By Charmaine Austin, Staff ReporterA NUMBER of people in the local netball fraternity perceive that a bias exists as it relates to the selection of players to the national netball programme.
They believe that a player cannot become a national representative unless she plays for either Jamalco or Waulgrovians but in-depth research has proved however that it is just that a perception.
And an incorrect one at that as the result of the data gathered has revealed that there is in fact no bias.
Reacting to the allegation, Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) president Sharon Donaldson said: "There is no bias. If it seems that players are chosen from a certain club or area it is because they have an organisation that is working. We send invitations out to all the local associations and the ones that are interested respond.
"As for the actual selection of a player, this is done on an individual basis," she said.
However, Winston Nevers, who coaches Open League champion team Jamalco, believes there is a bias.
"Personally, I don't think the association is working as hard as it should right now to recruit talent from the rural areas. There are very good players in Westmoreland, Manchester, St Catherine and the other parishes," Nevers said.
REPRESENTATIVES
"There is indeed a bias. My club is one that boasts a high number of national representatives and it seems to be a natural progression that players come from any of the top two clubs. I normally see talented players and recruit them but there are other talented players out there who are overlooked because they have to fend for themselves," he said.
Data from player profiles between the period of November 1994 and today have shown that the majority of national representatives on the senior team are indeed from the island's top two clubs.
A number of these players including captain Oberon Pitterson, Nichala Gibson, Margaret Byfield, Nadine Bryan and Tasha Morgan, transferred from their original clubs to join those two camps.
NO BIAS
Waulgrovians' coach, Patrick Brissett, whose club has dominated local netball competitions for more than 13 years, said: "I'm positive there is no bias. The real problem is that people from the smaller clubs don't normally last because they are not willing to work hard. Not just in senior squad but in the junior squad as well.
"Who gets selected is who works hard and demonstrates commitment. Selection is not done on the basis of club affiliation but on individual merit so if only Waulgrovians or Jamalco players work hard to meet the desired requirements, or whatever club for that matter, then they will get selected to wear the national colours."
NEW PLAYERS
As if to prove Brissett's point, seven new players were recruited to join the national senior squad after a recent trial and they were all from different clubs - Hamphsire, Progressive Strikers, Jetsetters, DP Raiders, Arnett Gardens and Molynes United.
"Talent is what the selectors are looking for. Not who represents what club," Brissett added.
The JNA, meanwhile, recently decided to host two national trials next month in an effort to identify junior and senior players from the rural areas.
According to a press release from the JNA Secretariat, these players will form the nucleus of two regional squads and increase the pool of talent available for the national programme.
