The FIFA grassroots pilot project that took place in Jamaica recently was deemed a success.

This according to both the participants and the course presenters. The three-day course had participants from six member associations in the Caribbean region who shared ideas on grassroots development that can be used on a worldwide level.

In addition to a classroom setting, the coaches also visited Iris Gelly Primary School on the second day for a practical session, where boys and girls were taken through the fundamentals of the game such as passing and controlling.

There was a strong emphasis on inclusion of girls at this level.

Chesley Brown of Antigua and Barbuda, who is a physical education teacher and coach, spoke glowingly of the value of the experience.

“I think the course was very refreshing. I think we learned a lot based on the different cultures and based on the different coaches. I think what mainly we can say, everyone was willing to learn from each other and everyone was supportive of each other,” he said.

Brown is hoping that there will be more courses of this kind that can help to benefit other coaches in the region.

“I think it was a well-put together course and it is something that I think we should continue. Even if it’s not me going the next time, other coaches can get the opportunity.

“I will be using some of the things that I learned from the other coaches, some of the things we have already been doing, but some of the other things we need to put in place — so I will use those experiences from other coaches to implement it in our football in Antigua,” noted Brown.

Andre Virtue, who is the national grassroots football coordinator for Jamaica, hailed the FIFA initiative which he expects to have a big regional impact.

“It is very important; obviously the initiative being undertaken by FIFA is one of exchange and collaboration. We don’t know all the answers, and to put us member associations together in one room and have an appreciation for what each country is going through.

“The learning that can take place by hearing from others and what they have to do on a day to day basis with their grassroots is critical, (as) it provides a platform for sharing and collaboration which will help to strengthen the Caribbean region — so it is a great initiative on the part of FIFA,” he said.

Virtue admitted that Jamaica was the country that had most to share based on the advanced nature of the grassroots programme in the country.

“We were one of the leads; we are obviously one of the bigger countries. We have a structured grassroots programme so there was a lot of sharing with our other member associations. The main issue is about sustainability; the main issue is how do we get this into the length and breadth of the country by empowering our parish associations,” he emphasised.

A pathway to further growth and development was also being drafted to ensure a big impact can be made, especially with at-risk youth.

“We have spoken about coaching education and providing access to more coaches getting trained and equipped, as well as getting more stakeholders involved. The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Security are key stakeholders. And we are looking at changing our approach, not so much just the football approach, but using it as a social intervention (tool).

“That way we think we are able to access and speak to some of the major issues in Jamaica (like) crime, violence, drug use and abuse, so we are using football as a tool to be able to address some issues,” Virtue noted.

Philip Zimmermann of FIFA was quite pleased with the level of participation of the Caribbean member associations.

“I think it was a fantastic three days… the participants were very active and very willing to give feedback. That was definitely something we looked at when we came here for the workshop. I think it is in the nature of the Caribbean that people like to explain what they are working on, like to share ideas, so that was really positive (and that is) something we take back to Switzerland,” he outlined.

He also explained what the next steps were to ensure usefulness of the exercise.

“What will happen next is we will report on this one, we will have an assessment, see what was well done, see what can be done better, and how we want to move forward.

“This year we will have five pilots in total all over the world. The next project will be in Oceania in Solomon Islands, and there we will focus content-wise on a different topic, (that) being youth football,” said the FIFA official.

Zimmermann and his team are expected to return to the Caribbean in a year to assess the level of progress achieved in the different territories.

“In this region in particular, once we have rolled out all the five pilot projects all over the world we will come back here. We will try to get the same group back together and see where the projects that have been presented here, where they have been taken within one year.

“The six participants all presented their grassroots strategies, where they stand now and where they want to go… through this programme we also kind of make sure that by bringing these participants back together in a year’s time, that they hold each other liable. This is the whole idea behind the exchange programme,” Zimmerman ended.

This new approach by FIFA looks set to improve the development of the game in a significant way in areas of the world that are particularly lacking in resources, which include space and equipment. This is a decisive move to make the world’s game more accessible to all.