Phyllis Thompson, head coach of Jamaica’s Under-21 netball team, is leaving no stone unturned as she gets ready to prepare her squad for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC2025).

Following their impressive win at the 2024 Americas Qualifiers in Guadeloupe in July, Thompson recognises the need for comprehensive preparation to enhance the team’s performance.

“All the areas need preparation, all the areas,” Thompson told the Jamaica Observer.

“There are always things that can be added to the different things. I just think that every area needs some form of preparation, some form of adjustment, some form of added information, added things in order to make it better than it was,” she further explained.

The young Sunshine Girls qualified for the NWYC2025 after an unbeaten run in Guadeloupe, culminating in a 54-29 victory over Barbados in the final.

Thompson said that the team’s mindset was to go to the qualifying tournament to win, and they achieved that goal through hard work. The strategy, she said, was to focus on defence, which proved to be their strength, with Roxanne McLean, the captain, consistently performing well and being recognised as Most Valuable Player in many matches.

“It is a good feeling to know that we qualify for the World Cup. I am elated. Well, the mindset that we had, we went there to win and we did, because we put in the work. And the strategy that we do, we started with everybody.

Despite not being in training at the moment, Thompson is confident in her team’s ability to excel at the NWYC2025, citing their dedication and commitment to representing Jamaica.

“I think the girls have a strong chance of doing their best,” Thompson said.

“I just feel that they will just go there and do their best. I am not going to say the position now in which we will finish, but I know that they will go out there and execute well, because you know that we as Jamaicans, every time we go out there and represent our country, we’re going to give it our all,” she said.

The NWYC2025, taking place in Gibraltar from September 19-28, will feature 20 teams competing in the pinnacle of netball competition for emerging players under 21. Jamaica’s last podium finish at the NWYC was third behind winner New Zealand and second-placed Australia in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2013.

Thompson recognised the prominent position of netball in Jamaica and emphasised the importance of maintaining its high standard. She acknowledges the need for continuous improvement to preserve its status as one of the top sports in the country.

“Well, we are always up there as it relates to netball in the country. We just have to try to maintain it and try to make things better in order to keep what we have. Netball is one of the top sports in Jamaica, and so netball is always among the best,” Thompson said.