Coerver Coaching program in Geelong and on the Surf Coast

When Coerver Coaching director Adrian Leijer reconnected with his old coach, Ange Postecoglou, at the English Premier League last month, the pair got to reminiscing.

“I’d just listened to him screaming, ‘Play the ball forward!’ at his Tottenham players and I joked to him how familiar those words were to my ears,” Leijer said.

“Ange always had certain rules; playing the ball forward was one. He also coached us to be brave on the ball, play short passes and to stay positive.”

Leijer, a former Melbourne Victory captain and Socceroo, gets serious when talking about how global football has changed under coaches like Postecoglou.

“Ange taught me how to play football properly. He was ahead of the times and it’s why he’s now coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said.

“You need to have an extremely high level of technical ability to play his way. My time under Ange as a player ingrained the way the game should be played and why I believe in the Coerver philosophy so much.”

As well as reacquainting himself with Postecoglou, the Torquay local toured the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Academy, which develops young football talent between the ages of eight and 18 years.

Leijer said it was an incredible opportunity to explore the academy, which has been influenced by the global Coerver Coaching program.

“I’m always striving to improve the Coerver programs we run in Geelong and on the Surf Coast.

“It was a fantastic learning opportunity and they had just as many questions for me because Coerver Coaching is very highly respected in the UK.”

Leijer said the trip gave him confidence knowing his local Coerver program shares similar methods and high-performance standards.

“Our job is also to teach the kids to love the game and provide the right environment for all abilities, that’s my belief, creating an environment where the kids just want to play.

“Spending a day with Ange to watch him in action with his players gave me great insight into how top coaches are improving and motivating their talent.

“Ange was equally interested in what we are doing and pleased to hear about the great impact Coerver is having on kids across our region.”

For further information about the Coerver Coaching clinics and school holiday programs, head to coerver.com.au