Duke Nelligan took over as national coach of the Bermuda Gymnastics Association late last year.

And so far he likes what he sees in the Island's promising youngsters.

But Nelligan, who was the head coach at the University of Maryland for over 30 years, wants to see some changes in the gymnastics programme.

While the BGA do have a recreational programme at Whitney, their main training centre is at Southside.

"I would like to upgrade it. I have invited people from the BLDC (Bermuda Land Development Corporation), the Education Department and others to come down and see what we are doing. I honestly feel that if we had a premier training site at the base then more people would come down there," said Nelligan.

And Nelligan has also run into a problem that can only be described as unique to Bermuda.

He said: "One of the biggest challenges I have found since arriving is understanding why locals will not travel 15 kilometres (to Southside). (In the US) people will think nothing of travelling two hours to work every morning or they will drive their children an hour and half to two hours from Pennsylvania to Maryland to be with the best coaches."

And with a premier facility at Southside, Nelligan feels that more parents would not mind driving their kids to training.

"I think the Island has a great deal of talent. I spent 30 years at the University of Maryland and prior to that I taught school for six years and was a club coach as well.

"I really feel that much of our talent in Bermuda goes untapped. We do a pretty good job in identifying youngsters but then they get lost in the shuffle."

The American coach believes that just because Bermuda has a small population, it shouldn't make any difference.

"But there is a lack of a concerted effort where everyone realises that it is not just gymnastics that is against the world - it is all of our sports. I think that if we pooled our talents and energies we could have a formidable programme within this region."

Nelligan has also had talks with coaches and parents involved with many other sports on the Island and found that the problems were all similar.

"We take our little ones out to see the world and they perform admirably in competition but what happens is when they come back to the Island they get a scooter and have that freedom. They get to a certain age and then it is boys and parties. Also parents have their children in music, acting, art – they have a lot of things to do here. I am not saying that we should pigeonhole our kids but we should start to identify and then cultivate them (in various sports) earlier."

And while the difference between China and Bermuda is huge, Nelligan said Bermuda could learn from what the Chinese did before they hosted the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"If you go back and look at what the Chinese did, they had 12 or more years to identify (their athletes).

"They said 'this our programme and this is how we are going to do it – this is how we are going to identify the children available and this is how we are going to come up with the team that is going to win'.

"I see no reason why Bermuda could not do that and have a youth sport system that identifies children and gives them the direction that is necessarily -– challenges and provides them the opportunities to travel and also makes sure their education is primary.

"We want to make sure academically they are very sound."

The coach said that if a promising athlete becomes injured and cannot carry on with their sport they will have that education to fall back on.

"It is not the number of people on the Island that is the issue - the issue is that we do not have a strong enough system whereby everyone is pulling together to bring the youth along.

"That will solves many of our other issues as well like crime and gangs.

"Kids that are involved with a sport do not have time for gangs."

And he would like to see Bermuda "cultivate" local coaches.

"I don't understand why we are importing so many coaches - we could be cultivating Bermudians.

"Then perhaps bring in someone who has a unique talent or system."

He also wants the Bermuda team to look smart when at an international competition.

"I have just been ordering tracksuits for the girls.

"Everything is embroidered and they will look very sharp in them. I am used to doing that in the US. I believe it is important that we project the image we want to portray.

"When we go anywhere everyone wants to know who we are – they are all looking at us.

"This group has a lighthearted approach to things and it seems to work for them so we want to keep that – what I call that Island feeling.

"But we also want to make sure that the athletes know they are representing their country, families and organisation."

Nelligan retired as the head of the University of Maryland gymnastics programme after his 31st season last year before coming to Bermuda.

He has been the face of Maryland gymnastics since 1979 and has achieved 18 winning seasons and 18 NCAA regional championship appearances.

He said before leaving the university: "I'm proud of the accomplishments of the programme athletically, but it's been tremendously rewarding to me to have an impact on the lives of our student-athletes in so many other ways.

"My tenure as a Maryland coach has been one of the most personally and professionally rewarding experiences of my life."

Nelligan has garnered the respect of all his colleagues at Maryland and throughout the US and is recognised as one of the top gymnastics coaches in the country.

In 1999, he was acknowledged for his contributions to collegiate gymnastics when he was honoured as both the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Coach of the Year and Southeast Region Coach of the Year.

"Duke is one of the most passionate and caring coaches I know.

"He absolutely loves to be in the gym teaching and coaching," said Maryland assistant coach Vicki Chliszczyk.

"His energy is evident in each and every practice and the entire team knows that Duke will be there to support them in any situation.

"Duke knows how to make each practice exciting and fun!"