Big sweat on Saturday, December 20th and I mean big. Coming to the Black Bay court is 6′ 8″ former Bucknell University big man, Darren Mastropaolo, brother of Micoud Secondary Coach, Ryan Mastropaolo.

The SLBFED has asked us to confirm how many teams will enter the LIME 2009 Premier Tournament from the South.

Two spots are available to us, however, are we able to field two complete teams with team executive members, coaching staff and officials?

I, for one, will go for consolidating. Based on the turnout for training in recent weeks and the problems with players not getting time off from work or being otherwise engaged on match days, combining to form one team will at least increase our resource of available players and support staff.

Please let me know where you stand.

The shape of the slated SLBFED invitational regional tournament in November has changed. To date only Guadeloupe has agreed to participate in this tournament. The SLBFED has, therefore, decided to postpone this tournament to December 11-13, 2008 and to restructure the tournament with the team from Guadeloupe and three local teams. The SLBFED would like one of these teams to come from the South. The uniforms for this tournament as well the transportation fees will be provided by SLBFED.

A meeting for all players interested in participating will be called soon.

–
REMY*AVRIL*JR.**REMYAVRIL.COM

Just a recap of what was discussed at the SLBFED meeting on the Blackbay court on Saturday, September 27th, 2008.

- The next National Tournament will begin February 2009. This will be a premier tournament featuring ten teams from around the island. The tournament will be administrated with a high level of professionalism and will become the signature annual tournament for basketball in St. Lucia with a lucrative payoff for the leading teams.

- The National tournament will run for at least 3 months. After this tournament the top 4 teams will participate in a playoff at the Beausejour indoor facility. A basketball All-Star day will be held in August.

- In the second year there will be two divisions, with the bottom four teams from the previous year relegated to the lower division.

- Registration for the tournament is expected by December 2008. Two teams will be expected to emerge from the south, however, it is still the first 10 teams to register by December who will participate in the tournament. To qualify for registration teams will have to present a full structure for their organisation including:
— the teams executive;
— the teams manager;
— the teams head coach and coaching staff;
— the teams officiating assistants;
More information on the requirements for registration will be presented when received.

- In November this year a regional tournament will take place in St. Lucia, featuring teams from Antigua, St. Vincent and the remaining Windard Islands. Representing St. Lucia will be an under 23 team which has been in training since July of this year.

- A meeting will be called next month around the same date for all administrators, coaching staff and managers of southern teams.

More info will be sent when received.