Three Bermuda Football Association officials attended a Fifa Grassroots, Amateur Football and Coach Education Leadership Workshop in Panama City, Panama.

Maurice Lowe, the BFA technical development director, was joined by executive committee members Shequita Parson and Mishael Paynter. The workshop took place from Monday to Thursday.

Bringing together technical directors, heads of coach education, grassroots specialists and other football professionals from Concacaf’s English-speaking members, the workshop aims to strengthen amateur football in the region.

During the sessions, the BFA officials were assisted to evaluate the association’s existing amateur structures to establish clear execution frameworks for the upcoming cycle.

A key focus of the workshop is raising the baseline standard of local coaching systems, enabling individual associations to become self-sustaining in their coach education pathways and less reliant on external support.

Another major theme is bridging the gap between casual community play and structured, formal league registration to ensure local talent is not lost or wasted.

The trip meant Paynter was absent from the bench when St George’s played PHC Zebras in the Premier Division at Wellington Oval last weekend.

Paynter, who was appointed head coach of the East End club last month, is expected to be back in the dugout when they continue their search for a first win of the season against X-Roads at home on Sunday.