Sporting associations join forces

Barbados Wrestling Association (BWA) and the Barbados Rugby Football Union women’s team collaborated for the first time when both sporting organisations shared skills and knowledge during a training exercise held on Saturday at Brownes Beach.

National wrestling coach Yaima Payne was responsible for organising the training which was deemed a success by BWA President Rollins Alleyne who was in attendance for the session along with President of Barbados Rugby Union Martin Varga.

“Yaima Payne gave us (BWA) an idea to work with other sports so we can help each other develop. Rugby does a lot of takedowns which is similar to wrestling, so she was helping the female rugby team with how to do single and double leg takedowns from the wrestling perspective.

“It is good to see associations now can collaborate with each other and help each other out. Next time we will go to them and they will show us some of the ins and outs of rugby strategies. The rugby girls are very good, enthusiastic, passionate about the sport and are tough, “ Alleyne said.

“Maybe some of the females may want to take up beach wrestling too. We may see some athletes who can cross over or even do both, because takedowns are very common for beach wrestling,” Alleyne added.

It is an idea that the BWA president explained he saw being done by the Jamaica Wrestling Federation and said he believes Barbados could try the very same concept.

Among those in attendance were Deshon Skeete, the most experienced junior male wrestler in Barbados. Skeete also competed in the Pan American Cadet Championship in 2018 and has that experience that is helpful in teaching the rugby ladies different takedown strategies.

Going forward the BWA intends to partner with other organisations including the Barbados Handball Association (BHA). Alleyne explained that BHA does a lot of tactics which could also be helpful to the wrestlers.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb