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Recapping my experience at the FIFA Women’s Com-Unity Seminar in St. Kitts and Nevis
posted by Soccer Science
Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 8:33am EDT
A look at the soccer world from the personal perspective of Amanda Vandervort, a former college coach and fan of professional soccer, with an emphasis on the technologies that are revolutionizing the way we see the beautiful game.
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After the course in St. Lucia, I flew to St. Kitts and Nevis, where I had the honor of working as a Communications and Marketing Instructor for another FIFA Women’s Com-Unity Seminar.
My flight out of St. Lucia was really early in the morning, and after a short layover in Antigua, I was on my way to the island of St. Kitts, with its gorgeous green mountains, stunning white beaches and crystal clear blue waters.
Holy canoli, St. Kitts is gorgeous!
— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) August 8, 2012
From the moment I landed, the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association took great care of me. Experiences like expediting customs, or having the car ready and waiting with the air conditioning already blasting, are the humbling details I love to reflect on.
We zipped right over to Football House where I was introduced to SKNFA President Mr. Anthony Johnson, his entire staff, and our course coordinator, Miss Astonia Carey (aka Cherry), all of whom were incredibly thoughtful and generous.
Home of Football in St. Kitts and Nevis #SKNFA Excited for #FIFA Women’s Football Com-Unity Seminar this weekend! twitter.com/vandey01/statu…
— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) August 8, 2012
We worked through the agenda, sorted out the equipment and were interviewed for Mr. Vernon Springer’s radio show.
.@arode8 & @hmacintosh13 hitting the #FIFA #SKNFA interviews right off the bat twitter.com/vandey01/statu…
— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) August 8, 2012
The seminar kicked off the next morning with a full day dedicated to development of the game, and the SKNFA shared their plans for women’s football on the island.
The second and third days focused on marketing and communications. Representatives from the SKNFA shared their challenges, opportunities and visions for female football in St. Kitts and Nevis, and pledged their commitment to ensuring all girls and women have the same opportunities as boys and men.
Our group #SKNFA Com-Unity twitter.com/vandey01/statu…
— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) August 9, 2012
In general, the event could not have been timelier. Between the gold medal match of the Olympics and the finals of the LIME Star Brown Women’s League, women’s football was certainly in the spotlight this week.
It was pretty cool to watch track and field at the Olympics in the Caribbean – everybody was Usain Bolt crazy! And the FIFA Development Officer for the Caribbean is, of course, Jamaican, so that made it even more special.
A #SKNFA shout-out from our Jamaican #FIFA Development Officer (Big Mac) to Mr. @usainbolt twitter.com/vandey01/statu…
— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) August 10, 2012
Given the Gold Medal Match of the Olympics was happening during the Seminar, and a CONCACAF nation was competing, we decided to stream it live. Nevermind that I had to VPN into the U.S. to get it done ;) the participants seemed to love that we made it happen.
Watching #USAvJPN at #SKNFA Com-Unity Seminar #FIFA #London2012 twitter.com/vandey01/statu…
— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) August 9, 2012
It wasn’t all work while I was there, though. Certainly one of the best parts of these FIFA Com-Unity courses is dining at local establishments. In St. Kitts and Nevis, the delicious restaurant Sprat Net stole my heart.
The last day of the Com-Unity Seminar brought the girls football festival, where nearly 50 young soccer girls came out to play. An awards ceremony concluded the event, and each attendee received a Certificate of Participation from the President Johnson and the FIFA delegation.
On my final day in St. Kitts and Nevis, the LIME Star Browne Women’s League held it’s inaugural championship game. It was awesome to see the entire community come out in support!
Overall, St. Kitts and Nevis was an incredible experience and I learned so much from all the people I met while I was there. I’d like to give a shout-out to my amazing partners in crime, Mr. Howard McIntosh (aka Big Mac) and Mrs. Andrea Rodebaugh. And of course, special thanks to FIFA Women’s Football Development Manager Mayi Cruz-Blanco. Without her support and perseverance none of this amazing work in the promotion, growth and development of women’s football would be happening. I’m honestly not sure how she does it.
Goodbye, St. Kitts. twitter.com/vandey01/statu…
— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) August 13, 2012
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