About The

Sports Programme

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…

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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 in Physical Education and a minor in Health Education and he also hold a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration from Southwest Missouri State University, Missouri, USA. He is an IAAF certified Level 4 Middle and Long Distance Coach as well as an IAAF certified Level 2 Lecturer in the Coaches Education Certificate System.

In 1994 Capt Jules became an Officer of the Barbados Cadet Corps and held the post of 2ic at the #1 Coy Harrison College from 1994 – 1999. He played a key role in the conduct of all physical training and sports programmes within the corps and was also very active with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Movement, and was the group leader for a dynamic group of “dukes” from Harrison College.

During the past 20 years, Mr. Jules has held many posts within the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados and has traveled with numerous Barbados National Junior and Senior Teams as Assistant Coach, Head Coach, Assistant Manager and Manager. He has distinguished himself in the area of track and field organization and administration and spearheaded the Primary Schools annual Trevor Straughn Memorial Cross Country Championships and, what has been billed as the most exciting track and field event in Barbados, The National Primary Schools Athletics Championships (NAPSAC). He was also the co-founder of the popular Pacers Track Club which continues to produce many outstanding national athletes.

Capt Jules has worked as an NCAA Division 1 Assistant Coach, Coaching the Southwest Missouri State University Lady Bears to the MVC Conference Cross Country title in 2002. He also worked in the Turks and Caicos Islands as the National Track and Field Coach from 2006 to 2008.