Screening for the national Under-23 and Under-16 netball teams resumed earlier this week in preparations for upcoming regional competitions in both categories.
The U-23s are set to compete at the Caribbean Cup and currently working under the guidance of an interim administrative team selected by the T&T Netball Association (TTNA).
Serving as coach is former national senior and junior player Sojourner Hyles, replacing previous interim coach international umpire Joel Young-Strong, with another former "Calypso Girl" Simone Morgan filling in as assistant coach. Former senior team manager Vanessa Forde is holding that same position while Wayne "Sammy" Samuel is the trainer.
The team is being prepared for the Caribbean Games (U-23 tournament) carded for Guadeloupe from June 29 - July 3.
The U-16 team the interim administrative team include former national netball captain Lystra Solomon-Simmons as coach, assistant coaches Kyla Keith and Liselle Johnson, trainer Steve Edwards and manager Grace Parkinson-Griffith, who is a former national senior coach.
The U-16 team will compete in the Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) Jean Pierre Junior Championships in Barbados. The development tournament will take place from April 9-17.
Both teams have screening sessions at the Nelson Mandela Park in St Clair, Port-of-Spain on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the the U-16s from 4.30 pm and the U-23s, from 5 pm - 7 pm.
The TTNA advised that the sessions are only opened to fully vaccinated players. Leagues and persons interested in being screened are invited to attend while observing the strict guidance of COVID-19 protocols at sessions and should walk with proof of vaccination.
All players are asked to wear white t-shirts and black shorts.
The deadline for applications for fill the technical staff - manager, coach, assistant coach, physiotherapist, psychologist, physical trainer and massage therapist - for both teams - closed on the weekend.
According to TTNA president the new coaching staff will be confirmed in the next three weeks.
<Four local umpires for OECS/ECCB Int'l Series>
In other news, four local umpires were selected to officiate at the second edition of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States/Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (OECS/ECCB) International Netball Series at the Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.
Young-Strong, Joel Brown, Lilia Mathurin-Cameron and Kanika Paul-Payne were among the officials announced by World Netball has announced the officials selected for the rescheduled Series from the February 11-19.
"I'm really looking forward to helping because that is what I'm doing as an IUA (International Umpires’ Award) now because I really indicated that I'm ready to retire and go to the other level which is ITP (International Testing Panel) which is coaching umpires of the world and I'm just holding on to help out the region because we lack umpires," said Young-Strong, who is looking forward to going to Dominica because that is one of the Caribbean countries that she has never visited.
She added: "I'm also looking forward to helping out the region in umpiring at the OECS/ECCB tournament."
According to a release from World Netball, organisers of the Series were forced to move the planned hosting of the postponed 2020 instalment of the U-23 competition from Antigua to Dominica due to a lack of ample and adequate facilities that would allow organisers to meet strict COVID-19 guidelines and protocols during matches.