My Views On the Jamaica Tri-Series

My friends have been asking me why I haven't commented on the games in Jamaica. Well I haven't because I really have mixed feeling about the tournament and although this is my blog and my views, I still try not to be overly biased (even if I appear to be).

Since you forced me here are my thought. I consider myself a CARICOM national. Maybe this is because I was fortunate to go to university in Jamaica and live with some of the best minds in the Caribbean on the Mona Campus. So I get really pissed off when I see Caribbean people not using their collective wisdom, not collaborating and being played (literally and figuratively) for fools.

Here are some of the questions that I have. Before Barbados took the excursion in South Africa did they think of playing Trinidad and Jamaica beforehand to prepare? Did they consider that their ranking would be at stake?

I read that Trinidad was optimistic about their performance in Jamaica. From where did this optimism come? What has Trinidad done in the line of preparing for competition since the Caribbean Tournament?

Did they consider that their own ranking would be at stake? Did they stop over in Barbados on their way to Jamaica to get some practice matches? Well everyone knows by now the outcome of the tournament.

I read that the spectator turn out was poor. What level of promotion did Jamaica do?

In my estimation the only team benefiting from the tri-series was South Africa. Even Jamaica although they appear to be the victors, were losers -the spectator turn out was poor and in the final match South Africa matched them up to the third quarter and then faded.

Of course Jamaica has been tooting that they are playing a number of under 21s in preparation for next year's world championships but you can bet your bottom dollar that South Africa must be as well.

As a matter of fact the South African coach is reported to have said that the tri-series was "mission accomplished" they had intended to reach the final and to move up in the world ranking and they did both.

Congrats South Africa. However there is no pleasure in this tournament for me as a CARICOM national.

The only positive thing coming out of the tournament for us in the Caribbean is that we have two new IUAs.

Joel and Dave love you guys and I am very happy for you. You both deserve it!

(Pictures above are of Joel Young-Strong (Trinidad) and Dave Brown (Jamaica), the Caribbean's newest international umpires).

Log Edited for Clarification( For persons reading the original version of this post. Testing (IUA) can be done at different time frames. This was not my prior understanding. )

Becoming An IUA

Deborah Lynch Theobalds sent me this clarification on IUA recently:

Pam
I read your blog and felt that I should clear up some misunderstandings. There are no grades for an IUA, the grades are for TID'S working towards becoming an IUA.

The tiers are as follows:

Tier 1. IUA Endorsed Umpires mentored by IUC

Tier 2. Unendorsed IUA Umpires who are in training under the mentoring of an IUC Member (s) and who may reach a standard which qualifies them for further testing.

Tier 3. National Badge holders who have been identified as exceptionally talented and regularly working with IUC towards screening

Tier 4. National Badge holders who are talent identified for further training .

Barbados Drop In Ranking

Thanks to their dismal adventure in South Africa, Barbados has dropped one place in the world ranking.  This should be in a lesson in preparation.  

We need to take the sport and the country we represent to heart rather than our own personal agendas.  

Is there going to be any level of accountability for this, or is it just one of those things that goes unquestioned?

Caribbean Umpires Have A Shot At IU Badge

From my understanding Jewel Young Strong, and Dave Brown will have a shot at attaining their international umpire's badge during the tri series in Jamaica this week. Both of them are excellent umpires and I wish them all the best.

Pity I could not have joined you but I will be serving a higher purpose working with the Diabetes Global Village in Barbados this Week.

Good Luck Guys!

Gosh it is about time someone else from the region got the crown jewel. ( It's been about five year now since Chris got his badge, the last Caribbean umpire to qualify).

As a very prominent netball administrator is quoted as saying "Ya mean that our umpires can't even qualify as a grade three international umpire?"

Yes there are grades. Will have Deborah Lynch explain the system some time later.

Also check out my health blog www.caribbeanwellness.blogspot.com this is where I will be this week.

South Africa Has A Good Chance Against Trinidad

The South African teams leaves for Jamaica today for the tri-series (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa) and Sports 24 reports that the Bajan Coach, Harriet Waithe said after her team's series against South Africa that she believed the Proteas had a good chance against Trinidad and Tobago.

From umpiring the final game Jamaica vs Trinidad in the AFNA Championships this year. I would say that if South Africa only have a "good chance" at beating Trinidad then they have no hope of beating Jamaica at home.

Click on the picture for the entire story.

St. Kitts Business League Gets Going

The St. Kitts Sun reports that ten teams are competing in the 2008 St. Kitts Business Netball League, which started last Saturday in Netball City.

Competing Organisations: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), St. Kitts/Nevis Anguilla National Bank (NB), Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, Kajola, St. Kitts/Nevis Development Bank, Cable & Wireless, Government Mix, Reeds Data Services and the Customs Department.

Click on the photo for the St. Kitts Sun Article.

Of Barbados, South Africa and Jamaica

While I took some time off for my PRSA International Conference in Detriot you all would have heard else where of Barbados being blanked in their three match series in South Africa.

The South Africans of course used them for their style of play as a warm up to their triangular series in Jamaica this month against Jamaica and Trinidad. I hope Barbados would have made some use of the opportunity and learnt something as well. I also hope to see at least 8 of the players that were in the squad going forward to next year's tournaments. Barbados need some continuity for growth.

It has been reported that Jamaica's National coach Connie Francis sees this month's triangular series in her hometown which runs from Nov 10 to 13 as an opportunity to improve her country's world ranking.

Jamaica finished 3rd at last year's world championships in New Zealand, and are ranked 4th behind Australia, New Zealand and England.

South Africa will probably field the same team they used at home against Barbados which included:
Liezel Wium (Captain)Precious Mthembu (Vice-Captain)Mary NgwenyTsakane MbeweRefiloe MochakaNontle GwavuErin BurgerSimone van HeerdenAnnemarie FrostZukelwa CwabaClaudia BassonZanele MdodaneAmanda MynhardtKgomotso ItlhabanyengBongiwe Msomi

What's Good For Africa!!

As reported by SABC News
http://www.sabcnews.com/sport/other/0,2172,174666,00.html

" Netball South Africa has roped in one of the world's leading authorities on the game to turn around the fortunes of the national team. A former coach of the New Zealand team, Lyn Gunson, is attending the National Netball Championships in Tshwane this week.

Netball is one of the biggest participant sports in South Africa. Yet the Proteas are struggling at number six on the world rankings. They lost to Malawi at the world championships last year.

Gunson says South Africa has a lot of talent and will be able to yet again become one of the top three netball playing nations. Gunson conducted a workshop for provincial coaches before the start of the championships and will also spend some time with the coach of the national team, Karin Strauss."

Barbados and a number of other islands could do with this kind of help!!!

Barbados Loses First Test to South Africa

Barbados suffered their first defeat in their three test series against South Africa last night. The SABC news reports that the Proteas beat their opponents 43-34 in the first test in the Spar Challenge series played at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town.

The South African coach was able to give 11 of her 12-member squad playing time. Although South Africa lost possession at times they remained in control throughout the match.

No specifics on the Bajans were given however it would appear that they had a pretty decent third quarter.

Helen of the West Champions

Digicel Elite Strikers are the Helen of the West Champions. They fended off a stiff challenge from X-ceed to win the 2008 Helen of the West Netball club championships this past weekend.

Elite led the first two quarters 15-10, 24-23 at the Beausejour Indoor Facility before X-ceed of St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG), battled into a 37-34 third-quarter advantage.

Elite Strikers then went on 14-6 in the last frame to win with a final score of 48-43.

For Elite Strikers, Glatta Gabriel scored 15 of 20 attempts and Shem Maxwell 33 of 37 attempts. X-ceed’s scoring was led by Tamara Samuel (19/26) and Jasmin Frank (24/29).

In a play-off for third place, St Lucia’s Shamrock beat the Barbados Workers Union 47-35. The Barbadians led at the first quarter 9-8 before Shamrock turned the tables at the remaining intervals 21-13, 34-25.

Barbara Theobalds scored 44 of 48 attempts for Shamrock and Melissa John three of five.

Scoring for BWU were Andrea Puckerin (20/28), Renee Rudder (9/15) and Monique James (6/9).

Netballers Ready to Face Barbados

21 October 2008
Linda Moreotsene

The Sowetan reports that the South African national netball team is applying the final touches before their first Test match against Barbados tomorrow in Cape Town.

Griqualand West centre court player Liezel Wium was named captain of the team last week, with Precious Mthembu vice captain.

Wium, 31, is experienced and has spent two years playing in New Zealand, one of the world’s top netball countries.

To read the full story go to

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=867103

Good Luck Mary and the BWU Team!

Best of luck to Mary Vaughn and her Barbados Workers Union Team who are currently in St. Lucia for the Helen of the West (HOW) Tournament. The team travelling robs me of my weekly umpiring exercise but I am very proud of what Mary along with the help of Joan Scantlebury, both of whom I have known since my secondary school days, have accomplished with Barbados' biggest out of season netball tournament.

Star Publising reports that this year's HOW tournament which runs from Oct. 11 - 18 promises to be exciting and competitive. The tournament is being played at the Beausejour Indoor Practice Facility and is the Fifth Annual HOW Festival.

HOW began as a sports tourism initiative between the St Lucia National Netball Association and the St Lucia Tourist Board in 2003. This year, seven teams will compete for the championship purse of US$3000.00: X-Ceed Sports Club from St Vincent & the Grenadines; Barbados Workers Union Club; Army Netball Team and Royal Air Force Netball Team from the UK. St Lucia is represented by Avengers, Digicel Elite Strikers and Shamrock.

Defense Force of Trinidad & Tobago who are co defending champions along with Digicel Elite Strikers, will not be there to defend their title. Another club from Jamaica also opted out due to high travel costs. The format for the tournament will be a seven team round robin followed by a playoff round.

BNA President Off to IFNA Meeting

President of the Barbados Netball Association Octavia Gibson has racked up a load of frequent flyer miles this year. From Singapore, Argentina, Manchester and the US, Gibson will now be attending the IFNA board meeting in Manchester, England, from October 17 to 19.

Items on the agenda include final decisions on the dates for the World Youth Netball Champions in Cook Islands in 2009; a showcase of the shortened form of netball by the England team; Commonwealth Games 2010; World Netball Competition, Singapore 2011; appointment of panels and committees and the net effect development programmes.

I am all for the miles but at the end of the day Octavia please champion the region's cause. I do not know what Annette achieved in her time and knowing her, she will probably read this blog the second it has been posted so she can enlighten us, however the region is badly in need of an advocate. We have made little to no progress having Molly Rhone from Jamaica as President of IFNA, if I am wrong then Molly please inform Netball Shots of your accomplishments.

All these ladies are great but the region is calling for results. We have gone backward, our individual world ranking speaks for itself. I was proud to be on the Barbados world championship team Scotland that ranked 6th in the world, Jamaica was 5th. Barbados is now struggling at 11th and only Trinidad and Jamaica are on the radar where world ranking is concerned even St. Vincent is struggling. The region needs a major intervention if netball is going to survive. Not only from the perspective of our world ranking but losing sports find it very hard to attract sponsorship and new players, everyone loves a winner. Netball in the region has to chart a winning course.

Bajans Off to South Africa

Barbados has named it squad for the upcoming SPAR Challenge 3 test series in South Africa from October 22 to 25. It contains three new comers from the last team which came third in the AFNA tournament.

According to a Nation Newspaper report today the squad includes: Laurel Browne, Lisa Puckerin, Nikita Piggott, Kizzy Marville, Sabrina Smith, Shekira Boxill, Dionne Quarless, Natalie Miller, Lydia Bishop, Sherry Martindale, Shakira Springer, Janelle Sealy, Harriet Waithe (senior coach), Sandra Bruce-Small (assistant coach), Sonia Moore (manager) and Andrew Simpson (primary care/physiotherapist)

Newcomers are former Barbados Under-16 captain Shakira Springer, Shekira Boxill and Natalie Miller who have replaced Springer Memorial schoolgirl Jeneice Clarke, captain Don Small and Rhe-Ann Niles who have returned to the United States.

Barbados Netball Association president Octavia Gibson is reported as having said that "this should be a very competitive series since South Africa are ranked ninth and Barbados 11th in the world" and that it was critical for Barbados as they seek to earn a place among the Top 12 nations which will be competing at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The team leaves on Friday afternoon.

This all begs the question. Where did the Barbados Netball Association suddenly find the money. How come Barbados can find the funds to go all the way to South Africa to play one country and could not meet their obligation to Singapore just about two months ago?

Business House Leagues Take Over

Most of the regular leagues have ended and it is time for the business houses to do there thing. Really these out of season leagues are where all the fun is for some reason.

In Barbados the Workers Union League is in full swing with a number of new teams this year. It will go straight to the end of the year. More on this coming.

In Jamaica Defending champion General Accident extended their 100 percent win record in the Business House Netball Associations Locker Room super league recently and looks sets to take the title again this year according to all reports.

Jamaica is due to see some international action as well later in the year.

Coaching Clinic In Barbados

IFNA is hosting a coaching Clinic in Barbados this weekend so says the Jamaica Observer. I have not seen anything in the Barbados press, maybe I overlooked it. Apparently they also hosted a similar one in Argentina which Mona Alleyne of Barbados facilitated.

I am not in possession of the facilitators for this clinic (gosh I just heard about it) but I must say that the region needs more than just one clinic and it must be facilitated by persons with proven track records of excellence, achievement and experience on the international arena. Poor Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia etc are struggling, it is obvious that we do not have the resources on the islands to propel us up the international netball ladder.

It is with great expectation that I await IFNA's master plan to address this, because I am sure it does not end with one token clinic.

Molly's On Another Committee

IFNA and AFNA President Molly Rhone has just been named to a 13 member Anti-Doping commission (JADCO) in Jamaica.  As if this well decorated Caribbean woman have anymore time in her calender.  The Commission is chaired by head of the University of Technology, Prof. Errol Morrison.

The three year board will form part of the Jamaica's  Government efforts to combat illicit drugs in sports.

Jamaica AFNA Champions 2008

Congratulations to Jamaica, AFNA Champions 2008.

It was not the strongest Jamaica team that was ever fielded.  In fact one might argue that it is the weakest senior team Jamaica has fielded for a long time, however what was important is that they got the job done.  This Jamaica second side was able to dispatch all the teams in the competition which is tell tale to the distance between the "Sunshine Girls" and the rest of the teams in the Americas.

The conductor/director/playmaker for  Jamaica clearly was their captain Simone Forbes.   Discipline aside or lack thereof, Forbes was in a class of her own in the competition.  Yes the team beat St. Lucia without her, but this was the first day of competition and the St. Lucian side was not very strong in this competition.  

The game between Trinidad may however been another story without her leadership and cunning.  Forbes challenged all the rules in the book.  She played the controversial hitting the goal pole with the ball on a throw in and retrieving it herself in nearly every game, which of course made the spectators roar as this play, although legitimate, looks very suspect.  

A real positive for Jamaica, they have a number of very talented young players on the way up who should ensure Jamaica's netball dominance in the future.  This was evident in the defensive area where the tough young players Tracy Robinson and Nicole Aiken held their own, succeeding in ensuring that their team had the best defensive record of just allowing 169 attempts to the opposition, an average of just 27 goals a game.

Another future bright spark for Jamaica was their 6ft shooter Crystal Gordan who ended 9th overall in shooting average.  She scored 103 from 125.  Christina Solmon was 8th scoring 66 from 80 and Forbes was 7th netting 91 of 110.

Stats

286 goals for, 126 goals against.  350 attempts for, 169 attempts against, goal difference 160, goal average 2.27.  Shooting accuracy 81.71%

Trinidad 2nd Place AFNA 2008

Trinidad and Tobago arrived for business and dispatched one of their chief rivals Barbados in their very first game. All the other games were a matter of course except for their final game against defending champions Jamaica.
In this games the subtle Trini flaws were exposed - their shooters inaccuracy and the holes in their defence. Trinidad moved the ball well, and were very explosive through the centre court, their main shooters Anastacia Wilson and Joelisa Cooper however struggled with their accuracy.

In fact the attacking players did so well in servicing the goal circle that Wilson had the most attempts of all the shooters in the competition, 179 and scored 150, she was 4th in the top ten shooters with 83.80 accuracy.

Cooper was 18th, however substitute shooter Samantha Wallace managed to hold on to the 10th position scoring 30 of 38 for 78.95%.

The exciting competitive play that was expected from Trinidad in the finals did not materialise. Jamaica out played, out hustled and easily dispatched them leaving the coaches to go back to the drawing board.

Statistics

241 goals for, 190 goals against, 313 attempts for, 250 attempts against, goal diference 51, goal average 1.27, accuracy 77%.

Barbados 3rd Place AFNA 2008

Barbados gave an overall solid performance to finish in third spot in the AFNA 2008 Championships.  The team had moments of brilliance throughout the tournament but lacked consistency.  The country's shooters were the most accurate in the tournament but were under serviced, all the attacking passers struggled to find the correct pass in to the shooters. Against Trinidad for example Barbados looked evenly matched however they were not able to get the ball in the hands of the shooters losing it somewhere in their attacking third.

The Barbadian defenses held their own.  Between Rhe-ann Niles and school girl Jeneice Clarke the country should have a good start to an under 23 team for next year's championships.

Barbados had their toughest matches early in the competition and by the time they reached their last match against Canada, the team, bruised and with a number of injuries just went through the motions doing just enough to win the game.  

The Bajans however exhibited enough talent to look set to move to the next level. A lot of work would have to be done however by the coaching staff.

Lydia Bishop was the most accurate shooter in the competition, she netted 69 of her 76 attempts for 90.79% accuracy while Laurel Browne was in second place scoring 113 of 129 for 87.60%.  Nikita Piggott also made it to the top ten, she finished 6th among the shooters scoring 54 0f 65 for 83.08%. 

Statistics

236 goals for, 216 goals against, 270 attempts, 287 attempts against, goal difference 20, goal average 1.09 and accuracy 87.41%. 

St. Lucia 4th Place AFNA 2008

St. Lucia had a tough draw in the Championships playing Jamaica and Trinidad right off the bat, but the Lucians were gritty soaking up all their challenges, including some tough sending offs to make the best of what was a harsh tournament for the unseeded Caribbean side.  

There was no Grenada, Dominica or Antigua for example to rub shoulders with, instead the Lucians were faced with the Caribbean's best.  

St. Lucia however can be considered a bridesmaid of Caribbean netball as on several occasions they looked set to take over the top teams but would never actualise.  On this occasion they would however come out of the competition with a feather in their cap, the scalp of  St. Vincent.  

It was a hard fought and well deserved victory that guaranteed them a fourth place finish in the competition.  Their other victory was against Canada.  Shem Maxwell who is St. Lucia's best shooter and arguably the best player on the team, finished 5th overall in shooting accuracy.   She had 138 attempts and scored 115 of her country's 172 goals.  Her accuracy was 83.33%.

Stats- 171 goals for, 237 against, 230 attempts for 309 attempts against.  Goal difference -65, goal average 0.73 accuracy 74.78%. 

St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5th Place AFNA 2008

St. Vincent and the Grenadines must be the most disappointed team in the AFNA 2008 Championships.

Playing with home court advantage, this former CNA and OECS Champion's performance left a lot to be desired to the dismay of their fans.   

They went into the archives and brought out Skiddy Francis-Crick, a national netball legend, Francis Crick however looked better on paper than on the court.

The only victory that they could swing was against Canada on the first day.  Maybe even this script might have been different if they had met the steadily improved Canadian team later in the competition. 

 

Stats- St. Vincent scored 179 goals had 231 scored against, had 228 attempts and 303 attempts against.  Their goal difference was -52 and goal average 0.77  with an accuracy of 78.51.  They came out of the competition in 5th position with just 2 points.

Skiddy Francis Crick however managed to finish 3rd overall in the tournament shooters.  Playing mostly half of the games or a quarter in some instances she scored 59 of 69 attempts for her 85.51% accuracy.

St. Vincent had no other shooters in the top ten but Leena Lewis and Joanna Christopher were 12th and 13th overall respectively.

Canada 6th Place AFNA 2008

Canada lost all five of their games in the AFNA 2008 Championship.  This result however did  not speak to their consistent play and their improvement throughout the tournament.

Canada looked the best coached team in the tournament.  If their coach had five others like goal defence Shawnette Cockburn and goal attack Maralyn Hope they would have been able to pull off  at least two victories. 

  

They finished with one less goal than St. Lucia in the entire competition 171, but unlike St. Lucia their goals did not come at game defining moments.  

Canada's statistics - Goals for 171, goals against 285.  Attempts 340.  Goal difference -114.  Goal average 0.60.  Accuracy 64.04%.

None of the Canadian shooter was in the top ten but Maralyn Hope finished 17th overall.  She scored 106 from 161 attempts and her average was 65.84.

On the final day Canada was treated to their own cheer leading team.  A group of visitors to the island.

AFNA Championships 2008 STATS

CLICK HERE FOR AFNA 2008 STATISTICS

Jamaica Are AFNA Champions 2008

Jamaica maintain their dominance over Caribbean netball defeating Trinidad and Tobago 53-32 at the Arnos Vale Complex this evening.  The world's number four team lead all the intervals 18-7, 28-16 and 42-25 in a very physical encounter.  

Simone Forbes was the difference between the teams.  She totally dominated the Jamaica's attack and none of Trinidad's defences provided her with any major challenge.  She finished her tour scoring 27 of 30.  Jamaica tried three shooters Crystal Gordon who started netted 20 of 28, Vanessa Walker scored 3 of 4 and Christina Solmon made 3 of 3.  For Trinidad Anastascia Wilson shot 27 of 33 while Joelisa Cooper netted 5 of 10.

Third place in the competition went to Barbados who barely turn up against Canada.  The Bajan did just enough to defeat the persistent Canadians 59-44.  Barbados led all the intervals 15-9, 32-18, and 48-31.  Barbados used three shooters Laurel Browne scored 23 of 26, Lydia Bishop who started scored 18 of 19 and reserve Nikita Piggott netted 18 of 21.

The upset of the evening came when  St. Lucia defeated home team St. Vincent and the 

Grenadines 40-38.   St. Lucia led the first quarter 15-8, but St. Vincent came back 23-22 at half time.  St. Lucia took over 32- 30 and held on for the nail bitting two gaol victory.

AFNA Championships 2008 Finals Preview

Well its left to Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica to determine the 2008 AFNA Champions.  Jamaica has the best goal average with 233 goals for and  94 goals against to Trinidad's 209 -137.

 

In other games Barbados' third place finish seems pretty secured as they are matched against bottom of the table team Canada. 

 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines however will have to fight to restore their spectators confidence and support against St. Lucia.

These two are well known rivals and the victory could go either way.

AFNA Cocktail Shots

The players were off on Thursday but the officials were out for a full day of meetings.  In the evening there was a cocktail reception held at the Arnos Vale Complex.  Here are some shots.

More to come over the weekend