Netball Jamaica (NJ) conducted its lottery to select the six Berger Elite League teams for the second year of the competition.

The lottery took place last Wednesday night at the Netball House in Kingston.

The league is set to start on Friday at the Leila Robinson courts with all six teams playing in round one. The teams are defending champions Kingston Humming Birds, first runners-up St Catherine Racers, St James Sharpes, Manchester Spurs, Clarendon Gaters and St Ann Orchids.

The league will feature all members of the Sunshine Girls squad that are in training for this year’s Netball World Cup with three players per team.

St Ann Orchids, who came last in 2014, will have returning player Simone Forbes, Shanice Beckford and Adean Thomas, along with Giselle Allison, Kayan Cousins, Kimono Tulloch, Odette Harris, Sasha Lee Wallen, Suzanne Douglas, Titanya Blackstock and Shantal Reid. They will be coached by Conrad Parks and Rohan Robinson, both new coaches to the team.

Defending champions Kingston Humming Birds will have Thristina Harwood, Stacian Facey and Mellisa Josephs, along with Nardina Wilson, Mellisa Wright, Kimesha Sterling, Monique Emery, Shanique McFarlane, Kimberly Thomas, Nalika Watson and Kerry-Ann Brown. The coaches will be Marvette Anderson and Roy Pryce. Winning head coach Chris Campbell did not return. He will now be on the umpires panel.

St Catherine Racers, who will be looking to go all the way this year, will have the services of Anna-Kay Griffiths, Malysha Kelly and Khadijah Williams, as well as Tashike Salmon, Samantha White, Jamila Tulloch, Nordia Hanson, Ladonna Lamoth, Shanton Matheson, Shalloy Walker and Shakera Beckford. The coaching staff of Christopher Smart and Natacia Nembhard returns.

St James Sharpes were the only team to beat Kingston Humming Birds last year and will be led by Paula Thompson, Sasher-Gaye Henry and Deneen Taylor, along with Tanisha Edwards, Denise Smith, Jodi-Ann Ffrench, Marion Campbell, Denise Brown, Staci-Ann Griffiths, Kessna Francis and Nicole Cousins. Jennifer Brown and Phyllis Thompson return to the coaching staff.

Manchester Spurs, who threatened to go all the way last year, will have Vangelee Williams, Shantal Slater and Nicole Dixon, as well as Crystal Grant, Shanice Howe, Trishelle Williams, Jolian Buckle, Camilla Brown. Trishana Hanson, Zonasha Hinds and Chantel Campbell. Coach Carline Graham returns, while Tracy Griffiths gets her first stint on the bench as assistant coach.

Clarendon Gaters, who did not perform up to expectations in year one, will feature Nicole Aiken-Pinnock, Kasey Evering and Simone Gordon, along with Claudia Callender, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Tracy-Ann Robinson, Trudiane Campbell, Apryl Thompson, Suzette Case, Tricia Brown and Charlene Grossett. Dalton Hinds and Valerie Blake will share the coaching services.

The colours for the teams are Manchester Spurs — grey and red; Kingston Humming Birds — pink and white; St James Sharpes — burgundy and yellow; Clarendon Gaters — red and blue; St Catherine Racers — blue and dark blue, and St Ann Orchids — purple and yellow.

Matches will be played at several venues across the island including GC Foster College and NCU in Mandeville to make use of the wooden surfaces, which are better for the players in terms of preventing injuries. Matches will be played on Friday evenings except for those at NCU.

Sponsors for the league are Berger, Wata, Courts, Spanish Court, JUTC, Image One and Crimson Dawn.