It Takes A Village - Grenada's Untapped Sporting Potential

By Haron Forteau.

Introduction

Sport, whether it be track and field, football, cricket, or dominoes, connects us all. It bridges generational gaps, transcends socioeconomic status, race, and other divides. Everyone knows the joy and elation we all experience whenever our team and club wins that elusive championship title, albeit for a trophy, monetary prize, or the ever-famous bragging rights. These incentives have driven many for decades, even centuries if we ever decide to go back that far!

However, in my small island of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, there's a disconnect. The focus is often on the winners, those who secure the top three positions and are cherished, remembered, and immortalised. Lower-ranked athletes, however, are frequently forgotten. I would like to highlight some ways that we can have a more effective strategy with providing more support towards our athletes.

Grenada's Gifted Athletes

Grenada has been blessed with naturally talented athletes who have broken through the challenges of poverty, doubt, discrimination, and being overlooked and just not being selected, and have risen to the top of the world stage, by reference to athletics (Kirani James, Anderson Peters, Alleyne Francique, Lindon Victor, Kurt Felix, and many others to name a few). The world did not expect these generational athletes to come from such a small country. Yet here they are. It makes you wonder: If they were to come from such challenging situations, how many more talented athletes would we have if we really invested in our athletes? That is why it takes a village.

According to Sports Psychologist Dan Gould, he lists 7 qualities that define athletic success.

• Ability to cope with adversity
• Confidence
• Resilience
• Focus on the task
• Sport IQ
• A sense of hope
• Positive expectations/optimism

Notwithstanding the mental fortitude, aptitude and physical health attributes required, surrounding aspects of the athlete need to be as supportive as possible, and to break this down into two categories: internal and external.

Internal Support: Nurturing Young Talent

Athletic skill and ability are usually developed during the primary and secondary school levels, whereupon the realisation that an athlete wins a few races/shows talent, support is given from teachers, family, and friends. Particularly leading up to the ultimate secondary school championships, well known as Intercol, where the nation's eyes will be on the particular athletes for 72 hours (it is a 3-day event) and possibly for the Carifta Games. But other than that, many of the events that occur are desolate, where only a few of the athletes' parents and die-hard supporters come out. We need to do more for our athletes!

Parents

Once you have time, Please show up to your children's events. It is a sacrifice, but I can assure you the benefits outweigh the advantages. Showing up in these events is vital. Also be your child's biggest fan, There are many athletes whom I've had conversations with that state they perform better at events when they know that their parents are in the crowd supporting them. be aware of the times and the performances. Monitor their progress carefully alongside coaches. Don't let it be the coaches' sole responsibility.

For Clubs and Associations

I have a simple question: If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is around to hear it does it make a sound?

Yes, it does but who is aware of the sound?



Let's use the term tree as an athlete, the result at various sporting disciplines is the sound that the tree makes when it falls and the woods as social media or traditional media. We have to be our biggest fans. Have someone dedicated to keeping times and results, and do not keep it in a notebook or a secret WhatsApp group, Better yet if the meet has digital times, take advantage of that and publish snippets of results to social media. Is it close to a record or a personal best? Let the world know!

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are free to post on, and many of us have the bare minimum of commodities to post: a cell phone and data/wifi. Let our athletes' performances be heard, and take images/videos of our athletes so they can see their progression across different events.

(This is a shameless plug for my photography services) To book a team session with Haron Forteau Media, click here.)

Create a portfolio of your athletes, times, and performances; have a document that is easy to share, so when scouts and potential sponsors do come along you won't be caught dropping the baton. We need to package, and 'sell' our sport. Treat it as a business and not just an amateur hobby to investors so that it can reach the heights it needs to be. the aspect of our sport Professionalism and preparedness go a long way. Which leads me to my next point.

Sponsorship: Investing in Potential and the Future

Corporate social responsibility goes a long way when you support athletes, clubs, or sporting organisations.  Partnering with athletes provides significant brand exposure through social and traditional media.  Developing a strong track record attracts potential customers and brands, expanding your client base and converting sports fans into loyal customers.

Furthermore, you're positively impacting the lives of athletes, keeping them away from negative influences.  There are talented athletes on the brink of international competition, but they are held back by broken equipment, inadequate nutrition, and the need to work long hours just to survive.  Sponsorship allows them to focus on their athletic dreams without these distractions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Grenada has the potential to be a powerhouse in athletics, but it requires a village effort – from parents and teachers to clubs and sponsors and crowd support. By working together, we can create an environment where all athletes, regardless of their ranking, are supported and empowered to achieve their full potential and the rewards will be much sweeter.