JAMAICA’S senior Sunshine Girls have long been a source of national pride, consistently delivering impressive performances on the international netball stage. However, according to Head Coach Sasha-Gaye Henry, the team’s future is far from guaranteed.

Henry, a veteran player with a wealth of experience and expertise, has been at the helm of the Sunshine Girls since early this year. With her keen eye for talent and her deep understanding of the sport, she has identified several key areas that require urgent attention if Jamaica is to maintain its competitive edge.

One of the most pressing concerns, according to Henry, is the need for broader scouting of players, particularly in rural areas.

“We’re not exposing a lot of these rural students, so we need to have more scouting going on in the rural areas because they do have talent down there,” Henry told the Jamaica Observer.

“I think that’s a limitation because there are always trials in Kingston, so we need to provide it [trials] in all the different areas so we can actually spot talent and see where we can grow as a country in terms of netball,” Henry further stated.

Henry’s concerns extend beyond player development. She also stressed the importance of coaches’ development, citing the need for standardised training and certification across the board.

She said she wants all coaches to be on the same level, with the same qualifications and expertise, as this will ensure that the players receive consistent, high-quality training — regardless of where they are in the country.

“We also have to look at coaches’ development, so you want to have all the coaches across the board — level one, level two, level three. So the fact that ISSA, where anybody can coach, it then limits it and so I think there needs to be agreement between ISSA and Netball Jamaica to have all these coaches at a certain level.

“So that the development of the players will be much greater… having that accreditation, having those coaches all on the same level, will definitely improve the performance of the girls,” Henry noted.

The lack of resources and funding is a major hurdle that Netball Jamaica faces in its efforts to develop the sport. Henry is adamant that corporate Jamaica must step up to support the sport which has done so much for female empowerment and development in Jamaica.

“It comes down to resources. It comes down to funding. Can Netball Jamaica afford to have all these players, and all these programmes, and pay all these coaches? They are not in a position [to do that], no,” Henry said.

“And I think JMMB has done a great job in terms of coaches’ development, and it’s something that we just need more corporate sponsors to come on board and assist these ladies. I mean, this sport does so much for females in Jamaica — and I’m a living testimony and so many other players.

“I mean, we started from at least 13 years old and then we are now coaches, teachers, and administrators, so it’s good. It would be lovely if we would have more corporate sponsors just to buy into the programme and just support our female sport which has done so well over the years,” Henry further explained.

As Henry looks to the future she is cautiously optimistic. The recent introduction of a pathway programme, which includes under-16 and under-21 teams as well as the ‘A’ squad, is a positive step. However, Henry knows there is still much work to be done.

“We have started the pathway programme so there’s the under-16 programme, under-21 programme, there’s the A squad, which is good. I think that Netball Jamaica and all of us have to look at how we are going to actually be able to scout all around the island,” Henry concluded.

Jamaica’s Shanice Beckford in action during the fourth and final game of the Horizon Netball Series against England at National Indoor Sports Centre on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. (Collin Reid)

HENRY… we need to have more scouting going on in the rural areas because they do have talent down there (Photo: Karl Mclarty)