Drone soccer expansion starts in western Ja

AS DRONE soccer continues to emerge as a sport in Jamaica, 14 students from western Jamaica were introduced to it during a specialised high school drone pilot programme at Cornwall College in Montego Bay last week.

Sponsored by Sandals Foundation in collaboration with Cornwall College Old Boys’ Association, drone soccer was an addition to the second-year programme at the school.

Of course, there are mixed views as to whether the sport should be incorporated in schools.

First-timer, 17-year-old Abianne Currie, from Maldon High School, had fun. Recommended by her principal, she said it should be incorporated in schools.

“It could be life-changing for students in schools. I came here today very nervous because I don’t like competing. I never flew a drone before, but getting into the training, I became relaxed and got more into the competition,” said Currie.

“The training was fun. In the morning I learned some verticals about flying drones. As for drone soccer, I would do it again next year but I am leaving school,” added Currie.

Mount Alvernia Alvernia High, Cornwall College, Maldon High and Holy Childhood are some of the schools which participated.

Unlike Currie, 15-year-old Joshua Forbes from Cornwall College is no stranger to flying a drone. However, he believes that drone soccer should not be incorporated in schools.

“I believe that everyone would want to fly the drone but there wouldn’t be a sense of discipline and order in it,” Forbes briefly stated.

Despite his concerns, Forbes, who plays golf, said he learned a lot from the training and would love to pursue drone soccer.

“It was really fun and by far the best activity we had done in the drone training. I felt nervous considering the drone doesn’t have its own GPS. The practical is a little slower with gradual movements. But, with soccer, the drone can move where you like and you have to be disciplined to fly a drone.”

“The soccer gives you a sense of freedom when you are playing and competing. I overcame nervousness when I started to win and scored many goals,” he added.

In a controlled environment, both Forbes and Currie had a competitive and fun matchup against each other. Currie scored six goals while Forbes scored eight.

According to president of Jamaica Drone Soccer, Dervon McKellop, the training programme aims to provide students with new experiences.

“The aim is to broaden the students’ horizons through drone soccer and other educational programmes. With drone soccer and the other educational programmes that focus on flying drones, the drones are very safe.”

There is a drone soccer or drone flight simulator that the students can actually practise on using a controller. This will give them the ability and comfort to fly the drones before physically doing so.

“They build their skill sets and that enables them to be much more confident at the end of the training,” he added.

Additionally, McKellop stated that this year, the plan is to expand the programme across Jamaica.

“We integrated the drone soccer programme, which we are currently preparing for the Drone Soccer World Cup in South Korea in September. We are introducing these students in western Jamaica that will give them an appetite of what drone soccer is and also identify potential talent to add to the national team overall.”

The Drone Soccer World Cup is the premier global competition for the sport, featuring national and club teams from FIDA member countries. Jamaica is an official FIDA member, which means the country is eligible to host national qualifiers to select both national and club teams for the World Cup.