Hanover netball coaches up their game

WHILE NETBALL isn’t the first sport you’d associate with the parish of Hanover, it was there that 32 coaches from western Jamaica listened keenly to Sunshine Girls coach, Sasher-Gaye Henry-Wright, talk about the vagaries of coaching.

The three-day seminar, held at Watson Taylor Park, ended on Tuesday.

Dr Garth Sommerville, president of Netball Hanover, which hosted Henry-Wright’s presentation, told The Gleaner the aim is to develop coaches and netball enthusiasts.

“Netball is dead,” pronounced Sommerville, who wants to revive the sport in the parish.

“We wanted to ensure that we empower and give the coaches the best understanding of the game and knowledge of how to coach it,” he added.

Netball Hanover was launched in December 2024 as part of Netball Jamaica’s bid to build out a nationwide structure for the sport.

The seminar initially targeted 20 coaches, but a surge in interest forced Netball Hanover to extend the number of invitations to 32.

Sommerville noted that the feedback has been positive.

In 2014, Henry-Wright won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Also a lecturer at G.C. Foster College in St Catherine, Henry-Wright said there was a lack of player development in rural Jamaica.

“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,” said Henry-Wright.

In addition, Henry-Wright stated that the knowledge and passion from experienced coaches can significantly impact newer coaches, which in turn will impact the youth.

Henry-Wright also used the seminar to clarify rules which have changed over the years.

Omroy Kerr, coach of Mount Alvernia High and Corinaldi Avenue Primary, a participant of the seminar, 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. Ms Henry-Wright coming here, cleared up some of the rules that were not clear,” said Kerr.

“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 appreciated the seminar.

“I am basically on my toes, even though I have been sitting,” said Brown jokingly.

“I can point to, for example, the introduction of new drills. As you can imagine, in netball the more drills you know, the more you can incorporate in the game.”