Sport in the Caribbean

by Kelsey Moore


It has been quite interesting to learn about sport in the Caribbean and the importance of specific sport to specific cultures. We were given a very in depth look at cricket in Barbados and the historical and cultural history of it. There is not even a comparable sport in the US that is so embedded in culture that it becomes part of one's national identity. Cricket has played that role in Barbados and has largely overshadowed all other sports on the island. However, different sporting cultures have emerged on other West Indies islands as soccer reigns king in Trinidad and Tobago and track and field remains dominant in Jamaica. It was interesting to hear how soccer is Barbados is seen as the gang and drug related sport while cricket is much more of the civilized sport which all young people are encouraged to play as a part of the growth and development process. Cricket is respected and followed by almost everyone in Barbados, but has become a sore subject of late for some. The Barbados (and West Indies) cricket teams are not performing to the exceptionally high standards set in past decades by their teams of being among the best in the world. Despite still being hands down the most popular sport at grassroots and elite levels, cricket in Barbados is not at the competitive level that they used to be.

St. Lucia, however, has a very different grassroots sporting culture in that most youth here are playing soccer. There is some variety with programs in volleyball, cricket and netball as well, but soccer still remains the most popular sport on the island of St. Lucia. It is interesting, since the current captain of the West Indies cricket team is from St. Lucia, that there is not more of a widespread interest in playing the sport. In that respect, St. Lucia seems more similar to other developing nations in which soccer is played by everyone everywhere and provides an opportunity for someone to leave their home area. Many of the children and youth in St. Lucia have never left the island due to financial constraints. Sport may provide an opportunity for a youth to be offered a much sought-after scholarship to an American university or even a chance to travel to another Caribbean island to play in regional competitions. Learning about sport and the culture surrounding various sports in the Caribbean has really been a new and exciting experience!