Getting to the next level

There is always a hype and euphoria following the successes of national teams on regional and international assignments.

Plans, proposals and projections are often unveiled by officials of national associations, but in most cases it is just cheap talk, as the appropriate actions are not manifested.{{more}}

The talk of keeping national teams together on a permanent basis is a puff of hot air that is blown, without careful consideration as to what it entails.

However, if there is a time that this must be put into reality, it is at this stage of our netball slump.

This country is undoubtedly the champion of the OECS and has proven it time and time again. Our twelve titles of out seventeen championships at the Under-23 level speak for themselves, so too are the number attained at the club competitions.

While we have dominated the sub-region, taking our netball to the next level on the wider regional scene has not been equally successful.

A few regional titles, otherwise there has been a dearth of returns. But what has come to the fore in the recent past is our slippage as a force among our Caribbean counterparts.

We seem not able to reproduce the dizzy heights that we once experienced. Neither are we producing top quality players that distinguished us as a “netball nation”.

At present St. Vincent and the Grenadines are ranked fourth in the region behind Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, and there must be cause for concern for the current state of play. The fact that our Under-16 team were beaten by Dominica last December in Trinidad and Tobago shows that we are fast becoming a spent force.

An overhaul of the structure of netball here, the rekindling of interest and restoration of the public’s confidence in the administrators are key ingredients if we are to see a turn around in our fortunes.

Positive results are not always the determining indicators of progress but are continuous criteria of assessing strengths and weaknesses.

Where do we begin? First we must determine what we want to get from it. Whether it is a sport that we have traditionally participated in or it is a sport that we can compete and bring pride to this nation.

The structure of the sport must be revisited to suit the times. It has been proven that a national competition with 40 odd teams turns out to be a water exercise. We do not have the administrative capacity at the national level to sustain a tournament of such a magnitude.

Area competitions culminating in zonal play offs may just be the way to go, so only the serious netballers will come to the fore in the national set up.

At present many participants in the national tournament are there for the formality and drift off after a couple of matches.

The young players are not coming through as they used to. The absence of the senior classes in many of the primary schools and the lax arrangements with the teams and spattering of clubs add to the poor showing and disinterest.

Taking back its rightful place as a power house is important for the entire nation as a whole.

Netball, unlike other sports has rare opportunities for scholarships. Ironically, netballers are afforded basketball scholarships draining the sport of the upcoming talents, so the resurgence requires double efforts.

Paralleling this anticipated light at the end of the tunnel, there must be more emphasis on youth development, whilst maintaining the current standard of the quality players in our midst. The fact that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association is seeking international expertise to assist in the re-development indicates that they are aware of the situation.

We have a core of players among the present Under-23 squad who have demonstrated that they are capable and have the poise for the spring board for a netball rebirth.

Ensuring this crop of players get the right guidance, nurturing and support programmes, are key to whole approach.

But commitment and vision from those entrusted with administration coupled with structured programmes of development could see us through to our goal.

And as promised this column is calling on the relevant authorities to quickly address the developments at the Sion Hill Playing Field.

email: kingroache@yahoo.com