A newly launched coaches association is the latest weapon in the battle to reverse declining standards in football.

The Bermuda Football Coaches Association (BFCA) was formed late last month with Scott Morton, the former Bermuda Football Association (BFA) Academy coach, appointed as its first president.

The four main objectives of the BFCA are to develop a pool of qualified coaches, cultivate an environment of continuous learning, assist any organisation in lobbying for the improvement of football facilities and the atmosphere in which the game is conducted, and to lobby to make coaching viable as a part- and/or full-time profession in Bermuda.

Among the BFCA’s founding members are Clyde Best, the BFA’s former technical director, Richard Calderon, the former BFA president, Carlton “Pepe” Dill, the former Bermuda coach, and Andrew Bascome, who fills the role as Bermuda coach at present.

“They are the ones that got the ball rolling with this organisation to allow us now to take it from the solid base they have created which is a full constitution and strategic plan that we have already drafted and sent out to all of the coaches that have attended the meetings thus far,” Morton said. “To have all of these personalities on board — whether directly or indirectly involved — is very encouraging and everything is done with the utmost transparency so that everyone sees exactly what is going on.”

Morton said that his association is drawing up a memorandum of understanding between themselves and the BFA. “That’s in the works and I have had some initial discussions with them,” he said. “We haven’t officially sat down and met, but we have received support from the president [Larry Mussenden] and general secretary [David Sabir].

“We have received their full support and they are in possession of our strategic plan and constitution, so nothing is hidden. Richard Todd (the BFA Academy Director] has attended the all of our meetings, so he is aware of everything as well.”

Morton said that the primary aim of his association is to assist the BFA in raising standards. “The Bermuda Football Association’s strategic plan states about trying to reverse the decline in football and the competitiveness, so this is just a part in assisting that process,” he added. “It’s a lot of things we are trying to put in place to make sure we are a viable organisation to assist football wherever it is needed. And if the coaches can all get together and be progressive in how we want to do things, then the standards will be raised.”

The remaining BFCA executive consists of Derek Stapley as vice-president, Germano Botelho as secretary, Darren Reitz as treasurer, with Larry Smith, Maceo Dill and Vinzie Zuill serving as executives without portfolio. The association’s membership stands at 35.

“We are 100 per cent confident we can achieve our goals,” said Morton, who previously served as head coach at North Village. “This is based on the feedback from the coaches at the meetings we have had; everyone is excited about it. Even the coaches that have not had a chance to attend the meetings are excited.

“They love the transparency thus far and are excited to see things move along and appreciate the diverse coaches that attended the meetings. We had coaches from the Corona League, women’s coaches, PE coaches, club coaches, etc, so we have a vast diversity of coaches.”

Morton is thrilled to have been elected as the BFCA’s first leader.

“I am more than excited to be the first president to get the Bermuda Football Coaches Association off the ground and running,” he said. “I am excited and one of the reasons I am excited is because I have thought about this for a long time.

“This association is long overdue and the founding members who were trying to get this up and running 40 years ago are also excited it is finally here.”