Twelve pupils took part in the ASEAN Youth Sports Camp netball clinic held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday.
Organised by the Department of Youth and Sports, the clinic was facilitated by national netball coach Thilaka Jinadasa.
"We started out with basic moves today and moved on to specific footwork and ball handlings," said Jinadasa in an interview with The Brunei Times.
"We are planning to teach them about team strategy on Thursday (tomorrow) and maybe we will organise a mini tournament for them in the afternoon.
"The national team players are here too to assist me in helping to coach the participants," she added.
Simultaneously happening during the day were a track and field clinic at the Balapan Track and Field and a swimming clinic at the Aquatic Centre - both at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
A golf clinic was also held at the Pantai Mentiri Golf Club in Mentiri.
Athletics and swimming were chosen due to them being compulsory sports in any regional and international tournament.
Golf was picked as it is an individual and skilled sport, whereas netball is considered a popular team sport amongst women.
"We are focusing on promoting netball among the ASEAN countries," continued Jinadasa.
"Singapore is the best in Asia at the moment and they will host the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2015.
"There has been talk about including the sport at the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, and think it would be great for us,"
"Indonesia and the Philippines only started recently, while Thailand, Malaysia Singapore and Brunei started playing a long time ago - and I see this clinic as a chance to find out the development of netball in other countries and at the same time trying to promote it," added the Sri Lankan.
A total of 55 participants between the ages of 16 and 21 are currently taking part in one of four sports - netball, swimming, athletics or golf - at the five-day event which has attracted nine ASEAN countries.
"So far I have enjoyed my stay in Brunei," said Singaporean Kimberly Lim.
"This is my first time here and it feels very good to be able to train with the athletes from Brunei and other ASEAN countries.
"There is not much difference in terms of training as the drills and the fitness are almost the same as what we did back in Singapore, but it is nice and very important for me to get experience playing with other netball players from other countries.
"I am not a national player yet, but I am working hard towards it - and I hope I will be able to represent my country one day," added the 19-year-old.
Present to officiate the opening of the event at the Orchid Garden Hotel in Berakas on Monday was Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman.
The main objectives of the camp are to develop the overall well-being of young people in ASEAN, particularly of the mind and body through sports activities.
They also hope to establish strategies and relevant mechanisms to support regional cooperation in sports to contribute to regional development, peace and stability.
Other than that, it also aims to improve participants' sports skills whilst having fun with one another.
