Irrespective of sport, Bermuda is brimming with talented, young athletes. The early mornings, the late evenings, the endless practices, meets and matches are norms when our young people are pursuing their dream of taking their sports to another level outside of Bermuda’s shores.

Every year, many young, local athletes are offered opportunities to trial with professional academies or attend boarding schools that can offer wider exposure — and that can be overwhelming for parents.

It is an incredible moment, and I don’t doubt for a second how much this means to families when they see their child’s abilities recognised internationally.

But then there’s the next crucial step — deciding whether or not to pursue the opportunity, and what level of sacrifice will be required of the family to turn dreams into reality.

Conversations around this topic need to be spoken about openly in a community setting. After all, it takes a village, the stakes can be high and the road ahead will demand both optimism and caution.

The idea of sending your child overseas for sport and education can be one of the best decisions you ever take. A strong academic programme, new training facilities, broader cultural and life experiences — all of that is real.

You can see a world of growth opening up for your young person with new friends, new perspectives and new possibilities.

We also live here, on a small island with its own realities, and it is worth recognising that the dream of becoming a professional athlete is precious but extremely rare. In larger nations, even among thousands of young players, only a tiny fraction ever reach the top. In England, about 1.5 million boys are playing organised youth football. Only about 180 are estimated to play a single minute in the Premier League.

When you add the reality of coming from a small island, fewer local resources, less exposure and the challenge of adapting to a completely new culture, those odds become even lower.

Studies on athletes migrating from small islands show that the transition itself can be tough with isolation and homesickness, and high expectations can quickly turn opportunity into pressure.

So when that overseas offer arrives, I implore you to take a moment to measure all possible outcomes. This is not about discouraging the dream, but about making sure your young person is set up to benefit from the opportunity, whether they become a household name in sport or not.

The truth is, if the sporting dream doesn’t pan out — and often it doesn’t — you will want your child to walk away with something lasting. A solid education, confidence, resilience, a sense of direction and the ability to build a future.

You, the parent, must remain the most powerful person in that child’s life. You are their moral compass, emotional anchor and safe place. If you choose to send them away, you have to ask yourself whether you’re ready to hand over part of that role and how you will build the support they will still need.

I encourage you to look closely at what is being offered. What kind of people does the programme produce? Are they well-rounded, healthy and ready for life beyond sport? What happens when the dream shifts or the opportunity doesn’t last? Research shows that early specialisation and high-intensity sport can increase the risk of burnout and injury, and that many young athletes eventually quit their sport entirely if the experience becomes too narrow or pressured.

I want to hear from parents who have already walked this path. I particularly want to hear from parents or athletes whose journeys did not unfold as expected. The success stories are always front and centre, and we celebrate them. The quieter stories of struggle and disappointment are just as valuable for another sporting family.

Sharing experiences may help another young person avoid the same pitfalls.

When your child leaves, you remain the steady hand behind them. The voice that says: “I believe in you, but I’m here to help you make good choices.”

That presence, even from afar, can make all the difference.

So, yes, pursue the opportunity if it feels right. Make sure it is built on solid ground. Do the homework. Understand the environment. Speak to past athletes. Visit the place if you can. Recognise that the dream is big, but it needs to rest on a foundation of education, wellbeing and realistic goals.

Our role as parents, coaches and mentors is not just to help young people chase their dreams; it’s to make sure they are strong enough to thrive whether the dream comes true or not.

We all want to see our young Bermudians succeed, not just in sport, but in life. Let’s keep having these conversations, and let’s make sure every decision we make for our children comes from the place it always should. Love, care and preparation for the future.

I would love to hear about your family’s experience with overseas sport.

• Ben Smith is the Shadow Minister of Education and Sport, and the MP for Smith’s South (Constituency 8). He can be reached at bsmith@oba.bm