Six United States-based players are included in Jamaica's female volleyball squad, to continue preparation for the World Championship qualifiers in 2009. To facilitate training this weekend, the Jamaica Volleyball Association postponed the scheduled games.
President of the association, Wayne Robertson, explained the reason to break the league for the training camps.
"The early commencement of training is strategic as it will allow the teams to adequately prepare for what is expected to be an active year for volleyball," he said. "We are preparing vigorously to compete fiercely as we seek to qualify for the World Championships in 2010."
Training sessions
The training sessions will be held today and tomorrow at The University of the West Indies (UWI) gymnasium.
The men's team will train today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the women start at 2 p.m. and end at 6 p.m.
Shantel Moore, Lecia Brown, Georgette Crawford-Crooks, Kai Wright, Naima Stennett and Keisha Edwards are the overseas-based players.
Cherine Richards, Cheryl Daley, Paula-Ann Porter Jones, Simone Forbes, Tracey-Ann Pryce-Findlay, Nardrake Hutchinson, Khesia Miller-Livingston, Cafellon Frazer, Keisha Parris, Kelly-Ann Fagan, Joylene Hyde, Latusha Simpson, Deshawn Darlington, Tashai Williams, Camille Dwyer, Renae Temple, Cherie Thompson and Shanique Green, are the other invitees.
Jamaica will host Round Two of the men's tournament, a group which includes Mexico, Cayman Islands, Haiti, The Bahamas and the winner of Group A.
Men's squad
A men's squad will also train today and tomorrow at the same venue. The squad is: André McLean, Namarie Gordon, Ricardo Chong, Richard Reynolds, Delan Brown, Tafarie Samuels, Danny Wilson, Mark Lewis, Delford Morgan, Patrico Grant, Errol Smith, Damien Tobias, Shavoy Irving, Conaradio Taylor, Robert Andrews, Alwayne Easy, Kenneth Reid, Shane Dwyer, Hank Williams, Larry Richards, Paul Thomas, Craig Brown and Parrish Offer, who is based in Denmark.