There’s a fine line between gaining experience and destroying confidence.And at times, it might be argued, that line may have been crossed at the Carifta Games which ended on Monday night.The curtain came down under a shower of praise.The organisation was first class, the spectator support from not only Bermudians but the hundreds who poured in from Jamaica and Bahamas created a carnival atmosphere, and the performances on both the track and the field demonstrated why this festival continues to be one of the most important junior meets in the world from a developmental perspective.But there remained a niggling suspicion that Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) might have put too much emphasis on quantity rather than quality.Clearly as the host nation, Bermuda wanted to show the Caribbean we can produce athletes who can perform in the vast majority of events.And we did that by fielding some as young as 13 and 14.They couldn’t be expected to reach the same level of those who barely dipped the Under-17 age criteria. And as such they found themselves outclassed and almost overwhelmed by those from overseas with so much more experience.The BTFA will be hoping their very young contingent will have learned lessons which will serve them well in future Carifta Games.But having thrown some of the athletes in at the deep end, they’ll also be hoping that they haven’t emerged with doubts about their own ability, that it hasn’t deterred them from future competition.There has to be a first and last in every event. And those at the bottom of the pile now have to be encouraged to keep working and training so that in the next Games they will be far more competitive.What did emerge over the weekend is that coaches such as Brian Wellman, Troy Douglas, Devon Bean, Mike Watson and Xavier James, all of whom have international experience, are willing to give back to the sport and impart their vast knowledge. They should all be commended.Douglas, a three-time Olympic semi-finalist, believes our athletes have to get ‘stronger and sharper’ to compete with Caribbean islands, although Bermuda can never expect to match the likes of Jamaica, considered by some as the sprint capital of the world, or Bahamas who are fast becoming a force on the world stage.But we can get better, he believes, by racing more regularly against our neighbours to the south in regional meets. In an ideal world that would work.However, as Bermuda Football Association have found out, the cost of taking teams down to the Caribbean or bringing their teams up to Bermuda often proves prohibitive.Over the weekend, the Island’s athletes used the flag waving and trumpet blowing as inspiration.There were six medals to show at the end of the meet, one more than in Jamaica a year earlier.And, of course, Justin Donawa’s triple jump gold was the first in any event for Bermuda for more than eight years.The majority of the 54-strong Bermuda contingent equipped themselves incredibly well, soaking up the spectator support, which in turn helped calm the nerves.What was also impressive was the fact that of the five medallists, only Ashley-Taylor Bean, who claimed a silver and a bronze, and Donawa, are studying overseas.The other three are still at schools in Bermuda.That’s another indication that the BTFA’s programme is on the right track.But they still have to be careful not to push too hard too soon those who show potential at an early age.If there’s one criticism that could be aimed at the governing body, that would be it.Otherwise, Carifta was a roaring success.As has always been the case, sport strengthens ties with other countries far more than the ties established through politics or economics.It unites a country, establishes an understanding of other cultures and creates a rapport between athletes that may last a lifetime.The Games did just that.— ADRIAN ROBSON