By Charmaine Austin, Staff ReporterWORLD NETBALL champions Australia arrive in the island next week for a Test assignment against Jamaica ahead of the World Championships in July but a major problem looms - they may have nowhere to play.
The Australians arrive on March 18 and are scheduled to play matches between March 21 and 25 at the National Arena however that venue is currently being renovated and will not be available until the end of May.
Outdoor facilities like the Leila Robinson Courts are all but ruled out as the Australians, like many teams worldwide, play indoors on a sprung wooden surface. Playing on this kind of surface minimises the risk of serious injury and, unlike hard surfaces, creates less shock through the body upon the player's landing.
The University of Technology's (UTech) Alfred Sangster Auditorium, the University of the West Indies' auditorium and the Chinese Benevolent Association were visited but lucked out because they were not large enough to hold the 120 x 70ft floor which in addition to that needs a 10ft run-off when laid.
The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) is toying with the idea of laying the portable wooden court atop the synthetic rubber surface at the Leila Robinson Courts at the National Stadium but even there may present problems with space.
Said JNA president Molly Rhone: "Right now we are looking at laying the floor on the outdoor court. We will be going there tomorrow (today) to fit the court on it. It's not the ideal place but it may have to be a make-do venue.
"If it fits we stay there, if not then we consider moving."
Laying the wooden floor outdoors may incur problems with the sun and possible rain.
Rhone says the weather element was also considered but says measures would be put in place to protect the surface from being damaged, as it will be the same one used for the World Championships.
"It can't stay down for more than two days in the sun so we would have to take it up and relay it. At nights we'd have it covered," she said.
There is also the problem of the two light pylons in the centre of both the top and bottom courts at the National Stadium but she hoped they could work a way around it.
"It's unfortunate this has to happen. Our problem is really size which is why the venues considered turned up unsuitable. UTech for example can't hold full size netball court much less a sprung wooden court. In the meantime we'll continue with our plans because Australia is coming and it's too late to cancel," she said.
G.C. Foster College is another alternative but a volleyball tournament will be on during that period and the JNA may have to beseech the organisers of that event to consider playing elsewhere.
