YOUNG, talented sportsmen and women from the Caribbean and Brazil are being urged to take advantage of a landmark opportunity to gain the attention of United States-based colleges and universities.
The first-ever Caribbean Recruitment Showcase is set for Saint Lucia from July 8 to July 16 and will include opportunities for National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCCA) sports scholarships in male and female basketball, volleyball, track and field, soccer, swimming and tennis, as well as beach volleyball for women.
Coaches from prestigious universities and colleges in the U.S will attend the event, hoping to recruit student athletes. Invited programmes include; Pennsylvania State University, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Florida State University, Vernon College, Seminole State Collage of Florida, East Carolina University, McCook Community College, Gannon University, Coppin State University, Towson University, Colorado State University, the University of Arizona, Hofstra University, the University of Kansas, the University of the Pacific and University of California, Davis.
The ground-breaking event is organized by Saint Lucia’s national volleyball team players, Tyna William and Kaji Charles, with support from Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. William says the Caribbean Showcase is striving to give Caribbean athletes the best chance for exposure to colleges and universities.
“We have invited a number of coaches and scouts from colleges and universities across the US to come here to Saint Lucia to observe these athletes play and compete, and hopefully these athletes will be able to attract scholarships to study at the various programmes in the US,” she said.
William says most young athletes need support to achieve their goals and become professionals in their various sporting disciplines. She says this is a unique opportunity that brings the coaches to the athletes.
“By having the athletic showcase right here in Saint Lucia, we are aiming to bring everything closer to home and make the athletes more comfortable since they are in a more familiar environment,” she said.
“Also, the venture for the athletes will be a lot cheaper than having to obtain a visa, then travel to the US to take part in the showcase. We have decided to keep this exclusive to the Caribbean and Brazil and that way we have coaches coming down to observe just our talent and what our young people can really bring to the table.”
Interested athletes are recommended to have CXC or SAT scores available by the time of the Showcase, and pay a registration and the showcase fee which covers accommodation, meals, transportation and showcase gear.
Student athletes are being urged to log on to the website www.caribshowcase.com for additional information and registration details. Spaces are limited and athletes will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.
The deadline for registration is Wednesday June 22.
