In an exciting moment for sports in East Texas, the USA Netball Association will host National Team tryouts at the George Washington Carver CPR in Karnack.Netball, a sport with similarities to basketball, is widely popular in the British Commonwealth countries like England, Australia and New Zealand and countries in the Americans like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.Henryett Lovely-Porter, president and CEO of Carver CPR (Community Pathways to Revitalization), says they are preparing to host national representatives, umpires, c...
In an exciting moment for sports in East Texas, the USA Netball Association will host National Team tryouts at the George Washington Carver CPR in Karnack.
Netball, a sport with similarities to basketball, is widely popular in the British Commonwealth countries like England, Australia and New Zealand and countries in the Americans like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Henryett Lovely-Porter, president and CEO of Carver CPR (Community Pathways to Revitalization), says they are preparing to host national representatives, umpires, coaches and players from Feb. 7-9.
“This is the USA Netball’s first time to conduct events in Texas, and we are extremely proud and honored to serve as their home base,” Lovely-Porter said in a press release. “The team currently represents the U.S.A. in national and international play, and has their sights on joining The Olympic Games in the next couple of rounds. The USA Netball-Carver CPR partnership will bring great economic and marketing opportunities to East Texas: The organization is scouting potential sites for future regional and national tournaments (which could include 20 or more teams).”
To achieve their priorities of expanding the sport, engaging the community, and educating youth — who may find an interest that carries them to the next level of play — USA Netball is offering 50 kids (ages 6-13) slots in Texas’ first-ever Juniors Netball Camp (for registration questions, call (903) 578-0485). Campers will get a chance to meet and receive coaching from Team USA National Netball players and receive free admission to a Netball exhibition game (tip-off at 3 p.m.).
The weekend slate of events will also include player training, team tryouts, and coaching and umpire certification.
The rules and style of play do differ from those of basketball. Players aren’t allowed to dribble the ball, they can’t guard a defender within 6 feet and the net has no backboard. But there are a great amount of similarities to basketball that players shouldn’t have to worry about adjusting to.
There are four quarters with 15 minutes in length, you can’t travel with the ball, and you can take one and a half steps before passing or shooting the ball, whether it be a layup or shooting within the semi-circle.
Netball isn’t the most popular sport in the United States, despite debuting in 1992, but they were able to get on sports fan’s radars. Back in 2010, Netball America played in Madison Square Garden in front of 14,000 fans at halftime of the WNBA’s New York Liberty home opener against the Chicago Sky.
The goal of expanding Netball to East Texas is to widen awareness and give many more people an opportunity to try out this sport that is on the rise. Karnack is the perfect location as it’s in the Ark-La-Tex region and an easy town to get to, organizers said.