The first session for the 10th and 11th grade was conduct by Neil and supported by Chris and Grant. Neil’s objective for the session was to let the kids establish confidence in handling the ball. The catch cry: “Make the ball to be your friend” was heard throughout this session.
Of course there can never be a tell without a show…
And Neil obliged, giving us glimpses of his skills, honed over many years in the English Premier league.
Chris chipped in with valuable one-on-one advice, complementing Neil’s session.
After a good hour’s workout there was a ‘professional’ warm-down.
And some showed even here some extraordinary talent.
All in all everyone had ‘a ball’.
You could see that Neil and Chris were just glad to be in the same picture as some of our young talent.
And then you could see that some of our more stayed talent was simply just glad to be.
And some were just, well, just well.
The second session was controlled by Chris and you could see that he was going to give his money’s worth. In his inimitable no nonsense approach Chris set the participants up in initially small groups of four and started off with structured 2 vs. 2 games.
“The third touch will get you tackled; the second touch can win you the game”
If this catch-cry sticks with only 30 percent of those that were there on the day, we will be better for it across our 12th to 17th grades.
Whilst involved and doing plenty of show and tell,
Chris did take the time to discuss some finer points of his drills with our Director of Coaching.
Chris’s session was intense but invaluable; the dramatic improvement of all participants in just one hour was remarkable and not lost on the many observers. Talking to the players is a big part of Chris’s coaching philosophy.
Chris likes to challenge and be challenged.
He does make his point, and few find it necessary to argue.
In the end some 50odd PAFC youth players have had a very special morning, let’s hope that some of it will stick like the notorious Bledisloe Park mud, our football will be the winner of the days to come.
Many thank youz to all participants, parents, caretakers and club officials, thank you to Chris, Neil and Grant for making the trip ‘down south’ and a very special mentioning for CALTEX, coming very generously to the party with petrol vouchers to boot for our three guests.