Netball Hanover shooting to revive sport Parish body hosting three-week grass-roots camp

etball Hanover is seeking to revive the game through its first-ever free three-week netball camp for children aged nine to 14.

Beyond teaching the fundamentals of the sport, organisers said the initiative aims to foster a lifelong appreciation for netball and believes that starting sports at a young age is crucial for skill development.

“Any sports that you’re going to do, the younger the starting age for the student is the better the skill will develop into adult life,” said Dr. Garth Sommerville, chairman of the Netball Hanover, the parish’s governing body for the sport.

“The goal is to lay the foundation in a proper way, so when they reach to the higher level, that foundation, they’re only developing on the skills,” added Sommerville.

The second session of the camp will take place on Saturday, July 11, and the final day on Saturday, July 18, starting at 11 a.m.

“Netball in Hanover is dead, and we want to develop netball here. We want to go into the minds of the children, and want them to be interested before we start the adult competitions,” said Sommerville.

The series of camps is catered for 50 students, but over-subscribed with 57 registrants.

According to Sommerville, the camp is planned to be an annual event, taking place every summer, so the children can appreciate netball.

“Our expectation is to give the students enough knowledge. We will let them go through the fun of it, so they can appreciate netball and live netball throughout their life,” said Sommerville, who was among those training the students.

Coaches from various communities such as Westmoreland, Hanover, and Montego Bay are involved.

Schools confirmed are Bethel Primary, Lucea Primary, Esher Primary, Sandy Bay Primary, Riverside All-Age, Knockalva Technical High, while others from Middlesex could still join.

The camp is currently only for females, but it is not designed exclusively for females.

Eleven-year-old Nishan Ross, a student of Esher Primary, anticipates gaining knowledge on netball while enjoying the camp experience.

“I feel great to be here for the first time Hanover is having a camp. I expect to learn the things that I don’t know and some new things the camp will teach us,” said Ross.

“I think the camp is something good and I feel excited that I am gonna have fun and play netball,” added Ross.

As for Diana Gopaulsingh, one of the camp’s trainers who was in an accident on the morning the competition was launched, she aims to develop the skills of the young players so they can represent their schools and clubs.

“Some have played before, but we have beginners here, and when we develop them, they can represent their school in the future. They can represent their club, and can play for under-14 (teams) and eventually compete in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) netball competition,” said Glospaulsingh, who is committed to elevating the profile of netball in Hanover.

The former Manning’s School staff member, who has extensive experience in the sport, have travelled globally and umpired in various locations in Hanover.

“I was in a vehicle accident on the day and the first thing that came to my mind is that I have netball and I may not be able to make it to the camp,” she said.

“Our aim is to work with them to the best of our ability to develop their skills so that Hanover can come back on the map,” added Gopaulsingh.

The free camp is sponsored by Grand Palladium Resorts, Tryall and Hedonism Foundation, which covers food, balls, shoes, and T-shirts.