New Americas Netball boss intent on fast start
Bernard calls for support for Adams
Published:Sunday | October 16, 2022 | 12:10 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
AFTER PREVIOUSLY serving alongside outgoing Americas Netball president Marva Bernard, Dr Bridget Adams, will have the chance to lead the charge of regional netball as its new president.
Adams was elected at yesterday’s annual general meeting as the Netball World Cup Americas qualifiers begin today at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
Adams was elected unopposed as Barbados Netball Association president Nisha Craigwell withdrew her candidacy for the position. Adams was general secretary for the last four years as part of the executive team led by Bernard, who chose not to seek re-election.
A former netball player for Trinidad and Tobago, Adams is also a part of the International Netball Federation’s coaching advisory panel. Shirley Benjamin from Antigua and Barbuda will serve the body as its secretary.
Adams has pointed to a slew of work to be done, indicating that her administration would get the ball rolling right away.
“We have started working on several projects, governance, umpiring, coaching, table officiating, high performance, and so on, and there are some new ones that we would like to do. We would like to look at the development of the region and in developing the region we will be looking at under 14s, under 16s, under 19s going right up because recently it was announced at the Commomwealth Games that we will have a 14-19 age group Fast5 tournament in Trinidad & Tobago, and so we do not play Fast5 in that age group so we need to have a programme where we play Fast5 a little more often so the players will be familiar with what Fast5 is about.”
While reflecting on the progress made over the last four years, Bernard wished the new executive well, charging them to improve on what has been achieved to elevate the sport regionally.
“It has been a hard grind. But I did what I love and I did my best along with the team that made Americas Netball build on what we got four years ago. I hope that the new executive will recognise why (they put themselves up for office), go out there and make a difference, building on what some of them have already done and ask that our members support them and encourage them,” Bernard told The Sunday Gleaner.
A Jamaican will be on Adam’s new executive team as Netball Jamaica Vice President Simone Forbes was elected first vice president, beating out incumbent Mary Webb of Canada and Patrick Herron of the United States.
While thankful for the faith placed in her by the membership, Forbes said the main focus will be to improve the standard of netball in the region with more teams in the top-10. Jamaica is currently the only team from the Americas among the best teams in the region.
“I know that there are several things that the new executive will be looking at. I will wait until the first meeting of the executive for us to look through what are those plans for the next four years and what she would like me to lead,” Forbes said. “I know a big part of it looking at improving netball in the region. Currently, we only have one country in the top-10. If you look at the other regions they have three or four and we are used to having that. I know that is one of the big things that the executive will be looking at.”
Bernard said she was excited about what Forbes has to offer, with her vast playing career servings as strong background, as well as her administrative experience at the local level.
“I have been watching her since she has been a young player representing Jamaica, giving back to the sport. So, today (yesterday) was heartwarming, and a good way to go out,” Bernard said.