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Netball Hanover shooting to revive sport - 32 coaches participate in three-day seminar at Watson Taylor Park
July 31, 2025
In an effort to revive the sport in the parish, 32 coaches from western Jamaica were eager to learn from a three-day clinic hosted by Netball Hanover.
Former national player and coach of the Sunshine Girls, Sasher-Gaye Henry-Wright, was the presenter at the seminar held at Watson Taylor Park in Lucea, which ended on Tuesday.
Dr Garth Sommerville, president of Netball Hanover told STAR Sports that the aim is to develop coaches and netball enthusiasts.
"Netball is dead," stated Dr Sommerville, who wants to revive the sport in the parish.
"We wanted to ensure that we empower and give the coaches the best quality of understanding of the game and how to coach it before any competition," he added.
Netball Hanover, which was launched in December 2024, targeted 20 coaches for the seminar, but owing to the great interest, they were forced to extend the invitation to other parishes.
Dr Sommerville noted that the feedback has been positive and overwhelmingly beneficial.
In 2014, Henry-Wright won a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland as a Sunshine Girl.
Also a lecturer at G C Foster College in St Catherine, Henry-Wright said there is a lack of player development in the rural area.
"We want to see where netball becomes a big thing in this area. "In terms of our national development, we don't have much recruiting that we can do in this area," said Henry-Wright, who presented practical and theoretical techniques for a better understanding of the game.
"There are a lot of times we have people in the rural areas we have seen and they are the ones out there on the international arena," she added.
As a rural area with untapped potential in schools and communities, Hanover seeks to realign netball in Jamaica.
In addition, Henry-Wright stated that the knowledge and passion from experienced coaches can significantly impact the local coaches, who in turn will impact the youths.
The seminar aimed at building skill development, relationships, contributing to national netball growth and holistic athlete development.
Clarifying netball rules, some of which have changed, Omroy Kerr, coach of Mount Alvernia High and Corinaldi Avenue Primary highlighted the value of learning new aspects of familiar subjects.
"I am satisfied because there are a lot of things that we are learning that we thought we knew. Miss Henry-Wright coming here cleared up some of the rules that were not clear," said Kerr, who is happy for the experience to be at the seminar.
"As a coach you need to be on par with what is happening in the current rule book. For the aspiring coaches it is very good for them also. When umpires make certain calls, you can get the full understanding," he added.
Meanwhile, Christina Brown, an aspiring coach said she appreciates the seminar as a development package bringing together coaches from various regions.
"I am basically on my toes, even though I have been sitting," said Brown jovially. "I can point to, for example, the introduction of new drills. As you can imagine in netball, the more drills you know, it is incorporated in the game."
