Netball Jamaica plans six-team Elite League push to sharpen competition for 2027

Karen Baugh, president of Netball Jamaica, has rated the just-finished Red Stripe Flavours Netball Elite League a success while signalling that organisers want a fairer spread of strength among franchises when the competition returns.

Baugh said officials are giving serious thought to bringing the league back to six sides for the upcoming campaign.

Manchester Spurs sealed the championship with a 72-47 victory over Kingston Hummingbirds in the final, reversing the outcome of last season when the same two clubs met for the trophy and Hummingbirds came out on top.

Spurs’ run of control from one year to the next has fuelled debate about whether the league is balanced enough. Baugh said the priority is to narrow the gap in standard and intensity between the leading team and the rest.

“It was a short and spicy season. I think we achieved our goals, in that we showcased the talent that we have,” she said.

“The World Cup is going on at the same time, and sometimes there was a bit of a lull, but we had a good turnout for the final. We had competitive games, and in the final, we saw Spurs being crowned queens of the season.”

Baugh acknowledged that setbacks such as injuries can shape results, even when organisers work to level the squads.

“However, sometimes injuries and other things affect how things play out. We did try very hard to balance the teams this season, but Spurs went through the season unbeaten and last year they did the same until they reached the final,” she said.

“However, it’s what happens on the day and how the coaches manage and use their skills. Spurs have risen to the top but the others keep pushing and the games were competitive throughout the whole season.”

With the campaign now closed, Baugh said Netball Jamaica will conduct a full review and consider reshuffling personnel to stiffen rivalry between clubs.

“The way the players move between leagues is something we really have to examine a bit more and look at best practices,” she stated.

“Our girls play a lot of netball and we want to make sure the Elite League delivers stiff and intense competition at a high level.”

For the past several seasons, five franchises have taken part, including an invitational junior national side. The competition originally opened with six full teams, and Baugh said restoring that number ranks among the board’s chief targets.

“We want to go back to six teams. The under-21 team has had a good run, but the idea is to expand the number of teams in the league, and not only have it (games) at the National Stadium. We have done it in the past and gone outside the National Stadium to play, and we intend to do it again next season,” she added.