BFA takes grassroots drive to 25 schools

The Barbados Football Association (BFA) is taking its grassroots development push into 25 schools across the island, with a new programme aimed at developing both football and life skills among young people.

The initiative, being delivered in partnership with Concacaf through its Bigger Game Academy, got underway on Wednesday with a two-day session for local coaches at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey.

Barbados Football Association President Randy Harris (fourth from left), General Secretary Nicholas Branker (fifth from left) and Technical Director Philip Marin (sixth from left) also attended Wednesday’s ceremony. (Photo by: Kurtis Hinds)

The 10-week programme is designed to equip coaches with the skills needed to deliver football and life-skills training in their respective schools.

BFA General Secretary Nicholas Branker said the association was particularly eager to see local coaches benefit from the initiative.

“This is a very exciting time for me because when I first heard about this Concacaf Bigger Games Academy, we were at a grassroots conference in St Martin.

“It was the first time I heard about it and I remember raising my hand and asking how we can get involved?” Branker explained. “So it’s very exciting to see it now coming to fruition and I’m very happy,  and one of the first things I told our new Technical Director is that we need to get that Bigger Games Academy going in Barbados. I think that’s a very good step for football, especially at the grassroots level.”

BFA President Randy Harris said the two-day seminar is about far more than on-field play.

“You know the problems that we are having with some of the younger folk, and basically it is because not all households have people, parents and guardians that really take a serious interest in these young people.

“This academy hopefully will train you to be in a position where we can use the sport of football, but also to develop better social skills and hopefully make a difference in your respective schools and clubs.”

Technical Director Philip Marin shared some more details about the programme.

“We have selected 25 schools, who will then select 25 boys and girls where they will have to do a 10-week programme within their school focusing on the fundamentals of football and social skills.

“Over the next few days the coaches will focus on the roles of coaching, the methodology of coaching and safeguarding, which is very important for us,” Marin said, while revealing that organising a football festival will also form a part of the opening day’s activities.

“Then tomorrow (Thursday), we will have 130 boys and girls from 25 primary schools and we’ll do a two-hour event where we’ll have 10 stations with 10 different activities. The stations will focus on passing, dribbling and a small-sided game.”

According to the Technical Director, after the two days, the teachers will return to their schools and will need to do a 10-week training camp with their students, which will be later assessed.

The programme will then culminate with a festival featuring at least 25 children from each of the 25 schools.

(KH)