In a significant development for Caribbean netball, newly re-elected Barbados Netball Association (BNA) President Nisha Craigwell has outlined comprehensive plans for the upcoming domestic season while addressing ongoing facility upgrades and international commitments. Craigwell, who recently secured her second presidential term, expressed cautious optimism about the Netball Stadium redevelopment project’s completion timeline, targeting alignment with the association’s March 15 anniversary date for season commencement. The BNA leadership acknowledges that the stadium’s readiness will fundamentally determine whether games proceed at the traditional venue or transition to community-based locations throughout Barbados. Craigwell revealed transformative intentions for restructuring the domestic competition format, citing the need to reignite excitement among participants where approximately 90% engage purely at recreational levels rather than national team aspirations. Historically featuring up to eight divisions and seventy teams, the association recognizes the administrative challenges of this expansive structure and intends to implement strategic modifications. These changes aim to enhance both competitive quality and management efficiency while strengthening the pipeline for national team development. Concurrently, Barbados’ netball program maintains ambitious international engagements including the Under-16 regional tournament in Trinidad (April 10-18), CAC Games in the Dominican Republic (July), and World Cup Qualifiers in St. Vincent. The stadium renovation, reportedly progressing toward late March completion, represents a critical infrastructure component supporting both community participation and elite athlete development throughout the netball ecosystem.
