Cayman’s best youth talent is ready to storm Scotland.
The Cayman Islands Netball Association named its national 21 and Under team this week. Some 15 girls are on the roster, with 12 expected to make the trip to Glasgow for the World Youth Netball Championships this summer.
The roster consists of Alexis Carias, Kimberly David, Renee Lindo, Noviann McLean, Brittany Mobley, Hailee Robinson, Olivia Samuels, Charlotte Shepheard, Alexia Walton, Roxanne Walton, Sheynae Watson, Aaliyah Webb, Martika Williams, Terry-Ann Williams and Rosemarie Wilson. The team will be headed by national coach Gillian Lee.
The Australian, who doubles as technical director for Cayman netball, has said the girls will be ready.
“Players are understanding what it will take to play against the best,” Lee said. “We’re now organising match play against the best teams in Cayman and this will step us in the right direction toward being able to play internationally.
“We have many senior past national players here in Cayman who know what it takes to play internationally,” she added. “These players are being a great help in guiding our 21Us. Hopefully they are not only improving their netball skills, but their life skills also. The girls have to be very organised with their study, netball and family to balance everything each day.”
Initial tryouts took place last September at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex netball courts, attracting more than 25 girls. About three roster cuts took place during the last five months. Some of the ladies, like Wilson, 17, have prior national team experience due to playing for the 16U squad.
The world championships, happening between 22 and 31 August, take place every four years with the last event in the Cook Islands in 2009. Australia are the reigning champions, ahead of New Zealand and Jamaica. England and Bermuda will be among the 20 countries participating this year.
News of the 21U team selection comes as netball makes a greater push on youth development. This year sees a new Turtle Netters programme, starting in February, aimed at developing 14U talent.
The latest initiative is a netball week, which Lee said will reach out to local schools.
“For netball week, schools are offered to conduct netball every lunchtime for the week,” Lee said. “The sessions are conducted by great coaches. Schools that have had the programme so far are Prospect Primary School and Sir John A. Cumber Primary in West Bay. This week it is being conducted at Savannah Primary, with a teachers versus students game from 12.50 to 1.20pm this Friday, 8 March.
“The programme includes netball games, watching netball on TV and reading netball material.”
In addition to the youth segment, netball is doing new things with senior players as well – namely through regular indoor games. Tying into its “Women in Sport month,” the netball association is putting on a trio of 2013 Open League matches this Saturday, 9 March, at Camana Bay’s Arts and Recreation Centre.
At 5.40pm, All Stars B face Supa Storm in a plate division showdown. The championship group then takes centre stage as the Flames Strikers battle Unity at 7pm before Storm Radarz challenge Rising Stars A at 8.20pm.
Admission for Saturday’s games is $3 for adults with children under 13 free of charge.
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