A national coaching plan is to be put in place with special emphasis on cricket, football, netball, and volleyball.
The overall objectives of the programme are to develop sport on the island and reduce the incidence of youth-related crime,
The Ministry of Youth and Sports secured funding for the coaching programme from the European Union, and the Sacred Cows Group, a St. Lucia-based company, has been given the responsibility of producing the results that justify the expense.
“It is envisaged that sports will become an important feature on the national development agenda, and that approaches to sports administration and development would experience a quantum leap with the infusion of new skills, techniques, and expertise facilitated by the programme,” Delroy Alexander, managing director of Sacred Cows, told the CMC Sports Wire.
“[Our company] has recruited several internationally recognised coaches, sports scientists, and leading sports administrators to work in the island,” he said.
“They will work with local youth, elite athletes, national teams, and coaches in [the chosen sport] to enhance key disciplines and reduce anti-social behaviour.
He added: “Coaches will also develop training modules and manuals for each of the four key sports. This will culminate in a major exercise that will encourage all stakeholders to provide a glimpse of the sporting future they would like to see for St. Lucia.”
British decathlon legend Daley Thompson launched the programme last month, and will help publicise the project.
“I think the kids need to understand that anything is possible,” he said. “Just because you don’t have a lot of money, doesn’t mean you can’t make it.
“I believe potential champions could emerge from St. Lucia. You only have to look at someone like Lavern Spencer. She’s knocking at the door of the top-10 high jumpers in the World, and no doubt has a great future ahead of her.”
Margaret Foster, a netball coach from New Zealand, Anthony, a sports psychologist and former Olympic swimmer, Cess Podd, a qualified football coach, as well as the Harper brothers, Roger and Mark, two highly-qualified cricket coaches, have been recruited to work with the programme.
“Approximately 40 per cent of the population comprises 15-to-35-year-olds,” said Alexander. “Sport is an excellent vehicle to engage them and challenge them to higher levels of endurance and attainment.”
