The BVI Football Association (BVIFA) will be holding trials on June 29 and June 30, 2023, for its national academies for boys born between 2009 and 2011. Photo: BVIFA/File

BVIFA said the programme for the country’s top players is an ambitious and comprehensive plan to develop young athletes and provide them with the necessary support and guidance to reach their full potential, including to represent the country on the international stage. Photo: BVIFA

The BVIFA, in a press release today, May 15, 2023, said the development of young athletes is essential to any country’s success in sports and that it takes a lot of effort and resources to cultivate talented athletes and provide them with the necessary training, coaching, and competitive opportunities to reach their full potential.

“With that in mind, a programme for the country’s top players, initially U11-13, has been proposed. The programme consists of a three-tier system, with the first academy, second development centres, and third monitoring grassroots,” the BVIFA stated.

First Tier

The first tier of the programme is the academy, which will be based in Tortola. The academy will provide the top young players in the country with intensive training, coaching, and competitive fixtures. It will operate three times per week, allowing players to hone their skills and develop their game under the guidance of experienced coaches.

The academy’s curriculum will be based on a structured training programme that aims to develop all aspects of the players’ game, including technical skills, tactical awareness, physical fitness, and mental strength.

Second Tier

The second tier of the programme is the Development Centres, which will be based on both Tortola and Virgin Gorda. The development centres will provide young players with additional training opportunities, in addition to the academy’s programme.

The development centres will operate once per week, providing players with the opportunity to practice and develop their game further. The development centres will also be staffed by experienced coaches, who will provide players with additional guidance and support.

Third Tier

The third tier of the programme is the monitoring of grassroots football. The programme will involve scouting and identifying talented young players who have the potential to develop into top-level players. This tier will focus on identifying players from all areas of the country, and ensuring that they receive the necessary support and guidance to develop their game.

The programme will include three-player reviews per season, allowing coaches to assess each player’s progress and identify areas for improvement. The reviews will be used to develop individual player development plans, which will be tailored to each player’s strengths and weaknesses. The player reviews will also be used to identify players who may be ready for promotion to the academy or development centres.

Trials for the programme will be held in June and July, providing young players with the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete for a place in the programme. The trials will be open to all players within the specified age range, and will be based on a range of criteria, including technical ability, physical fitness, and mental strength.

In addition to the trials, girls’ development centre trials will begin in September 2023, ahead of the academy starting.

BVIFA said the programme for the country’s top players is an ambitious and comprehensive plan to develop young athletes and provide them with the necessary support and guidance to reach their full potential, including to represent the country on the international stage.