1 month ago
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The Netball Jamaica Elite League takes a break this weekend for the Red Stripe Flavours Netball Jamaica (NJ) Fast5 Festival today and tomorrow at the Leila Robinson Courts.
Ten teams divided into two groups will contest the preliminaries today, starting at 2:30 p.m., with the top two teams from each group to contest the semifinals on Sunday, starting at 4:30 p.m.
Zone A will consist of 5 Global, Blue Falcon, Panthers, Confluence Rockerz and Fierce 5 while Liguanea Stars, Net Ninja, Net Storms, Smurfs and United Warriors will make up Zone B.
Netball Jamaica president Karen Baugh said the tournament will include mixed teams (males and females) and promises much excitement and entertainment over the two days.
“It is a part of the Elite League season, so players will spread out among the different teams. It is just for this weekend and then we will complete the Elite League next week. Each team must have two males, because it is mixed teams. There will be a round-robin in each zone and then the top two teams go to the semifinal on Sunday,” explained Baugh. “The league is always played on Fridays and Sundays but this is a short tournament and we wanted it to be back-to-back days. Saturday, Sunday.
“The coaches from the Elite League have been putting together their teams and it’s a mix of men plus other players from outside the Elite League. So we are anticipating two intense and exciting days of competition.”
Baugh noted that the Fast5 format has only been played once before locally, and that her administration wants to make the format a more common feature of local netball.
“I have only known of one that we’ve ever had before but we are trying to give the players and the spectators an experience of all the formats of the game. We are trying to diversify a little bit, and bring some more excitement to the space,” she continued.
She added that local netball lovers will truly enjoy this version of the sport, and the competition over the weekend.
“You have the two-pointers which is a feature throughout. It is not just at the end, like in the league. There is a power play segment, where your points are doubled. So there is a two-pointer and a three-pointer.
“The games are short. Each game is just under half an hour long. Four six minutes quarters and we are following World Netball Fast5 rules.
“So we are expecting an exciting and short series and the inclusion of the males will add another element, as it will make it a bit more physical and much faster,” she added.
The teams will be battling for cash prize of $150,000.
English (US) ·