Bermuda’s emerging young footballers were treated to elite international coaching this week as Warwick Football Academy teamed up with California outfit SoCal Reds FC for a high-intensity October half-term clinic.
Staged at Warwick Academy from October 19th to 23rd, the five-day camp brought together players across varied age brackets and abilities, delivering a curriculum designed to sharpen technical execution, tactical awareness, and game enjoyment.
The joint initiative was powered in collaboration with DaRock Elite Player Academy, spearheaded by former Bermuda national team captain Dante Leverock, who currently serves as WFA’s Director of Player Development and High Performance.
The clinic was bolstered by the arrival of overseas guest coaches Paul Bright and Leigh Pilkington from SoCal Reds FC.
Bright, a former Manchester United Academy coach, brought considerable pedigree from the English professional development system, combining with Pilkington and the local coaching contingent to put the young players through their paces across a series of structured drills and small-sided games.
Training sessions were centred on six core development pillars:
Ball mastery & technique: Close control, first-touch efficiency, and passing range.
Game intelligence: Decision-making under pressure and positional awareness.
Physical conditioning: Agility, coordination, and functional movement.
Mental attributes: Communication, leadership, and resilience in competitive scenarios.
The partnership between Warwick Football Academy, SoCal Reds FC, and DaRock Elite highlights a growing drive to bridge Bermuda’s grassroots talent with global coaching standards and exposure.
"Player development is a journey," the academy stated following the week’s conclusion. "Every training session, every challenge, and every opportunity to learn represents another step forward.
"From our youngest developing players to our more experienced academy footballers, the message remained consistent: challenge yourself, embrace learning, work hard, and enjoy the journey."
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