Put House In Order: Sorovaki
■ Netball Fiji reviews constitution, governance structures ■ Checks out its commercial viablity ■ Revives, engages and partner with all stakeholders ■ Working on ‘Netball Ready’ document for health safety
Netball Fiji is working on a document for the safety of all people who will be part of their tournaments.
Netball Fiji president, RubyAnn Sorovaki told SUNsports yesterday that this was to ensure that safety measures were observed and followed once sports restrictions were lifted.
She said this was one of their immediate plans when sports tournaments resume to normal.
“We are working on a ‘Netball Ready’ document this includes basically the overall safety of people that will show up to a netball game,” she said.
“Given restrictions will be given we need to work within these confines.
“We are mindful though that our districts across the country play in different environments so awareness and education would be priority.
“We are having online meetings with netball countries in the region and with International Netball Federation to ensure we can align to best practices and adapt it for us here in Fiji.”
As the newly elected president, Sorovaki aims to lift the standard of netball in the country.
She plans to review and work on the governance and competitions structures.
They had their first meeting last week and sub committees had been set-up to work on four main areas as well as other developments. “Our four main pillars of review and work on are the governance structures of netball, the commercial viability of netball in Fiji, our competition structure and the development of netball in the regions across Fiji,” she said.
“Our partnership with the NetGo programme run by country coordinator
Unaisi Rokoura is going to be one of our major drivers in this area.
“Another of our major focus areas is driving mass participation in netball-every child having a netball experience and growing this interest.
“We need to revive netball in areas where there was netball or there is no netball being played at all and we are keen to engage stakeholders
and leverage off partnerships to help us grow the opportunity for this netball experience,” she added.
Other key area of work is standardising the work in the districts. “Ensuring we provide the support they need in reviewing constitutions, providing finance reporting templates, technical support for training and capacity building where we can.
“We have a big wish list but we are taking small strides for now to ensure we don’t miss anything out. Like any other sport, Sorovaki says, the coronavirus pandemic has affected netball tournaments and proposed tours.
“Obviously it has already had an impact in that our test series planned for here in September and tours for our national teams and u21s may be deferred,”she said. “Our squad regroup has now had to take another avenue and we have begun to reach out to them to deliver their programs for the next two and half months.
“Monitoring them will be a challenge given the current times but we trust the athletes will work hard at maintaining their fitness levels.
“We have had to review finances and budgeting as well.
“If anything changes over the next few weeks or months whether restrictions are lifted or not we will work on reassessing where we are.” Sorovaki added.
Netball Fiji is currently having talks regarding the vacant position of the national coach.
There have been interests from the region and overseas.
“We are getting in touch with the applicants and having discussions given we have had to reassess where we are in terms of funding,” she added.