National Clubs Netball shoots off this Sunday at Nutricia Netball Centre

This coming Sunday, March 22, 2025, the Nutricia Netball Centre at New Montrose, will echo once again with the sound of competitive netball, this time with the opening of the 2025 National Club Championships. President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association, Natasha Baptiste, made this announcement at a press briefing on Tuesday March, 4, 2025 at the Carnival Development Corporation’s conference room.

“Patrons coming to the opening on the 22nd of March at the Kingstown Netball Centre can expect nothing but excitement,” Baptiste stated.

“We have a total of 30 teams that are expected to compete in the tournament, spread across the five division-, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, the Vitamalt Youth Development Division, and the Coastal Adrenaline Male Division,”Baptiste outlined.

With only two divisions sponsored, Baptiste is hoping “to see all our divisions sponsored so that we can offer more to our athletes”.

She therefore threw out an appeal to Corporate SVG “ to come on board with us to ensure that our athletes are duly compensated as they showcase their skills on the court”.

A new feature will be the availability of season tickets.

The Netball Association president said the reason behind this is so that “persons can buy weekly or monthly season tickets that would secure their space at the Kingstown Netball Centre, not having to worry every day to pay at the gate”.

Baptiste also noted that the association is committed to the growth of youth Netball as this will ensure the future of the sport, so an incentive will be offered.

“This year, once again, our secondary school graduate netballer will have the opportunity to receive a two-year scholarship at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College to continue their educational development,” Baptise noted.

“ Additionally, for our Youth Development Division, the most promising player in that division will receive a Junior Savers account at the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, compliments, the St. Vincent Brewery Limited.”

In addition to this Sunday’s National Club Championships, a semi-professional netball league is expected to commence in mid-May, 2025.

“We are excited about both tournaments which provide an avenue for our elite players- both females and males- to showcase their skills. We have earmarked 2025 as our year of development. This started with our executive having a retreat to discuss the way forward for 2025 and to start our road to World Cup, 2027.”

She said “2026 will see us competing to be amongst the top three countries in the region to qualify for the World Cup in Australia.”