National Fast-5 Netball gets underway

The 2024 St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association’s National Fast-5 Tournament opened last Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Kingstown Netball Centre, with the usual parade of teams and addresses, and with two matches played.

Police Youth Club Ball Blazers defeated the Combined Team 36 – 13; and in a male encounter, X-Ceed Knights lost to Maca Crushers 13 – 39.

The tournament is another avenue for the top teams and players to compete, and involves the teams that competed in the national club championship, president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association (SVGNA), Natasha Baptiste said during her address. Teams from Division 1, along a Combined Team made up of the top three teams from Division 2, combined to form Division 1 for the Fast-5 tournament.

Baptiste further explained that the top three teams from Divisions 3 and 4, were combined to form the Fast-5 Division 2. However if any of those teams are unable to accept the invitation, it can be extended downwards to include other teams.

Along with these teams will be a male division in the tournament that will be played for about 10 days, with the conclusion scheduled for Saturday, November 23, 2024.

“There have been rule changes internationally which will be implemented in this year’s tournament,” Baptiste said, adding that the new rules will make for even more interesting games.

Minister of Sports, Orando Brewster, told the gathering, “…as you are aware, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been doing extremely well in the sporting discipline of netball, and in order for us to do well, we must make sure that we develop our grass roots programmes. We must also make sure that we have active tournaments across our country, and this is a part of doing so”.

Brewster cautioned the players to carry themselves “in a professional and a sporting manner”.

I know netball is a contact game, and at times emotions will flare, but at all times, I’m asking you to try your best to control your emotion as it relates to your opponents and also those who are in charge of the matches, the umpires,” he added.