“[…] Often, our instinct is to protect athletes. Making mistakes, losing races, or failing can be embarrassing, frustrating, and sometimes devastating. So, we try to make them feel better by saying things like: ‘It’s okay’, or ‘You’ll get them next time’. “While those statements may be true, they are incomplete. …
Read More »Hatt: T&T football is failing; but here’s how to fix it in 3-4 years
“[…] Trinidad and Tobago football is underperforming not due to lack of talent, but because of fragmented systems, weak development pathways, and inconsistent leadership. “The goal to success is to create a clear, sustainable pipeline from youth to senior national teams, supported by modern coaching, sport science, and consistent national …
Read More »Dear Editor: It’s not just coaching vs recruiting—are we coaching at modern international standards?
“[…] The question isn’t just ‘who is coaching?’ but ‘how are they coaching—and is it modern enough to compete?’ “Yes, assembling talent without growing match IQ is a dead end. But the issue extends beyond schools and clubs ‘collecting’ players. The real failure lies in a persistent lack of strategic …
Read More »Barney’s Bible: Recruiting has replaced coaching at youth level; that’s why T&T football is struggling
I wasn’t at last night’s Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Qualifiers game. I took it for granted that we would get past Barbados and the other Caribbean nations, so I was planning to go to the Mexico game only. I guessed wrong. But something I’ve been pointing to comes to the fore …
Read More »Dear Editor: Girls’ football development should start in primary schools—not in High Performance programme
“[…] If we were really serious, the powers that be would have engaged the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sport about having PE teachers educated on introducing and coaching girls at the primary school level. “[…] We seem not to have the patience or appetite to do things correctly, …
Read More »Dear Editor: The answers to T&T’s sport woes are not in Jamaica!
“[…] Why do we have to partner with the GC Foster College (of Jamaica) when we have the Sport and Physical Education Centre /SPEC at UWI? Under the leadership of Dr Iva Gloudon, dozens of physical education teachers and coaches generally benefited from accredited diploma courses leading to full degrees. …
Read More »Radanfah: Maximising Levi’s talent, why Natty’s a dread attacker and T&T’s inhibited talent pool
“[…] Trinidad and Tobago players are limited in their exposure to top level football [and] it makes it difficult for us to compete with teams who have players playing at that level. I don’t like to get into people’s selection, you can’t carry everybody—but I think [Angus Eve’s] selections are …
Read More »Republic Cup NYFL kicks off this weekend, with over 3,000 players and TT$31,500 in cash prizes
The Republic Cup National Youth Football League will kick off its 2023 season this weekend, with over 70 clubs involved nationwide and more than 3,000 young players registered. At stake are trophies, medals and TT$31,500 in cash prizes for the top three teams in each of six categories. The 2023 …
Read More »Qatar 2022: Hart looks beyond W/Cup drama to “cookie cutter” players and absent national identity
“[…] Perhaps I just long for the era that made me fall in love with the game—when national teams had distinct styles, based largely on the imagination and improvisation of their players. It has been, despite all that I have said, an enjoyable World Cup. “However, when I hear people marvel at an outside …
Read More »TV6ME: Michael Johnson and Anton Corneal on How to Make a Million Dollar Player Coaching Webinar
England national youth team coach Michael Johnson and Trinidad and Tobago technical director Anton Corneal talk to TV6’s Fazeer Mohammed on the Morning Edition about youth development in the Caribbean and Wired868’s How to Make a Million Dollar Player Coaching Webinar: Click on the following link to book your seat …
Read More »Johnson: Shining the Caribbean’s “diamond players” (Webinar coaching series)
“[…] In Europe and England, an under-8 right the way through to under-23 player [is developed by] a system [that] is sometimes very prescriptive in terms of: “you must be over there”, “don’t come off the touchline”, “you can only play two-touch”. “[…] Within the Caribbean… you can be as …
Read More »Hatt: Communication maketh coach! Tips to lift your coaching game
“[…] Effective communication is the cornerstone of success, not just for sports coaches, but in every aspect of life. Most challenges and obstacles arise from miscommunication, making it a vital skill to master. “[…] To coach is to awaken, develop, and enhance skills and performance, yet there are other vital …
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