Are you this person? For as long as you can remember you have spent your free time kicking a ball around or joining your friends in a friendly game of one bounce.

You love football — eat, sleep, and breathe it. But did you realise that your fancy footwork on the field could translate into a scholarship from some of the most prestigious schools overseas?

It is easy to fantasise about being a famous footballer like David Beckham, or our own Shaun Goater.

But think for a second of all the other young players who are inspired by their luxurious lifestyles and also dream of becoming the “next big thing”. You are going to need something to fall back on, just in case it does not happen for you right away. This is where education comes into play.

General Secretary of the Bermuda Football Association (BFA), David Sabir, is on a mission to inform students, parents, and teachers about the opportunities available to kids with a knack for the game.

“It’s well known, and Bermudians are proud of the fact, that a number of footballers have been the beneficiaries of athletic scholarships to prominent universities in the US, the UK, and more recently, Canada and the Caribbean,” Mr. Sabir remarks. Young Bermudians like Khano Smith, Taurean Manders, and Chevonne Furbert, to name a few.

So, what does it take to become eligible for one of these scholarships?

Along with having developed your football abilities in a structured environment, Mr. Sabir explains that education is crucial: “What’s important is the record of academic excellence through high school, and the necessary level SAT score if you are applying to the US, or the necessary GCE level grades if applying to the UK and Canada.”

Students are chosen based on a series of recommendations made by people ranging from those involved in football locally, to colleges and universities overseas. Often times, those schools will send a representative down to gauge the students ability on the field, but Mr. Sabir and his colleague, Calvin Blankendal, Chairman of the Youth Committee, are adamant that their player’s grades be up to snuff first.

“At this year’s All Star match for the Under-18 division, one of the reasons we didn’t bring in any overseas coaches was because we wanted to test the method,” Mr. Blankendal admits. “We weren’t sure of the academic levels obtained by the young men and women.

“Our main emphasis is to make sure the academic level is there so that the coaches aren’t just coming to see talented footballers, but footballers who are willing to meet the academic requirement as well.”

Another goal of the BFA is to get parents more involved in the process, from field to classroom.

“Parents need to be aware of the academic and athletic opportunities available so that they can properly guide their children in this area,” Mr. Sabir concedes. “They need to discuss it with their child’s school so they can be aware of what needs to be done and of the other responsibilities involved.”

The BFA and the Ministry of Education are available to discuss overseas opportunities and requirements involved at any time. Interested parties can contact the BFA at 295 2199 or e-mail them at bfa[AT]northrock.bm.

“We are not only concerned with the performance on the field, with winning or losing,” Mr. Sabir maintains. “But also with the holistic approach to developing the entire individual — academically and physically.”