Tag Archives: football youth development

“[…] In April 2025, Wired868 reported that TTFA safeguarding manager Gary St Rose said his department had handled 561 reported concerns over three years. “According to his account, 23 progressed beyond counselling, 15 were settled through mediation and eight involved formal correspondence. He said formal action had been taken on …

“[…] Safeguarding is often discussed primarily in terms of protecting children and athletes from abuse, neglect, exploitation, harassment and other forms of harm. Those responsibilities remain fundamental. “However, safeguarding should not stop at preventing harm. It should also help create the conditions in which athletes can develop safely, confidently and …

“[…] Concacaf has announced that a 16-team Women’s U-17 qualifying competition will take place in February 2027, as part of the pathway to the Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup. “[…] So why, with the competition only months away, is there seemingly no visible U-17 women’s national programme preparing the girls …

Trinidad and Tobago Boys’ National Under-14 Team head coach Randolph Boyce said his troops were placed in a tough group, after failing to advance from Group B in the 2026 CFU U14 Challenge Series, which comprised Haiti, Puerto Rico and French Guiana. The young Soca Warriors whipped French Guiana 4-1 …

“[…] I fully understand and respect the rules concerning team sheets. However, rules must also be applied with fairness, common sense, and consideration of circumstances beyond the control of participating teams. The issue was not negligence on our part. “[…] Our players, coaches, and parents invested significant time, effort, and …

“[…] 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. …

“[…] At the heart of my concern are two critical areas that I believe continue to affect the progress of football in Trinidad and Tobago, leadership and administration of the game, and the development and support systems surrounding our football stakeholders. These are not easy conversations, but they are necessary …

“[…] Even worse were the conditions under which these young women participated for the last few weeks. There were no tents, no substitute benches, no changing areas, and no toilet facilities available for the players on the training field. “Substitutes sat directly on the ground under the scorching sun, and …

“[…] 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 …

“[…] Player safety is a critical consideration. Athletes in the U-15 age group are still developing physically. Allowing unlimited substitutions helps manage fatigue. “Third, it (unlimited substitutions) promotes team participation and morale. Providing opportunities for all players to contribute and builds team unity. When athletes feel involved and valued, they …

“[…] In our U17 match, a player from the opposing team fell and broke his hand—and shockingly, there was not a single medic on site to administer first aid. “[…] Once again, there was a shortage of referees and […] the substitution rules of the TTFA National Youth League are …

“[…] 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 …