Young players boost skills with Coerver

A GLOBAL football coaching program is helping hundreds of young players across Geelong and the Surf Coast sharpen their skills while building confidence and friendships.

Coerver Coaching Geelong director, Adrian Leijer, said the internationally recognised program had been running worldwide for more than four decades and focused on developing technical ability and creativity in young players.

“It’s been around for 42 years and it’s really well respected within major federations and major clubs.

“Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal have used the model, and the Japanese Federation is largely based around it.”

Leijer said the program catered for players of all abilities, from beginners learning the basics to more advanced players looking to elevate their game.

“We cater for everyone. That’s probably the best thing.

“For the three to six year olds it’s about learning to love the game, and for older kids we have different levels depending on how much they want to push themselves.”

Programs include weekly training sessions as well as school holiday camps designed to give players an intensive but enjoyable experience.

The holiday camps typically run for 12 hours across three days and combine technical training with games and small competitions.

“The mornings are largely based around skills and understanding what we’re teaching. Then we have mini World Cups where the kids play matches,” Leijer said.

“You see their confidence grow straight away. Even the following weekend they’re more confident on the pitch.”

A major focus this year is the April development camp, a four-day intensive program designed to prepare players for the season ahead.

“It’s a four day camp with about 21 hours of football,” Leijer said.

“We bring in elite athletes to speak to the kids, run quizzes and skill sessions, and by the end they’re tired but they absolutely love it.”

The program also hosts larger competitions, including the Coerver Summer Cup in Torquay, which brings hundreds of players together for small-sided matches in a festival style environment.

“Last year we had about 730 kids playing on Friday nights, which was pretty cool for Torquay,” Leijer said.

“The more kids playing football, the happier I am.”

Families interested in Coerver Coaching Geelong’s camps or programs can register at coerver.com.au or through the Coerver Coaching Geelong social media pages.