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- 10-year-old Ricshi Scarlett proudly displays her first-place medal at the Scotia Kids Football Championships finals on May 31. The Rousseau Primary student discovered a passion for football after taking up the sport less than a year ago.
Rousseau Primary School’s Ricshi Scarlett and Head Coach Devon Smith celebrate after the school claimed the Scotia Kids Football Championships title.
At just 10 years old, Ricshi Scarlett has already developed a passion for competition through track and field and netball. However, it was a simple decision to say “yes” to trying something new that led the Rousseau Primary School student to one of the biggest achievements of her young sporting career
When her coach asked if any girls were interested in playing football, Scarlett raised her hand, unaware that the opportunity would take her to a national championship title. Less than a year later, she stood proudly alongside her teammates as Rousseau Primary celebrated victory in the 2026 Scotiabank Kids Football Championships
Scarlett, one of the youngest members of the championship squad, shared that the journey was both exciting and challenging. “The experience was great,” she shared with GoodHeart. “The game was hard, especially playing against defending champions Corinaldi Primary, who would have had experience from last year, and this was our first time entering the competition. But we did our best and played hard, and our efforts paid off. ”
The achievement was particularly meaningful for Rousseau Primary and its wider school community. Head coach Devon Smith described the victory as a significant milestone for the St Andrew-based school, praising the students’ determination throughout the competition. Their resilience was especially evident in the final, as the team held its nerve against the defending champions to secure the title
BALANCING RESPONSIBILITIES
But while Scarlett may be new to football, she is no stranger to commitment and hard work. Alongside her sporting activities, she prioritises her academics and has found a way to balance both responsibilities
“I trained very hard, but there were days I had to sacrifice my training so that I could keep up in school. On those days, I would go to extra lessons to make sure I wasn’t falling behind. But, the following day I was back at training,” she explained
That disciplined approach reflects the values promoted through the Scotiabank Kids Football Championships, which uses sport to help young people develop teamwork, resilience, leadership and communication skills
On the field, Scarlett and her teammates spent weeks preparing through training sessions. Their preparation proved vital as they overcame a challenging route to the title, defeating one of the country’s top school football programmes
The championship weekend also offered experiences beyond football, with student athletes participating in a football festival with schools from across Jamaica and engaging in financial literacy activities. The finalists were also hosted in Montego Bay, as part of the experience
While Scarlett enjoys the competition itself, one of the aspects of the tournament that resonated most with her was seeing so many girls actively involved in the sport
“You mostly see boys playing football, and what I love is that Scotia had girls participate in the competition. So, it was a great experience playing with the other girls and seeing that I was not the only girl here,” she shared
For Scarlett, this reinforced the idea that football is a space where girls can thrive, build friendships and challenge themselves while pursuing a shared passion
LASTING IMPRESSION
The experience has left a lasting impression on the 10-year-old, who now counts football among her favourite sporting activities. She credits much of her journey to the support of her family, particularly the women in her life, her mother, aunt and grandmother, who are always there to encourage her and cheer her on
“We were not surprised, as she is sports-oriented. She plays netball, does cheerleading, participates in track and field, and swims,” her grandmother, Lileth Lynch-Graham, shared proudly with GoodHeart. “From as young as two years old, she has exhibited a love for sports.”
Lynch-Graham noted, too, that, since her granddaughter started playing football, she has become “a bit more spatially aware of her surroundings and what she does and how it is done”
The sport may be the newest addition to her schedule, but it has already delivered one of her biggest achievements yet. What started as a simple invitation from a coach ended with a championship trophy, unforgettable memories, important life lessons learned, the discovery of a new passion, and a few new friends
