Massive increase in 2018/19 INSPORTS primary school football, netball competitions

An increase in the prize purse as well as a massive jump in participation were among the main highlights at the 2018/19 media launch of the INSPORTS National Primary School Football and Netball competitions.

Both competitions are set to begin November 13, with 310 teams down to compete in football while 190 schools will battle for top honours in netball.

Delivering the overview inside National Indoor Sport Centre, sport officer at the Institute of Sports, Kevin Morrison said: “A total of 6,000 students, inclusive of 45 females, will take part in football, whilst 2,500 (girls) will play netball.”

The numbers presented by Morrison represent a massive increase compared to last season when 136 schools participated in football and 50 took part in netball.

After a six-year hiatus, the competition was revitalised last year with St Catherine's McAuley Primary and Marlie Mount Primary being crowned football and netball champions, respectively.

“I am very elated to inform you that for this year all parishes will be participating,” Morrison said.

To roars of approval from the audience, Minister of Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange announced a prize purse valued over $1.3 million.

All prize winners in both competitions will receive equal amounts as part of the ministry's push for “promoting gender equality”.

With all prizes being beefed up, this season's grand champion is guaranteed $200,000, while $125,000 and $100,000 will go to towards second — and third-placed teams, respectively. The team that finishes fourth gets $75,000. At the parochial level, parish champions will receive $60,000, runners-up $35,000, third-place $20,000, and $15,000 goes to fourth.

And in a move to improve the overall quality of coaching, 120 coaches (60 football and 60 netball) will be certified at the end of this season, a partnership involving Concacaf, the Jamaica Football Federation, Netball Jamaica, G C Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, and Jamaica Money Market Brokers.

Minister Grange said: “It is important to recognise the partnership involving Concacaf and the Jamaica Football Federation which, over time, will see all coaches at this level being certified. Our aim is to, in another three years ,certify all coaches and at the end of that phase all coaches must be certified in order to coach at this level.”

The select coaches will undergo training in childcare and protection — a mandatory exercise that is of extreme importance, the minister noted.

“This is in keeping with the ministry's programme where we are working with UNICEF to fully introduce a special training programme and manual to protect and safeguard our children playing sport,” said the minister.

“It is extremely important,” she added. “We work closely with the Ministry of Education to advance the health and well-being of our children who are our foundation and future of our nation.”

Teams are grouped according to their geographical location and will play each other in a round robin format. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout phase until a parish champion is crowned.

All parish champions (Portmore is classified as a parish) and the second-placed team from the parish with the most entries will compete for top honours in the national round, scheduled to begin January 11, 2019, and which will be played on a home and away basis.

The grand finale is set for February 1, 2019.