Good, but better is needed in netball

The Dellarice Duncan led executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association should at least tap themselves on the shoulder for a better run national club tournament than in previous years.{{more}}

On the surface at least, it was an improvement on previous tournaments, as the interest seemed to have been maintained for most of the competitions.

If it were a conscious effort to do better, then kudos to those who made the extra input.

Surely, a reduction in the number of participating teams could have been a contributing factor to the relative improvement of the general administration, as you heard of fewer matches being won or lost by default.

One also cannot fault those with the responsibility to get the information out, using various forms of the media.

The executive of the SVGNA has another opportunity to impress when it holds its presentation and closing ceremony on June 26.

This is indeed another of the pluses, as it has moved away from the traditional format of staging the ceremony at the end of the final match, namely the final of the Division One Knockout.

Therefore, this ceremony should put the icing on the cake for the national netball season.

But, while one lauds the executive for a good show off the court, one should not be satisfied that the standard of the sport is getting better.

There still exists that gap among the outfits in Division One, as Vita Malt Maple and Western Union Mitres remain entrenched as the two top teams, with no real challengers on the horizon.

Not taking away from the success of Maple for playing unbeaten in the top flight – Division One, but several pointers are instructive as to where we are at the local level.

It is well known that Maple has been one of the most stable netball units over many years, with current players racking up close to thirty years with the organisation.

Additionally, the players are past their best, albeit they are still good technically and tactically.

Then, if such a group of players can still outwit the core of players who represent St Vincent and the Grenadines at the senior level, our status can still be questioned.

St Vincent and the Grenadines still holds its own at the sub-regional Under-23 level, but at the lower age group we are struggling.

Similarly, through a combination of factors, our appearance on the regional scene has been a mere trickle of participation, thus causing us not to attain a world ranking.

But of gravest concern though, is that we are no longer the team to beat at the annual Windward Islands Schools’ Games.

This points to the need for a crusade to get young players engaged in the sport, as they are not gravitating to netball naturally.

It may mean the executive utilizing its personnel and those of other affiliates to go to the various communities and seek to unearth talents and groom and prune them.

Such disseminators must be the best available at passing on the knowledge and techniques to the young and impressionable girls, as indeed some of them receive coaching, but it is not always correct.

Also, the primary school competition, which unfortunately was not staged this year, must acquire greater meaning, not just for having one on the schools’ calendar.

At the other end of the tier, the Division One competition has to see some changes in its formatting, as the current one has become mundane.

Instead of the league format which currently obtains, the four top teams can then go forward to a play-off, with the final being the best of three.

Here the best players will get outlets to oppose each other for a better pay-out than what they get in the present set-up.

Such attractive prize monies should inspire and get the best from the players.

It must be work in progress in getting back to some semblance of respectability at national acceptance of netball as the premier sport for females in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

There is a flicker of hope, but that must be ignited into a brighter flame, starting with those who possess the fuel of administration.