By BVI Platinum
The group of coaches, some of those who were recently successful in obtaining the D License
Photo: Provided
Coaches for primary and secondary school football leagues are being implored upon to encourage and motivate the young players, while being informed that the future of the sport in the BVI is now looking bright.
During a recent meeting, President of the BVI Football Association (BVIFA), Mr. Andy Bickerton and members of the Youth Committee engaged the coaches ahead of the opening of the 2016/17 school leagues.
The BDO Primary School and High School Leagues will both kick off on Wednesday, 12th October 2016 with the now traditional and much anticipated march through Road Town, along Waterfront Drive and to the A.O. Shirley Grounds.
Bickerton announced to the coaches, several of whom recently successfully completed CONCACAF ‘D’ licenses, that the association now has a clear pathway for youth from 5 years old to senior representative levels, but, with the coaches’ continued efforts, the programmes could only get stronger.
“I am optimistic for the future…The after school programme is already the envy of many other sports associations and combined with the Physical Literacy Programme, with its focus on encouragement and motivation, the future for the game is very bright,” said Bickerton.
Regionally, the game is also expanding with U13 competition joining the extensive programme.
“These youth competitions give added incentive for youths to play football, but also means we (the F.A.) have to invest more in our coaches,” Bickerton explained.
“We will be looking at holding a CONCACAF ‘C’or ‘D’ license early in 2017 and the F.A. executive is looking at issuing each coach with a contract and a curriculum, which will need to be followed and given feedback.”
Bickerton also informed the coaches that sponsors are being sought to join in the increased interest in football, with each of the school teams now available to individual sponsors.
Information on registering for F.A. youth programmes, school leagues and any of the many other possibilities offered by football, such as refereeing, can be obtained from the F.A.office, while information will also be delivered directly to schools from September 5th, 2016.
