CONCACAF launches NextPlay initiative

CONCACAF launches NextPlay initiative

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) over the weekend announced plans to launch comprehensive, grassroots development programme’s, to promote football within the region, called NextPlay.

The program is executed in partnership with CONCACAF’s member associations as well as local schools and governments.

Along with The Bahamas, countries that will be impacted by the program include Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

CONCACAF, along with its member associations, will partner with governments, schools and volunteers across the region, to create a grass roots football delivery platform that will serve as an engine for football growth.

“NextPlay is built on solid methodology to train coaches and work with young people on and off the field, while championing the social values of sport,” said CONCACAF director of development Jason Roberts.

In addition to teaching kids the fundamentals of how to play the game, he said, “we are harnessing the love for our game to instill the right values and transmit messages that will stay with these kids and young adults for a lifetime — whether they go on to become professional footballers, doctors, educators, or the like.”

CONCACAF is the continental governing body for association football in North America, which includes Central America and the Caribbean region. CONCACAF currently consists of 41 member associations.

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.