Pilot phase of primary schools’ Grassroots football programme kicks off

Aimed at having a social impact in the lives of the participants, the pilot phase of the CONCACAF primary schools’ Grassroots football programme is underway.

Executed by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, with support from the Ministry of Education, the pilot project got its official start-up, last Saturday, at the Campden Park Playing Field.

Expounding the aims of the programme, co-ordinator Theon Gordon related at Saturday’s launch, “It’s about integration, getting them to develop the right habits, using football basically as a social tool for progression… At this age level, we are not necessarily looking at the total technical aspects… It is about getting them to participate and love the sport”.

One hundred students, 25 from each of the primary schools in the programme – Georgetown Government School, Barrouallie Government, Lowmans Leeward and Kingstown Preparatory, make up the first intake.The students would be given two hours of training/coaching, two days per week.

The allocations show the training taking place at Georgetown Government School on Mondays and Wednesdays, Barrouallie Government – Thursdays and Fridays, with  Lowmans Leeward Anglican and Kingstown Preparatory Schools – Mondays and Thursdays, as well.

As a precursor to last Saturday’s launch, teachers and coaches involved in the programme, were part of a two-day “Train the Coaches Workshop” last month, geared at equipping them to deliver effectively.