THE injection of millions of dollars into football by Government is one way of assuring the island's most popular sport remains on a solid footing. But it is the players, particularly the young ones, who will ensure the sport continues to thrive. A drive around the island's football fields on a Saturday morning is all one needs to do to know that the sport has a bright future. The figures bear it out . . . over 1600 players from under sevens to under 18s playing in 100 teams and representing 20 youth clubs and school teams. That represents the highest number of teams and players in a few years, which means Cal Blankendal, chairman of youth football at the Bermuda Football Association, and his eight-man committee have a weekly challenge trying to run a junior league of that size. Virtually every available field is being used on Saturday, including school fields. "We have 1,650 kids, 20 youth clubs, 102 teams registered and 100 teams actually playing because two teams withdrew," explained Blankendal.

"This is the largest number of teams I've seen since I've been on board. The lowest was 75 three-and-a-half to four years ago and now it's up to 100 so it is going in the right direction."

A greater emphasis is being placed on youth development with the BFA in the process of hiring a Technical Director whose specific role will be developing the game at grassroots level. "The amount of players is significant for Bermuda because we need a lot of players to find at least one quality player at the level of, say, Shaun Goater or Clyde Best," said Blankendal who is also the BFA's first vice president.

"I want to thank (sponsors) Appleby, and even with Government funding, we can always use more funding so as to do more for the clubs. If we can get additional sponsors I'm sure Appleby would appreciate the additional support to the league.

"We're pleased with the support of the clubs who are sending their coaches to become certified. They are attending meetings and are paying attention to the rules and regulations of the association as much as possible."

Blankendal said the eight other committee members willingly give of their time to help develop the sport at youth level and admits that "without them we could not make it work".

He said: "It's something that you love and you do it for the kids and for Bermuda. You would rather put the time in and see them playing than seeing them on the streets.

"We only have a limited space for playing matches in Bermuda ¿ we really can't build any more fields ¿ so trying to fit all that in on a Saturday and trying to keep a tight schedule is one of the hardest tasks we have. To make it run efficiently this is probably the most teams that we can take at this moment ¿ I wouldn't want to go too much above 100."

Many clubs have more than one team in each division which makes it a difficult task when getting players to away matches. Co-operation of parents is vital in this regard. "First we have to thank the parents because it is the parents who bring the kids to the clubs," said the chairman. "And without the clubs the BFA wouldn't exist. We look forward to as many parents coming out every Saturday but one thing I do have to stress to the parents (of players) in all age groups is to come and watch your child play and have fun but respect the decisions of the referees, respect the other team and just try to make it a friendly day and not too competitive. We have to encourage these kids to play for the long term and we have to applaud them even at the worst moments when they make mistakes. That is what is going to keep them in the game."

The youth committee is planning to educate parents on how to conduct themselves at their child's matches, because some parents do make it too competitive and stressful for the youngsters.

"Hopefully in the upcoming months we will have a seminar for parents and just show them the impact they can have when they do things in the right way as far as cheering and supporting, or in the incorrect way and show how it will take the child away from the sport," explained Blankendal. "A child doesn't want to go anywhere and have a father shout at him for making mistakes. Parents are our partners in making it work."

The aim of the youth leagues is to have as many children as possible be exposed to playing football and enjoying it in the process. In the younger age groups in particular, clubs are urged to allow every child to play in each match.

"What we have mandated is that clubs try to have as small a team as possible from the under sevens to under 11s so that each child gets maximum participation," Blankendal stressed.

"Because if you have 22 kids in that team and the games are only half an hour or 40 minutes and you are trying to fit all those kids in, then one child may only gets two minutes (on the field) and then you forget about him."

Quite a number of girls are also choosing to play alongside the boys in the younger age groups before their own girls league starts in December. Currently there are girls playing alongside the boys up to the under 15 division, after which they can branch out to the women's division.

Vance Brown, the national women's coach, is pleased with the interest being shown by girls of all ages. "In the actual girls league we had about 200 girls divided up into about 15 teams, ranging from under seven to under 13," Brown explained.

"There is a real influx of young girls and this year we're looking to introduce two more teams. There has always been the interest (amongst girls) but some of the girls may have been frightened about playing with the boys. Now they can play against their peers and have nothing to fear." Ultimately the goal is to increase the number of females ¿ and teams ¿ playing at the senior level.

"If all the players who are playing now remain interested, then by the time they reach 15 or 16 we can have 10 to 12 senior women's teams," Brown stressed.