QUESTION: Can you provide our readers with a summary of your experience in football since you left Bermuda to attend university?

ANSWER: I left Bermuda in 1992 to attend Alabama A&M University on a soccer scholarship. I played for the university from 1992 to 1995 as a starter in the defence and midfield. I was the captain of the team during my senior year, and was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award by the Athletic Booster's Club of Huntsville. The following season ¿ 1996-97 ¿ I served as a student-assistant coach to the men's soccer programme at the university.

I became involved in youth coaching when I volunteered to assist a boys under 17 team that was training at the university field during the fall of 1996. I coached the team to a championship at a tournament in Montgomery, Alabama. As a result of my involvement with this team I was asked to interview for the position of soccer coach at Randolph School, a prestigious private Presidential Blue Ribbon college prep school in Huntsville, Alabama. During the 1997 spring season at Randolph I was assistant coach to both varsity boys and girls teams, and head middle school boys coach and was awarded the school's Coach of the Year award at the conclusion of the season.

I was offered a full-time job teaching physical education at the school for the Fall 1997 season, even though I had not graduated yet from the university, in addition to continuing in the coaching roles. I was promoted to head coach of the varsity girls in the fall of 1998 and continued as the head middle school boys coach. In the fall of 2000 I assumed the head varsity boys coaching role at the school, where in a five-year span we advanced to the championship match three times (winning back to back in 2000 & 2001) and twice were eliminated in the state semi-final match. My role at Randolph grew to include the overall responsibility of all soccer teams, Director of Summer Soccer Camps, and implementation of the soccer feeder programme (grades 1-6) during my final two years at the school (2004 & 2005). I left Randolph at the end of the 2005 school year to move into a full-time coaching / administration position with Huntsville Soccer Club.

During the years following playing in college I played with the Chattanooga Express in the USISL (predecessor to the USL). I played both indoor and outdoor for this professional outfit over the 1995-1997 seasons. The Chattanooga Express assistant coach at the time was Bermudian , Kenny Cann. I was captain during the 1997 outdoor season. In the spring of 1998 I was invited to the Atlanta Ruckus (now Atlanta Silver Backs) tryout combine and was selected to attend rookie camp. The American professional soccer setup had a six-player maximum restriction for non-American players at that time and although wanted I was not selected in the six players rostered to the team. I also attend the tryout combine for the now defunct Eastern Indoor Soccer League (EISL) and was drafted by the Mississippi Beach Kings of Biloxi, MS. After training camp the Beach Kings extended a developmental player offer to me, but I choose to return to Randolph School and continue in my role as educator and coach, a career-impacted decision. I also played on the Alabama Adult State Select teams over a two-year period.

During my time at Randolph School I was invited to be a part of a new start-up youth soccer club, Huntsville Soccer Club. Here I began working with young, rising boys from the school in a youth setup ¿ the goal was to develop the future players for Randolph in the club programme. Quickly the young girls in the school were asking to do the same. This resulted in my forming a girls only club, Samba Futbol Clube, in the summer of 2000. The club started with two teams during the initial season, U10 & U12 , with the U12 team winning state championship honors. The club doubled in size every year and had a total of approximately 250 players registered by the fourth season. During this time teams won state championships in the various divisions. The flag ship team for the club, Samba 89 girls, went on to win multiple Division One state championships and represent Alabama at the USYSA Regional Youth Championships. Teams also participated in USYSA Region III premier league play and attended major national tournaments such as WAGS tournament for girls in Washington DC.

Samba developed a partnership with BRUSA (Brazil ¿ USA) Soccer Institute with curriculum and player development. The cornerstone was the Brazilian philosophy for player development. I attended the Brazilian coaching license in Rio de Janeiro with BRUSA and served as a staff coach for their national camps and symposiums, while being the camp director and BRUSA coordinator for programming in Alabama.

With the growth of the Samba programme and overstretching of the resources available to me at Randolph School I merged the Samba Futbol Clube with Huntsville Soccer Club (who were struggling to build a girls programme) and assumed the role of Director of Coaching Curriculum ¿ Girls. I stayed in this role for two years before taking a break from coaching to remodel properties I had in the area for sale. During this period I formed Soccer Performance Training, a private company that worked with elite soccer players in developing skills and optimal peak conditioning levels. Soccer Performance Training operated out of PRSM Sport and Fitness, which is run by nationally recognised exercise physiologist Mark Nobel.

I returned to coaching in spring of 2006 with the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club in Birmingham, Alabama. I assumed the role of Academy Director at VHSC in January of 2007, and presently continue to in this position as well as a staff coach for the competitive division of the club. (More information about VHSC and their programmes are available at www.vestaviasoccer.com)

Additionally I continue to work to develop elite player training programmes that include Brazilian Training Tours, and programming at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida (Home of the USA U17 Residential Programme). Currently a representative for IMG with territories of Alabama and Bermuda. www.imgacademies.com

QUESTION:You have spent the last 15 years in the United States as a player and subsequently as a coach. How have these experiences changed you as an individual?

ANSWER: I feel lucky that I have the opportunity to do something I really love to do as a profession. The opportunities to work with players from five to 18 years old has allowed me to develop an understanding of the different stages of development and the appropriate curriculum instruction. I have been able to benefit from coaching education opportunities that allowed me to make the transition from player to coach. Travelling around the United States with soccer has developed many friendships and established connections in the soccer fraternity. I have a greater appreciation for the role and importance of a coach. The opportunity to interact with kids and see their growth and development brings rewards far greater than trophies. Relationships built with players and families extend outside the boundaries of soccer. Most importantly I cherish the trust that parents place in you with their most protected possession, their kids, and accept the responsibility for the impact and influence that we can have in a child's life. Seeing a player reach their goals on the field, graduate and go off to college, attend weddings and celebrate births of children to past players you learn that you are not just developing soccer players, you are helping to shape their thoughts and influence the values and ethics that they make a part of their lives. It is investing in their lives and future and not just winning games, championships, or helping them to play in college.

QUESTION: What does your role entail as the Academy Director at the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club?

ANSWER: As the Academy Director my role is to oversee the administration, curriculum development, player and coach development of the club's U9-U12 players. I work in conjunction with the Director of Coaching (competitive Division U13-U18) and Recreation Director to bridge the gap between our recreation soccer programme and our competitive soccer programme.

This involves curriculum development and implementation, staffing, scheduling, budgets, player identification and team formation, coach education development and working with team managers. The goal is to ensure that the U13 players have the identified skills and knowledge to begin participation in the competitive teams. Essentially the Academy programme is driven from the desk of the Academy Director. This involves working in the office during the day to do the administrative tasks, leading training and curriculum implementation at the fields in the evening, and attending any games the schedule allows on a weekend. There are a total of 10 teams in the Academy programme, in addition to approximately 100 players in the Junior Academy programme.

QUESTION:What is the biggest difference in the United States approach to football development versus the approach taken in Bermuda?

ANSWER: Here in the United States much thought is given towards development of vertically integrated player development systems that follow established curriculum models to identify appropriate goals and objectives, which guide the coaches and players through the identified transition periods. Curriculum models are constantly reviewed to identify successful components and areas for improvement. Coaching education is an extreme high priority and it has been recognised that being a player does not necessarily automatically qualify an individual as a coach. Development of youth soccer players is looked at from a perspective of what is developmentally appropriate for the players technically, physically, mentally, psycho-socially capabilities. Youth sports in the United States is a billion dollar industry, and as such management of successful programmes integrate all aspects ¿ staffing, curriculum, facilities, programming, long and short range planning. In the early 1990's US Soccer created a player development plan that would ensure they could produce teams capable of qualifying for the World Cup. Having achieved that over the past three World Cups they are now focused on player development opportunities and programming that will help them to produce a team capable of challenging to win the World Cup. I can remember going to National Stadium and seeing Bermuda beating teams like Canada, Mexico and the United States. Now we struggle to compete in the Caribbean. The difference is that the US had a vision and plan that they implemented to better develop the American player, while it seems that we just continue to roll the ball out there and say 'just go play'. While we by no means have the size of the player pool the United States has, I believe that quality can make up for what we lack in quantity. We can identify our players a lot easier and have the opportunity to work with them collectively more than many other countries. If given the proper education from a young age, a Bermudian can become just as good a doctor or lawyer as an American. The same applies to sports, we have a natural love and passion for the game and if given proper development, exposure and opportunities from a young age we can produce the same standard of player.

We ignored the progress and initiatives the US were implementing, with a thought that we were better than them, and now we are so far behind. Continuous player development and coaching education, programme development, and financial support has allowed the US to become a world competitor at youth and senior levels. Bermuda needs to do the same and develop a long-range plan ¿ 10 to 12 years ¿ and continuously implement, evaluate, and improve on it.

QUESTION: You recently spent the 10 days in Bermuda. Did you had an opportunity to watch any games? If so, how has the game changed since you where last

on the island?

ANSWER: To be fair 10 days is not a lot of time to make a proper assessment. I did have an opportunity to watch Premier (men and women), First Division, middle school and youth matches and training during that time. The facilities are a big hindrance to player development! The state of our fields with their bumpy surfaces lends itself towards technically slow players. It is hard to develop a passing game on a field like BAA. The lights used for training are inadequate as they are too low, too few and not bright enough at many venues. The shadows on fields makes it difficult to see balls and often restricts clubs to not using the entire field at practice. Players fitness levels are sub standard. We rely too much on individual play, with decision making and field vision very slow. Team organisation, and player discipline have always been areas that we lacked in. The ball changes possession far too much.

There are a few bright spots that I was able to see. Andrew Bascome and Kenny Thompson both have pulled together a solid group of players in their programmes and are developing them, but how do you get better when you are beating the opposition by 10 goals and more every week? It is easy to become complacent if you are not being challenged. We should have them involved in a National Academy, or an Olympic Development programme, where we can identify the better players at the clubs and work with them in providing the proper training and environment at a National level, while also assisting the clubs to develop stronger youth teams that can challenge each other. Competition is good, it keeps you honest and working to improve.

The addition of girls youth programmes in the schools and clubs is a positive step forward. There are more opportunities for the female player at the collegiate level in the US than there are for the male player. I was impressed with the thoughts and understanding of the players in a middle school girls match between Dellwood and Saltus. With good technical training and player development we can make up ground on the girls side of the programme quickly.

QUESTION: Who has had the biggest influence on you as a player and as a coach and why?

ANSWER: I really didn't start receiving proper coaching until I joined the North Village youth programme at 14. Up until that point I had individuals who were willing to give their time up to help youth programmes, but there was not much structure, organisation and teaching going on. I am grateful to those individuals though because at least they were there to roll the ball out so we could play.

At North Village I was exposed to experienced coaches and senior players that were able to help me begin to develop fully. Charlie Emory, Wendell Baxter, Joe Trott, Punchy Dill, Danny Seymour, Larry Smith and Robert Calderon are a few that come to mind. Outside of them, coaches at the National Youth team level including Winston Trott, Gary Darrell and Robert Calderon, all played a part in shaping me as a player.

Undoubtedly the biggest influence on me as a player and future coach was Andrew Bascome. Andrew's ability as a player instantly gained your respect and admiration and has always been infectious on players. But his tactical understanding of the game, to which he is a student, was the area in which he parted the greatest knowledge to me. Andrew and I share a very special relationship and having spent almost three of my late teenage years living with him I think of him as a best friend, a brother, and a father figure. He taught me discipline as a player, even sending me home from the practice field while we lived together for not taking the constructive criticism offered ¿ on and off the field. I learned from him that who you are on the field is only a reflection of who you are off the field. I learned about doing the extras that made you better as a player in Bermuda, not solely depending on attending the two weekly training sessions to develop. The area I benefited the most however was from reading his notes and diagrams for practices and serving as a sounding board for him as he developed strategy for matches. I would always ask the questions, "Well what if¿ How about ¿" that always ended in an explanation that answered fully any doubts I had. It was no surprise to me when he achieved the success at Boulevard, and even though playing for Devonshire Cougars at the time I shared in the joy of the Blazers' triumphs. Andrew understood that the game was also about entertainment for the fans, and he takes pride in his teams playing the "beautiful game". I knew then that I wanted to coach after I finished playing and I wanted to embrace the same philosophy for the game that Andrew has. This is why I followed the same route he did in traveling to Brazil to undertake a Brazilian coaching license and course. I smiled during the training sessions I attended recently in Bermuda with his U15 team as I listen to him sternly rake a player over the coals for trying something fancy and losing the ball, or insisting that they tuck their shirt in when putting back on the school uniform after practice. I remembered the days of him coaching me and secretly felt compelled to tell the players, "Don't worry he was just as tough on all the players he has developed and influenced over the year." They smiled because they respect Andrew and know he only wants the best for them.

QUESTION: Have you given any real thought to returning to Bermuda as a coach and if so, what age levels interest you most and why?

ANSWER: There has always been a desire to return home and give back to my community. It is a difficult decision because my profession is coaching, this is how I make a living, and really the only way to be able to financially survive in this profession in Bermuda would be to work for the BFA or Government. The clubs just don't have the financial resources to compensate a full time coach / administrator adequately. I also don't want to lose the forward momentum that I have here with opportunities for development and advancement within the profession. Given the right position and confidence that the support is there for a sustained period to achieve the objectives, yes I would be interested.

I think that naturally every coach would dream of leading their country to the World Cup, or your club to the Premier Division title. Before working with senior players on the island I would like to work more closely with the youth ranks. If I can help to implement a successful youth development programme that produces a technically sound, tactically smart, physically fit, and disciplined player then there would be nothing better than to work with them at the senior level. There are so many deficiencies at the senior level at the moment that it would be frustrating for both me as a coach and the players trying to implement what is being asked. I have experience in developing players through the youth ranks and feel that this is where I can best serve football in Bermuda at the moment. That is not to say that I don't welcome the challenge to work at the senior level in the future.

QUESTION: Based on what you saw when you were back in Bermuda, how much work has to be done and what are your thoughts on how long it will take? Some people advocate scrapping any real emphasis on any age group over 13 to 15. What are your thoughts on this?

ANSWER: I think that we need to develop at a minimum a 10-year plan in order to effect any meaningful or lasting changes. There are no short cuts or short-term solutions to moving our football ahead. We should look at the present U11/U12 players (boys and girls) and say , if we can do the right things, provide the right support, create the right environment, expose them to the appropriate levels of coaching and competition, then realistically when they are 21 or 22 we may have a chance to produce a team that can qualify for the CAC, Pan Am, or Olympic Games. We have shown in cricket that we can qualify for the World Cup as the smallest nation ever. It can be done in football too but will not come without sustained development.

I don't think that we need to scrap involvement of age groups over U15, as we can benefit from gaining the experiences and knowledge of the levels of play, teams, tactics, organisation, and what is required to be successful. We can't abandon a generation of players as we still have a few of the Khano Smiths, Shaun Goaters, David Bascomes, Kyle Lightbournes, and John Barry Nusums that can make it to the next level.

David, Kyle, and Shaun are working to improve the footballing product on the senior level with their professional outfits. They are creating an environment that is asking for more discipline and commitment from the players, and that is going to help some of those players gain opportunities to play at a higher level.

But we should insure that we put greater focus and support on the younger players with an aim to consistently producing players and teams that can be competitive within our region.

We need to build and expand on the work being done with the young players by Andrew and Kenny. We need to make the changes at the grass roots level in order to achieve a sustained and lasting effect.

QUESTION: If you where to be given the reigns for revamping Bermuda's football product, what would be your benchmarks for success?

ANSWER: We need to be honest with our players and let them know that less than one percent of them will go on to play professional soccer. But we can produce players who can play at the collegiate level, gain an education and becoming productive citizens on their return to the island.

If I were to set a few benchmarks by which we could measure our success they may include (not in any particular order):

1: Are the clubs able to effectively field a full complement of youth teams at the various age levels for boys and girls?

2: Can the clubs provide a safe, clean, well-lit and attractive environment with adequate equipment conducive to the development needs of soccer players and serve their communities?

3: Can the clubs staff their youth programmes with qualified, trained and certified coaches who are guided in the development of players with an outlined curriculum that produces sound players who move on to represent the club at the senior level?

4: Can we produce youth club teams who can be competitive with American youth club teams at major youth tournaments within the United States?

5: Can we produce youth National teams who can consistently compete with youth National teams in the CONCACAF region, consistently advancing to the final qualifying stages for the major tournaments?

6: Can we produce players who are consistently recruited by US college programmes to play soccer based on technical ability and education requirements?

7: Can we attract American club, college and ODP teams to participate regularly in tournaments on the island?

8: Can we develop a National player ID programme that provides continuity in the development of players from U13-U19 with regular training and annual participation?

9: Can we increase the involvement of the club programmes with their players, beyond the scope of sports, within their communities and entice the public to return to the days when games were well attended?

10: Can we produce self-disciplined, educated and motivated players that beyond sports become productive leaders within our communities and continue to remain involved with the sport though coaching, officiating or administration?