ABOUT THE SPORTS PROGRAMME
In October 1990, the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme was established with the following mission statement:
“To develop a unique body of highly trained athletes in various sports, capable of representing the nation at the highest levels of competition, and also rounded in their social, educational and moral development.”
In 1990, forty-four athletes commenced training on a full-time basis in four main sporting disciplines; soccer, track and field, boxing and table tennis. Cycling and cricket were subsequently included in 1991 and 1994 respectively.
Since its inception members of the BDF SP have performed creditably in their respective disciplines. The BDF SP football team has won a number of local competitions and team members have successful secured attachments and contracts in countries such as the Cayman Islands, Argentina, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
The track and field athletes have also dominated local track and field events and have been successful in obtaining university scholarships in Cuba and the United States.
The Sports Programme has had equal success in other disciplines such as cricket, cycling, table tennis and boxing, with athletes participating in sporting events as far as the Mexico, India and Russia.
Some of the more notable athletes developed through the Sports Programme include:
- Christopher Henry – Boxing
- Marcus Thomas – Boxing
- Shawn Terry Cox – Boxing
- Junior Greenidge – Boxing
- Tino Best – Cricket
- Miguel Cummins – Cricket
- Mario Hart – Football
- Robert Roberts – Table Tennis
- Trevor Farley – Table Tennis
- Melissa Straker – Track & Field
- Joy-Anne Eli – Track & Field
Command Element
Sport Programme Coordinator

Captain Michael Jules
Captain Michael Jules took up the appointment of Sports Coordinator of the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme on 1 June 2010 and is responsible for the overall administration of the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme along with assisting in the implementation of sporting programmes and activities for the wider force. He had a stellar career as a high school athlete, Captaining the Lodge School Track and Field at the Older Secondary Schools Athletics Championships in 1984 and the Barbados Carifta Junior Team in 1985. He represented Barbados in Track and field from 1982 to 1985 winning a medal all four years in the 1500m and the 5000m and In 1985 received a track and field scholarship to the United States. Capt Jules graduated from Murray State University, Kentucky, the USA with a Bachelor of Science Degree…