Bridgetown, Barbados –May 18, 2025 – Barbados just hosted a significant event for women’s rugby. The “Grassroots to Global 2025 Barbados” summit, held on May 17th and 18th, helps empower women in rugby coaching and grow participation among girls across the island. This initiative aims to foster supportive environments to attract and retain female coaches, a vital step in growing the sport at the grassroots level.
Empowering the Next Generation of Coaches
Former national rugby player Cherrise Harte facilitated the two-day program. It brought together 22 young women aged 18-30, all focused on creating inclusive pathways in sport. The event started with a virtual session on May 17th. Then, a full-day, in-person workshop followed on May 18th. Over 15 participants met at the Government Engineering Department Conference Room in Lower Bank Hall, St. Michael. They explored the challenges and opportunities for women in sports, emphasizing nurturing female coaching talent.
Action Plans and Energized Participants
The summit produced concrete results. Participants collaboratively created a practical, grassroots-focused action plan for immediate use. This plan aims to create more opportunities for women and girls in rugby coaching, potentially unlocking future funding. Additionally, the group significantly contributed to a national action plan. This plan, tailored for resource-constrained environments, has the ambitious goal of scaling these efforts nationwide.
The event also deeply resonated with participants, who enthusiastically shared their insights. Jayde Adams expressed her satisfaction, stating the seminar was “interesting, informative and very inclusive.” She added, “I learned more about rugby and the community and got some thoughtful insights from each member.” Emilie Trotman agreed, noting the forum “really helped us outline the various issues we face in women’s rugby in Barbados.” She believes “Gathering women up to fight a common issue is always a good idea.”
Meanwhile, Jessica Derrell reflected on the in-depth discussions. She said the forum was “a hearty and insightful discussion of the hot topics in women’s rugby in Barbados.” She particularly enjoyed “the opinions and experiences of the younger and older leaders,” which “really opened my eyes to different perspectives.” Derrell concluded, “Overall, I’m feeling energized to continue to contribute to women’s rugby!” Also adding her voice to the conversation was Alanna Quintyne who found her experience truly “inspiring.” She loved “being able to hear all the different thoughts and opinions from women who want to break the barriers within the sphere of rugby.” Her favorite parts were “the arts and crafts section showcasing our journeys to leadership, as well as the mini shark tank segment.”
