THE TITLE went where it was destined, but was Blackman and Gollop’s retention of the Pine Hill Dairy Primary Schools Netball Championship as sweet as it should have been?
The question arises because this year’s tournament was by far the most controversial and disruptive in its history and the champions were caught in the centre of it through no fault of their own. They were the best unit by light years. Congratulations to them for depth and brilliance.
The organisers of the competition, the National Sports Council (NSC), have been called out on the issue and should shoulder the blame, although I think they set out to do their business with good intentions.
I mean if, as alleged, concerned parties agreed to one thing at a pre-tournament meeting, why would any of those who had signed on verbally to the plan in respect of the composition of so-called “B” teams, then have an apparent change of heart once competition began and set off controversial alarms that never ceased?
It was virtually six weeks of disputes and misery.
Out of the experience, the NSC would know to put everything in writing after having discussions with stakeholders about proposed change. In its absence, you position yourself to be manipulated and to be open to the threat of litigation.
Perhaps the other error made by the NSC, again with no ill will in mind, was having distinctions about who qualified to play in the A and B teams. I think if it’s an open competition, schools should be free to choose who they want in their line-ups.
In other words, you may very well get a Class Two or Class Three student who may have the ability and skills to play in an A team, why should that child be restricted to the B side? Isn’t that one way of stifling someone’s progress?
So let the children play irrespective of age and let those responsible for picking the teams do so based on their own discretion and not by any rule implemented by any organiser.
We all remember the case of shooter Sheniqua Thomas who was fast-tracked at age 11, just out of primary school, to represent Barbados in the regional Under-16 championships. She got the break because she was regarded as up to the standard required to compete at that level.
So, in some instances, rare as they might be, age is just another number. What matters is ability and the capability to execute against your peers and others.
Good standard
Mind you, Thomas has maintained a good standard of proficiency, having played for all of the age group teams and now she’s part of the squad going to the World Cup in Australia in August.
My point is that we must always have the bigger picture in mind no matter how good our intentions are. Children of primary schools age must be allowed to enjoy their respective sports without barriers that have some potential to stunt the growth of the precocious.
There are other scourges that come into play at this level, which have nothing to do with the organisers, but could also impact negatively on the development of individuals, both as players and as impressionable youngsters.
What does it do for personal development when experienced people and leaders often join the chorus and question the competence of those officiating games when decisions go against their team?
Do we think that kind of example goes through one ear and passes through the next without conditioning the psyche of students to think that because a “bad” ruling goes against them, the officials are against them? Far from, it becomes embedded in the culture of the sport and they take that belief with them as they get older.
You only have to attend games and hear the sideline banter from supporters that contributes to the negative antics of the players in competition.
Primary schools netball isn’t immune from this culture, so when you add some of the circumstances that unfolded in this year’s competition to that, it became a cocktail for confusion, finger pointing, malicious accusations and other negatives that only hurt the children who unwittingly became pawns in a power play that placed the sport in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
I saw Minister of Sports Stephen Lashley make an unprecedented intervention to solve one of the burning issues.
Will the sponsors feel they’re entitled to the same right when things get out of hand as they did this year and more than likely caused damage to their good name and brand?
Might the sponsors, who have been involved in the tournament for more than 30 years now reconsider their patronage for next year based on the controversies that overshadowed the court exchanges in 2015?
We would never have reached this juncture if we were focused on achieving overall goals rather than individual one. Bloated egos and stubbornness just didn’t work for primary schools netball this year.
• Andi Thornhill is an experienced, award-winning sports journalist. Email: andithornhill1@gmail.com
