Seminars to aid better understanding of FastNet

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

The first of two Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) FastNet coaching seminars to improve and develop the standard of netball across the island will be held tomorrow at the National Indoor Sports Complex, starting at 9 a.m.

The seminar will be conducted by former Australian coach Jill McIntosh, who is in the island on a six-week visit. McIntosh will be assisted by national coach Connie Francis, Paula Daley-Morris, Yvonne Kong and Yvette Smith.

The second seminar will be held at the Montego Bay Boys' Club in St James on July 17. The cost to attend the seminar is $500, and according to JNA president Marva Bernard, the seminars are designed to help coaches to better understand the rules of the FastNet competition.

"FastNet is a new game that is going to remain on IFNA's (International Federation of Netball Associations) calendar," said Bernard. "Netball is going short and snappy and I believe it will mean that coaches, who probably won't be able to afford to go to England to see it, will get a heads-up as to what it is about."

"It is a new game and it will be good for netball, and so we have to really train our coaches to take the game to the international level," Bernard said.

Bernard added that McIntosh would be lecturing and giving her perspective on the new game and will also explain the rules.

"A lot of people will be drawn to it locally because it is short. It is like Twenty20 cricket, and so we will be able to get a lot more games in a short period of time, so I think it will be a good thing for netball," Bernard noted.

The Sunshine Girls captured the silver medal at the inaugural FastNet series which was held in London, England last October.