Coach shoots for neutral schoolgirl netball courts

WITH THE second round of the ISSA Rural Schoolgirl Netball competition just a few days away from its start, veteran coach and coach of Denbigh High school, Winston Nevers, is calling for the organisers to play matches on proper netball courts as well as at neutral venues.

The competition will begin on Saturday with games across five venues, Manchester High School being one of them Nevers has pointed out that can create an unfair advantage.

Manhester are the defending rural area junior champions.

“For the past three years, I have been talking about the netball court, the multipurpose court that has the post off the court, and I would like to see that change, especially seeing that we are developing netball in this country and netball is going places,” said the outspoken Nevers.

“I personally would like to see quarterfinals, semi-finals, and finals played on a court that the post is definitely on the court and not off the court, plus where the rim is not too far away from the post. When we play matches at Manchester High, they also have a big advantage playing at home because if you practise where these posts are, off the court, it helps you as they are used to it, and I think these matches should be played at neutral venues,” Nevers continued.

“I definitely want to see a change, and these matches must be played at either GC Foster College or at the Stadium, or neutral grounds, on courts that can be played on. If we are developing netball in the country, we need to do the right thing,” he said.

Fourteen matches, seven among juniors and the same among seniors, will be played in the next round when action gets under way this Friday at five venues.