by SHERRYLYN A. TOPPIN

AS A MAN thinketh in his heart, so he is.

With those words, Barbados Netball Association (BNA) president Octavia Gibson outlined their major short- and long-term goals during the opening ceremony for the 2010 season last Saturday at the Netball Stadium, Waterford, St Michael.

"We can succeed. Our senior team can be No. 2 in the region. They can be in the Top Ten in the world. Our coaches can be developed. Our administrators can be trained and coached to be the best in the region," Gibson said.

"Our Under-16 team can remain at No. 2 or even go to No. 1 in this region. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us."

During her remarks, the president outlined a hectic season that got underway early to facilitate the staging of the Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) Jean Pierre Under-16 Competition here from April 8 to 18.

She apologised to the clubs for the early start, acknowledging that many had been affected because they were self-funded, but the BNA had learnt many lessons from taking this route.

Matches start on February 15, but the season will break on March 31, from Easter through the junior tournament. A general meeting on April 21 will signal its resumption, with matches starting two days later.

This season's matches will be used as tests and training for the various officials.

The senior team will take part in the Americas Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) qualifiers for the 2011 World Netball Championships in St Lucia in July, and then at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, as the 11th ranked in the world.

Meanwhile, coaches will soon be able to get their certification when officials from CNA/AFNA and the world body IFNA will visit Barbados and the rest of the region to launch the Regional Online Coaching Certification.

Gibson, who is an IFNA director, told the audience that practical sessions would be held, but theory and the examination would be done online. She encouraged coaches to take advantage, as the BNA would soon be moving towards certified coaches, even at the club level.

Prizes and awards were distributed for last season's efforts. CO Williams Rangers (Senior); Kiwi United Ballers (Intermediate 5 and 6) and Pine Hill St Barnabas (Intermediate 3 and 4) were the double crown champions.

Special awards were given to Henderson Cox, the retired caretaker who had affectionately earned the nickname "Tubby de Guard", as well as Sonia Phillips, mother of national Under-16 coach Julie Phillips, who has been a fixture at the door collecting gate receipts for many years.