Barbados has launched an ambitious grassroots cricket initiative designed to cultivate the next wave of elite cricketers for the nation and the wider West Indies region, with more primary schools signed up than initially targeted. The Republic Bank Five Fun Cricket Programme, officially launched Wednesday at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, is focused on introducing children aged 7 to 12 to the sport and building a deep pipeline of young talent.
Wendell Coppin, Operations and Development Manager at the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), framed the program as a critical training ground for emerging cricketing skill. He announced that organizers have already exceeded the original 48-school target set by Cricket West Indies (CWI), with a minimum of 60 primary schools across the island now set to take part in the softball-focused initiative. The launch included a live skills demonstration from students of Bayleys Primary, one of the participating institutions.
“It’s a softball programme within the schools and so far, again with the help of the National Sports Council, we are targeting 60 primary schools across the island,” Coppin explained. “With the help of the National Sports Council, the Barbados Cricket Association and our coaching staff, we expect that every single child in the next three years would have seen a Five for Fun programme, used a Five for Fun bat and would have held a Five for Fun ball, as a result of the support from our sponsors Republic Bank.”
The program is structured to deliver widespread engagement and competitive growth for young participants. Inter-school matches will be held across local zones, leading up to a one-day national festival that brings together all zonal winning teams. Each competing team will field five players: three boys and two girls, ensuring inclusive participation across genders.
Coppin emphasized that the initiative is intended to keep the talent pipeline flowing for Barbados and West Indies cricket. “We hope that the conveyor belt of cricketers within Barbados and certainly West Indies will continue, as a result of the help from the BCA, the National Sports Council, and indeed our partners at Republic Bank,” he said.
BCA Chief Executive Officer Paul Skinner described the cross-sector collaborative effort as both timely and essential for rebuilding mass participation in cricket across Barbados. He added that the program goes far beyond just teaching athletic skills, positioning cricket as a tool for positive youth development.
“Cricket must not only be seen as just a game, but as a vehicle that can encourage and create positive behavioural change in young people,” Skinner said. “The Republic Bank Five for Fun Cricket programme will give children the opportunity to be explorative and expressive while building core qualities of leadership, patience, teamwork, dealing with adversity, confidence, time management, commitment, responsibility, and so much more. It is truly a well rounded programme and it’s a skills development initiative that I think will go far here in Barbados.”
For title sponsor Republic Bank (Barbados) Ltd, the initiative aligns with the firm’s long-standing commitment to youth investment and community building. Carlene Seudat, Managing Director and CEO of the bank, called the launch a proud and milestone moment for the company.
She noted that the program has already delivered proven results in Saint Lucia, where it launched in 2021, and expressed confidence that Barbados — with its deep, celebrated cricketing heritage — would embrace the initiative with equal passion. “We’re especially proud to partner with the BCA, CWI, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport through the National Sports Council to bring this initiative to life,” Seudat said. “Having already seen the success of Five for Fun in Saint Lucia since 2021, we are confident that Barbados will embrace it with the same energy, passion, and excellence that defines its rich cricketing legacy.”
Beyond athletic and personal development, the program offers tangible financial benefits for all participants. Seudat announced that every child taking part will receive a Republic Bank Right Start savings account with an opening deposit of $50, to encourage early financial literacy. Additional cash incentives will reward top-performing teams, with the winning squad eligible for up to $200 per student, reinforcing values of teamwork, dedication and excellence through friendly competition.