Island Soccer League (ISL) commissioner David Bascome is looking forward to the inaugural ISL netball tournament with the player draft now complete, writes Derek deChabert.

Bascome said the new league would create positive female role models and help the Bermuda Netball Association (BNA) build a strong foundation for the future.

The draft was similar to the football selection process with coaches having one pick in each round, with the same eight team names from the ISL to be used in the netball league.

Union selected McKeisha Smith as the first pick of the last week's draft, held at Grotto Bay.

"The ISL netball draft went really well and we, the ISL staff, are very excited to be helping to move forward netball in Bermuda," said Bascome, who admits he has lots to learn about the sport.

"The BNA has done a great job in bringing life back to the sport and what we are looking to do is support their venture.

"This year the tournament will be called ISL netball tournament and next year it would be called the INL (Island Netball League), which will be a programme under Hope4Life, just as the ISL is.

"The netball tournament has been set up to give an added incentive for the players and help create female role models.

"We will be looking to build a strong relationship with some of the top countries that lead the world of netball like Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica.

"No way can I help move this tournament forward without understanding the history behind the sport."

The veteran Baltimore Blast footballer also hopes the league can provide Bermuda's top players with an opportunity move abroad to improve their skills.

"It will be a great pleasure for me if we can have netball players getting the same opportunities as soccer players in Bermuda and get tryouts abroad," he said.

"This programme is all about helping netball players in Bermuda have a stronger voice and capture the attention of young women in Bermuda.

"Without the progression of women sports in the country we will never be able to balance our social development."

All matches will be held at Bernard Park.