JAMAICA’S Molly Rhone will continue her reign as president of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) for another four years after being nominated unopposed for the post at the upcoming election of the sport’s world governing body to be held this July in Singapore.

Rhone, who was first elected to the top position at a Congress held at the World Netball Championships (WNC) in Kingston in 2003, was reelected for two years in 2005.

At the last Congress held in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2007, the tenure of presidency was extended from two to four years, meaning this will be Rhone’s fourth term as head of IFNA.

The Jamaican is already the longest-serving president of the world netball body, and told the Observer she feels honoured to be considered worthy to serve for another four years.

“I think it’s a great honour, not just for me, but for my country Jamaica and it gives one an opportunity not only for netball, but also to work for my country,” she said.

“I didn’t get any feedback as to why nobody wanted to run, but I certainly have got some congratulatory messages and some people saying, ‘I think you’re doing a good job’.

“If I wasn’t being assessed by my membership and I wasn’t doing a good job, I’m sure somebody else would be up against me,” she added.

The former Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) boss said while there were some things she was able to achieve during the last seven years — including helping netball become officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee as an Olympic sport, seeing the sport grow by 75 per cent, the addition of the FASTNET version of the game, and the new governance structure — there was still work to be done.

“I think there’s more work that I would like to do,” Rhone said.

“I’ve sort of been monitoring myself, the growth and development of the sport and I think there is time (for introspection) and I think one needs to do an assessment of oneself where you’re in a position and there is more work that I’d like to do.”

The plans Rhone and the IFNA board have for the next four years include marketing the sport, participating in more multisport events and growing the sport outside of the commonwealth.

“It’s not easy to market women’s sports as we have discovered, but that’s our new thrust,” Rhone said. “A lot of people see us as a Commonwealth sport and we are now more than that.”

IFNA is now a member of the World University Sports Organisation and is aiming to become part of the Asian Games.

In addition, the membership has grown to include Bahrain, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, and Argentina while applications have also been received from Austria and Brunei to become associate members.

Meanwhile, JNA president, Marva Bernard — who was finance director of IFNA — has decided not run for the position again.

Bernard had submitted a nomination but later withdrew citing her duties with the Jamaican body as reason.

“I need to spend more time with my family and with the JNA. I’m looking at my tenure with the JNA and I have been on the international board since 1999 and I think I have served long enough to step aside now,” Bernard told the Observer of her decision not to run.

“JNA is at a point now where I think it needs a lot more. JNA now needs me more so for now I will concentrate on JNA and my family. (And) you must serve and give other people an opportunity to refresh themselves,” she added.

Rhone leaves Jamaica for Singapore on June 24 for IFNA board meetings on June 30 and July 1. Congress is set for the second and third while elections will be held on the third, the same day the 2011 WNC begins.