For years, the Elite Netball League has faced the same criticism: Too few teams, not enough competition.

This year was no different as just four teams took the court — Manchester Spurs, St Catherine Racers, Kingston Hummingbirds, and St Ann’s Orchid — plus a development squad.

Karen Baugh, president of Netball Jamaica, said that’s about to change.

“Yes, well that is an area [that requires improvement]. We definitely have to go back to the drawing board. We have to make sure we have 10 to 11 players per team of the quality that will give good competition. We don’t want any blowout matches,” Baugh told the Jamaica Observer.

Baugh said that pathway for players is just as important as adding more teams to the league.

“But also, it helps with the pathway for the players who are coming through the system so that we can see the future stars and the future players. So we will continue to improve on the product as we move forward. Of course, that includes expansion,” Baugh said.

The 2026 NJ/Red Stripe Flavour Elite League ran for five weeks and doubled as preparation for upcoming international tournaments — Commonwealth Games and CAC Games.

“Well, it [the league] was five weeks of intense competition. As you know, we’re in tournament preparation here with two teams being prepared, so the fans got a chance to see a lot of the players who will be performing in those tournaments,” she said.

Baugh believes the league delivered what it set out to do.

“I think the season did what it was supposed to do. We got to see the competitive nature of our netball family. And we can only improve,” she said.

Team Manager Maureen Brown (with envelope in hand) along with Manchester Spurs players celebrate winning the Netball Jamaica/Red Stripe Flavour Elite League at the National Indoor Sports Sports Centre on July 5, 2026. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

The competition was tight throughout. Spurs eventually took the title after a dominant final performance against Kingston Hummingbirds.

“The games were very close. The final was not as close as you would have expected, but you never know what team turns up on the day. Spurs really trained and put together a good team, and they brought it right through to the finals. So all in all, I think we had a pretty good season,” Baugh stated.

She added that the league will also be reviewing its structure.

“We have to look at all of our rules, all the way that we draft players and the way that we make up the teams. I think they did a pretty good job.”

A major focus this year was youth as the development squad gave selectors a look at players ahead of the CAC Games.

“It’s been a testing ground for that especially when we’re in a tournament we have the development squad who participated in the first part. They are preparing for the CAC Games, and the selectors were looking at the teams.

“The squad had no strict age limit, but was built around Jamaica’s young talent. They are mostly some of them from the Under-21 team that went to the World Cup last year. So it’s a mix of those players, but some of them are younger than that.

“And there are some members of the senior squad who will join them for the CAC Games. But the development squad is mostly Under-21, Under-23 players,” Baugh said.

— Ruddy Allen