Bermuda has officially become the latest member association to launch the Concacaf Bigger Game Academy. This flagship "football for development" initiative is designed to turn schoolyards and local pitches into classrooms, using sport as a vehicle for personal growth, resilience, and social inclusion.
The Concacaf Bigger Game Academy launch in Bermuda represents a powerful collaboration between key local organizations, including the Bermuda School Sports Federation (BSSF), the Ministry of Education, the Bermuda Union of Teachers, and the Bermuda Football Association (BFA). This education-through-football initiative is represented by a dedicated leadership team, with Crenstant Williams serving as a representative for both the BFA and the Bermuda Union of Teachers, while Arnold Manders serves as the Sports Officer for the Ministry of Education. Martin Wolf, representing the BSSF, also plays a critical role in the initiative, which aims to turn community pitches into classrooms for essential life skills, including teamwork, resilience, and safeguarding.
The academy provides a structured 10-week curriculum that blends football drills with critical life lessons in teamwork, respect, and equality. Since its inception, the program has trained over 325 coaches across the region, impacting nearly 1,600 children.
Currently, a world-class team of facilitators—including Joe Supe, Nigel Linton, Olivia Graveley, and Tashana Vincent—are on the island under the guidance of lead facilitator Cristian Cubillas. They are working directly with local Physical Education teachers and students at the National Sports Center North Field to embed these standards into the Bermudian curriculum.
Bermuda Football Association Second Vice President and Head of Referees, Crenstant Williams, highlighted the tangible benefits this program brings to the island's schools and the quality of equipment being provided to ensure its success.
Williams said, “It’s really about developing grassroots... we have about 70 to 75 students from all across the island. They each received a T-shirt, backpack, and water bottles... each school received 10 footballs, bibs, and the teachers received rain jackets and ball bags.”
Concacaf aims to bring the Bigger Game Academy to all 41 Member Associations by 2027, ensuring safeguarding and child protection are at the heart of the regional game. For Bermuda, it’s a core pillar of a broader social responsibility platform that uses the power of football to forge a brighter future for the next generation.
