Keishae Robinson is one busy Budgie.

The Bermuda midfielder is off to Jamaica with the rest of the national squad for the Central American and Caribbean Games qualifiers, with their first game in three weeks’ time.

The Bermuda Hockey Federation League season ­— Robinson plays for Budgies, the reigning champions — also begins tomorrow. And, perhaps most importantly, the BHF’s youth development Saturday programme starts this afternoon at the National Sports Centre, which Robinson co-ordinates as the Federation’s youth development officer.

The national team are coming off a tremendous summer, the highlight of which was a 2-0 win over Shippensburg University, the NCAA Division II national champions, in August.

“It was a big morale boost and a big deal for us,” Robinson said. “At the beginning of the summer we were struggling to work out how we wanted to play, but it came together during those games and beating [Shippensburg] was awesome. We got our confidence and since then we’ve been building on it and building on it. It seems like we’re ready.”

The game was not without its share of controversy though when, after Alex Francis game Bermuda the lead, Jasmine Patterson had a “goal” disallowed when the umpires whistled for a penalty corner instead of playing a Bermuda advantage. Not that it mattered, as Maya Palacio went on to seal the victory.

“In the past, that’s been our issue, thinking about the ‘what-ifs’ rather than just getting on with it,” Robinson said. “Umpires aren’t going to get it right all the time, so I think we’ve learnt to keep playing and just keep going. You just have to get it done.

“We leave on November 2 and play our first game on November 5 and the top-two teams qualify for the CACs.”

Bermuda take on Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Panama, Guyana and the host nation in Kingston in a bid to qualify for the main tournament in Barranquilla, Colombia, next summer.

“We fell really confident,” Robinson said. “Our intention is to go out there and win. We don’t want to come back with anything less than a win.

“Most of the teams that we’re playing we’ve played against in the past. I’ve played against Jamaica many times and it’s always been like a 1-0 or a 0-0 and it’s the same with Puerto Rico. We have a chance, so we just have go out there and do it.

“Everyone on the team understands how important it is.”

Bermuda will be taking on a mixed women’s team on Monday week, October 23, as their final preparation game for Jamaica.

What is also important to Robinson is providing a conveyor belt of talent for the national team, which is where the Saturday programme comes in.

“We’re having boys and girls aged five to 15, everyone’s welcome, even if you’re new and have never played before,” Robinson said. “We’re just trying to grow the sport and bring it back because hockey is fading out in Bermuda a little bit, so we’re trying to involve the kids, get them down, learn some new skills. There’s plenty of people volunteering their time, coaches, players, national team players, coming out to help, to teach the kids some skills and have fun!

“We provide the sticks and the balls, so we’re just asking kids to have shin guards and mouth guards.

“We’re trying to implement a four-week cycle, so weeks one, two and three are skills training and then we’ll divide kids up into teams, we’ll give them a shirt, that will be their team for the season and every four weeks there’ll be a mini-round robin tournament. So you’ll learn the skills and then be able to implement them.”

With the league season starting tomorrow, Robinson outlined what she wants to happen.

“We want to retain our title, so that should be exciting,” she said. “There are only five teams in the league this year, but they’re jazzing it up and putting a couple of mixed teams in there, so it should be fun.

“Last season, Ravens and the Canaries were pretty big competitors for us. Chrsyda Smith, [the Bermuda midfielder] plays for Ravens. She’s come a long way, she’s only 16 and has played for the national team.

“There are quite a few of us [in the Bermuda team] who play for Budgies; Jasmine Patterson, myself, LaKae Tavares, Angela Dunston, the goalkeeper. Xela Swan, the other goalkeeper, plays for Ravens.

“Selina Whitter played for Longtails, but they don’t have a team this season, so she’s transferred to Budgies for the start of the season. She plays in defence, but she’s really good going forward so we’re excited to have her.”

Robinson also has a prediction for the league season.

She said: “Budgies to win, of course! I think it’s going to be a really competitive league, because Swallows and Bluebirds have combined to form the Pink Robins. They had quite a few really good players so I think the league will be more exciting.”

• The BHF Youth Development Saturdays take place from October 14 to December 16, excluding October 28, and then from January 13 to March 24, excluding March 17 from 3pm to 5pm at the National Sports Centre. Cost is $100. Contact bermudahockeyfederationyouth@gmail.com for a registration form and visit www.bermudahockeyfederation.com for more details.