Organisers of the Fiji Primary Schools Netball tournament in Labasa have stepped up security and officiating measures this year, saying police will conduct regular evening checks around billeting areas while districts have been required, for the first time, to supply accredited umpires to improve the quality of matches.
Fiji Primary Schools Netball president Sisilia Cokanauto said the Fiji Police had been asked to maintain a visible presence around accommodation venues to safeguard the welfare of visiting players and officials. “We have approached the Fiji Police, and they will be moving around the billeting areas,” she said, adding that officers will check on every team after each day to make sure the girls are safe and all teams are accounted for.
Cokanauto said strict protocols are in place for visitors to billeting venues, with teachers and team managers briefed on conduct expectations and responsible for overseeing students staying in villages. “Protocols are in place, especially for those staying in villages, and teachers are overseeing everything,” she said, underscoring organisers’ focus on minimizing risks and ensuring student safety during evenings and at rest times.
Alongside the security push, organisers have made a procedural change aimed at lifting the tournament’s competitive standard. For the first time, every participating district was required to submit accredited umpires to officiate matches. “In the past, this wasn’t really happening, but this year we requested all districts to provide umpires who are accredited,” Cokanauto said, noting the move is intended to bring greater consistency and professionalism to games across the competition.
Organisers say these initiatives respond to a growing emphasis on athlete welfare and the development of grassroots netball. By combining a stronger security presence with structured, accredited officiating, they expect matches to be managed more professionally and for players to compete in a safer environment. The changes have been welcomed by district representatives and coaches, who have long sought clearer standards for refereeing at school-level tournaments.
While organisers framed the measures as immediate improvements for this edition of the tournament, they also positioned them as part of a longer-term strategy to raise the sport’s profile and standards nationwide. Cokanauto said the upgrades reflect a broader commitment to developing netball at the grassroots level across Fiji, with hopes the requirements for accredited officials and stronger billeting oversight will become the norm at future events.
With the tournament underway in Labasa, organisers will be monitoring how the new systems perform on the ground and whether the combination of police patrols, teacher oversight and accredited officiating achieves the intended gains in safety and match quality.