Lashley: Bright careers in sports

BARBADOS has the opportunity to offer exciting sporting career options to its youth.This was the opinion of Minister of Youth, Sports and Family, Stephen Lashley, as he gave the feature address to the pupils and faculty of the St Stephen’s Primary School during a sports awards ceremony on Wednesday.The minister applauded the boys and girls for their efforts and encouraged them to stick to their course if they desired a career in sports.He outlined the many facets of the sporting industry and emphasised the viability of having careers either in the competitive or the administrative side.Lashley pointed out the important roles of sports medicine practitioners, broadcasters, coaches, and management as necessary behind-the-scenes infrastructure and additional areas of career interest to some.Despite the emphasis being placed on the physical aspect of the development of junior athletes, Lashley did not fail to remind the students of the importance of academics. He went on to explain that education had provided avenues through which many Barbadian athletes had pursued excellence in their disciplines. The minister also highlighted as a lucrative option, with the West Indies team, English county clubs and the popular Indian Premier League all searching for new talent from our region.Lashley also appealed to coaches and sports aficionados to document their knowledge and experience for the benefit of the new generation of athletes. He described the wealth of knowledge as an untapped resource waiting to be harnessed for the betterment of local and regional sports. He advised young athletes to take the time to research all areas of sport thoroughly, using the Internet, books and the knowledge of their coaches.The minister insisted that practising discipline, being attentive to those in authority, and focusing on studies was a winning formula for success. He also charged parents, coaches, and teachers with the responsibility of developing positive attitudes in young athletes, and encouraging and nurturing them in their areas of interest.