Cable and Wireless Division 1 Results

Pine Hill St. Barnabas			C.O.Williams Rangers
		Att	Scored		Att	Scored
GS	Denise Alleyne	25	17	Nakita Piggott	43	37
GA	Marvalene Neblett	24	18	Natalie Miller	4	2
GA

1^st Q:- 9 – 8 Pinehill

2^nd : 19 -15 Rangers

3^rd Q:- 32 -23 Rangers

4thQ:- 39 -35 Rangers

JAMALCO - Jamaica's Super League Champions

Jamaica's top team Jamalco won its sixth consecutive title defeating Tivoli in a close encounter 43-42. Waulgrovians 'A' won third place by thrashing Jetsetters 'A' 66-38.

Click on the picture to read the full Gleaner Newspaper report of the games.

Barbados - Netball Pioneer Passes Away

The Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper in Barbados reported today that "FORMER MAPLE CLUB captain and Barbados netball player June Carew died recently in Ontario, Canada, where she had relocated after decades of a local career as owner-operator of June's Beauty Box in Bridgetown.

June's life will be celebrated at a memorial service to be held at the Holetown Methodist Church on June 11, after which her cremated remains will be interred at the St Peter Cemetery."

Click on the newspaper image for the entire Nation story.

Jamaica and Barbados Netball Seasons Wind Down

The local seasons in Jamaica and Barbados are set to wind down as Trinidad and Tobago is just getting started.

In the north Jamaica's top local team JAMALCO looks set to take yet another title having won the first of a two best in three final from Tivoli 'A' 56-49 in the Berger Paints/Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) Super Netball League best-of-three final at the National Arena on Thursday night.

In the South defending champions of the Barbados Netball Association's National Sports Council/Barbados Olympic Association Division 1, Pine Hill St. Barnabas has set the stage for another championship victory defeating knock-out champions Banks Spurs 44-34 on Friday night.

Structural Systems Systems Silver Raider leads the league on points and has put themselves in position to take their first division one title defeating former power house C.O.Williams Rangers 40-39 in a nail biter.

The winner may be decided on Wednesday when St. Barnabas comes up against Rangers in their final league game. If St. Barnabas wins then they will play off with Structural Systems for the title. A loss gives the title to Silver Raiders.

Gloria Ballantyne - Outstanding Netball Administrator

Say St. Vincent Netball and the name Ballantyne comes to mind immediately. Involved with St. Vincent's netball for decades now, I was to first meet this fine lady at my first netball tournament representing Barbados back in 1986 in St. Lucia.

Of this meeting, I remember being new to the team and sitting on the bench for a number of games. I represented the team in the netball pageant which I won and I remember Ballantyne teasing me that I was brought along not to play but for the queen show (she has a wonderful sense of humour). Thankfully I got on court the next day and went on to represent Barbados until 1993.

Gloria Ballantyne has held a number of positions on the Caribbean Netball Association's Board. She is the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee. She is the current Treasurer of the Americas Federation of Netball Associations and Convenor of the Regional Umpires Committee. She is also serving as Deputy Chairperson of the National Sports Council. Gloria Ballantyne, the longest serving president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association, has been dubbed by the National Olympic Academy, "The Nation's First Lady of Sport". She has been the recipient of an OBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

I caught up with Mrs. Ballantyne recently at the U16 tournament in Antigua. She had just celebrated her 70th birthday, was in fine condition and still showing off her shapely netball legs. Great going Ms B!