NETBALL AROUND THE WORLD

Australian club side the South East Demons (pictured) have arrived in Vanuatu ahead of three test matches against the islands’ national team, which start tomorrow (Saturday). In addition to the competitive matches, Demons players and management will also be holding a series of coaching workshops for players of all ages, as well as passing on coach education across the country.

Also in Vanuatu, the country’s first Vanuatu Beach Games will take place on 29 November, featuring Beach Volleyball alongside the country’s first Beach Netball competition. Proceeds from the tournament will contribute to the cost of Vanuatu’s planned tour to Australia in 2011, as well as the Beach Volleyball side’s future plans.

Jamaica Netball Association president Marva Barnard has this week confirmed that the Association has approached former Australia coach Jill McIntosh with a view to her joining the coaching team for the Sunshine Girls in the run up to the World Championships in 2011. McIntosh, who won multiple World titles both as a player and coach, recently spent six weeks in Jamaica working with local coaches in the Jamaica Award Netball Coaching certification programme. Contractual details are still to be finalised, but the JNA is confident that McIntosh will be in post from February 2011 for a five month period.

In Pakistan, the Karachi Girls Netball Cup is now under way. Organised by the Sindh Netball Association in association with the Pakistan Netball Federation, the competition features teams from across the region, with the finals to be concluded this weekend.

The Netball Association of Ghana (NAG) is holding a special one day tournament this weekend in Kaneshie Accra as part of the country’s preparations for future international competitions. The “Pure Joy Netball Tournament”, sponsored by TT Brothers Ltd, will feature teams from across the country, and is also aimed at increasing awareness of and participation in netball throughout Ghana.

Congratulations to IFNA Vice President Kereyn Smith, who has been appointed secretary general of the NZ Olympic Committee. The tenth person appointed to the role, Smith will lead the country's Olympic and Commonwealth sport into the new decade and will be the first woman in charge of the organisation.

Finally, Sylvester Campbell, Jamaica’s top umpire, has announced that the recent Delhi Commonwealth Games will probably be his last international tournament. Campbell, who has officiated at the top levels of the game for the past 20 years, has not ruled out overseeing home internationals, but believes that the time is now right for him to step aside from major competitions.