The president of the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), Marva Bernard, said that the major goal of her administration was not only to produce the best netball team in the world, but also to stimulate the continued growth of the sport.

Addressing a luncheon of the Kiwanis Club of Kingston on Tuesday, Bernard said: "It is our aim to have all participants achieve team and individual goals. Consistency in team performance at the highest level is not always an easily achievable goal and is the result of great sacrifice by administrators and players alike."

She explained to those attending the function that a significant number of the national senior players were balancing school, university, family, work, club and national squad training and that it all revolved around discipline and commitment.

"Jamaica has excelled at the international level in spite of having to produce our teams and our star performers under conditions which are far inferior to those generally enjoyed by netballers, especially in developed countries," noted Bernard.

She sought to stress the importance of sport as a business and her association to conduct the affairs of the sport in that way, taking aim at becoming a market leader.

Bernard explained that to be market leader required a product of acceptable quality, competitive pricing and packaging highlighting the product's competitive advantages.

"To support these marketing strategies, the firm's advertising must be geared towards maximising product features.

"In a similar manner, the administration for netball has embarked on a long-term programme, which already began, directed primarily at improving the quality of our players and the standard of the game," she said.

"In addition, we have sought to ensure that netball receives maximum exposure and support from both the media and spectators, activities which can only improve the standard and competitive interest in the game at all levels, and in particular the performance of our national teams at the international levels," Bernard added.

BERNARD... it is our aim to have all participants achieve team and individual goals