Thirty young netballers last Saturday embarked on an exercise put on by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association (SVGNA).{{more}}

The programme is part of the national Netball body’ s thrust to train young netballers with life skills, with the hope of assisting in turning things around in the sport.

Launched under the theme “Your Life, Your Health, Make it right”, the programme got off in earnest last Saturday morning at the Kingstown Netball Centre, with an official opening ceremony.

Addresses came from President of the Association, Godfrey Harry; Youth Officer, Carlos Williams; Director of Physical Education and Sports, Nelson Hillocks, and Junior Minister with responsibility for Sports, Senator Cecil Mc Kie.

All the speakers encouraged the youths to stay with the programme, not only to develop their Netball skills, but also to gain much needed social graces.

Harry told SEARCHLIGHT that the youth committee, which is headed by former stalwart Netball administrator Sonja Lewis, has the mandate to seek out new players and get them into the Netball fold.

Harry also stated that the committee has the added responsibility to look into the players’ personal development.

He said that over the years, many young netballers have fallen out of the sport, because they did not have the right type of help and mentorship.

The past decade has seen a steady decline in this country producing quality players at the junior level, with the rounded attributes needed for a resurgence of this country back to the top of Caribbean Netball.

Harry is hopeful that over time this, among the other objectives, will be achieved.

He said that at present, the main focus is getting the young players to understand that their attitude is paramount in their achieving altitude.

The programme caters for young girls between the ages of 12 and 16 years.

Also last Saturday, the SVGNA was the recipient of a quantity of balls, handed over to them by Hillocks. (RT)