Organising the Bermuda interschool sporting schedule is no mean task. There are 24 primary schools, 11 middle schools and eight high schools competing in sports ranging from badminton to swimming and everything in between.

The body tasked with coordinating all these student athletes is the Bermuda School Sports Federations (BSSF). Manny Faria, the BSSF administrator says that whilst they try and expose children to a wide range of sports they must also balance this with the academic schedule and the manpower resources of the schools and the BSSF.

"The challenge is to expose the kids to as many sports as possible but sometimes you run into problems with seasons overlapping and teachers trying to do all the sports," explains Mr. Faria. "So it's finding a balance between giving opportunities but not stretching ourselves too thin or running events that lack participation."

The BSSF must also be flexible with their scheduling and aware of new sports that have gained popularity in Bermuda. Darrin Lewis the acting education officer for physical education & health explains:

"Basketball, for instance, has grown tremendously (in recent years). Of course we need to look after our national sports of cricket and football. This year we are condensing the schedule to accommodate the exam periods so football and netball will be over by the Christmas break and track and field by March (see sidebar for this year's schedule). Cricket in schools is something we need to work on because it is near the summer and gets into exam time. But this year with condensing the schedule we'll start earlier so hopefully it won't be a problem."

Mr. Faria explains that the decision making at the BSSF is an inclusive and democratic process which gauges interest when choosing to implement new sports.

"Table tennis is one we're bringing in this year because it seems the interest is there. We have an AGM (Annual General Meeting) every year and each school is a member of the Federation so they get a vote. It's not like Darrin (Lewis) and I sit here and come up with things. We also have an executive committee which comes up with ideas but the decisions are made at the AGM."

While Mr. Lewis adds that including the schools is important because "you want teacher buy in", Mr. Faria says that the BSSF is also looking at ways to increase student participation, which seems to drop off slowly after primary school.

"Primary school is spectacular, every event that we put on we get a good turn out. Even with the girls we've been really trying to develop their sports and we had a girl's football tournament and 19 teams showed up," he says. "But when kids get to 15-years-old not a lot of them want to run around the track four times to do a 1,500 metre race. It's not what they are into."

Mr. Lewis continues: "This is where we have to find creative ways to motivate, or re-motivate these kids to participate. We work with the teachers and coaches and last year we made some inroads with changes in the schedule and things like that. You have to remember that at some point most of these kids were primary school participants but their interest dwindled as they went up so we need to try to maintain it."

One of the plans the BSSF will try this year is attracting more student spectators to the big events, like the track and field meet.

"This year we're going to be starting it at 3 p.m., instead of 9 a.m.," explains Mr. Faria. "We should be finishing at eight or eight thirty so most of the kids can go down after school and the parents after work. We'll schedule the marquee events after five so there will be some excitement and hopefully a crowd. We'll see."

Another innovation in the interschool sports scene is the development of a points system where schools are rewarded for participation and results so that at the end of the school year a champion can be declared and perhaps a monetary prize awarded.

The BSSF also try to connect with the governing bodies of each sport to ensure consistency in terms of rules and enlisting support with regards to officials and referees.

"There's nothing worse than two teams showing up and the kids are ready to play and you're struggling to find officials," says Mr. Faria. "But it's just not easy at three o'clock to have people get time off work."

Both Mr. Lewis and Mr. Faria encourage parents to get involved and help out, although they caution that they are looking for positive input.

"We do have parents who help us out for the big events and the more the merrier," states Mr. Faria. "And when a parent is knowledgable in a particular sport and they want to help out that is great. But when you get a parent who is barking at an official or shouting constant instructions to their child it is more of a hindrance than an advantage. And, of course, we are trying to teach sporting values and that you don't challenge officials. What we want is parents to be supportive, just show up and cheer for their kids but not to be a negative influence."

Mr. Lewis says it is important that they keep trying new things to encourage participation because not only will this unearth the Island's most talented athletes but also in this age of technology many of today's young people seem glued to Gameboys and iPods. Sports can be an excellent way to keep them active and fit.

"Right now fitness and healthy living are big buzzwords and with the prevalence of obesity and Diabetes in Bermuda we need to find ways to keep kids active and the sports programme helps," he says. "I really think the kids look forward to the sports seasons and events and I think its an integral part of the overall development of the child, both athletically and academically."

For more information or to volunteer with the BSSF contact Manny Faria at 535-3180 or efaria@gov.bm