OVER the past several school holiday breaks, Buninyong\u2019s De Soza Park has become a home to budding young soccer players who are looking to socially take up the sport.<\/p>\n
For several summers, Mount Helen man Alan Clark has been arranging holiday soccer training sessions at the park for late primary and early secondary school aged kids without the worry of preparing for competitions.<\/p>\n
With the new year arriving and no school for most children until just before February, he\u2019s planning to bring the free weekly sessions back on Monday 1 January.<\/p>\n
Mr Clark said the get-togethers are first and foremost about having fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a sport I\u2019ve had a lot of fun from and now I want to return some of that and see if I can engender some of that among the kids,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the most fun I had as a kid was just going to the local park and playing a scratch game with whoever turned up. That\u2019s the type of fun aspect I\u2019m looking to bring here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of having it at De Soza is because of how central it is to Buninyong life. People can come by and see this going on and decide if they want to join.\u201d<\/p>\n
Running from 10am to about 11am and focusing on ball skills and basic drills, the sessions will take place each Monday until school starts up again.<\/p>\n
The sessions can cater for between eight to 10 kids.<\/p>\n
A veteran player of about 50 years, Mr Clark currently coaches as part of Big Issue\u2019s Community Street Soccer Program in Ballarat and Melton.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a lifetime in the game,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was the only sport in my childhood and I\u2019ve been a competition player, coach and referee all my adult life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stopped my week-to-week involvement a few years ago when I retired as a ref, but I\u2019d been coaching Melbourne-based clubs including some well-credentialed ones but mostly at community level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah Rabl has been taking her daughters Kate and Jane to the sessions since early last year and said it\u2019s been a great source of outdoor fun for her children.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just saw Alan and asked what was going on and we\u2019ve been going ever since,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s so great with the kids, very patient and kind. Both the girls have a great time every time. It\u2019s a nice social activity for the holidays.<\/p>\n
\u201cKate was born at 24 weeks and has never done well in sports for that reasons so I think Alan\u2019s gentle approach has really helped her get more involved in soccer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see skills now she\u2019s never been able to develop otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jane said taking part in the soccer sessions have made her more interested in the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlan\u2019s a very good teacher and it\u2019s got us watching the Matildas which is nice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot here. I think for now we\u2019ll stick with Alan and yard practice instead of competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participating kids can turn up to each session unannounced so long as they bring suitable playing clothing.<\/p>\n
Soccer balls and other equipment will be provided.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
OVER the past several school holiday breaks, Buninyong\u2019s De Soza Park has become a home to budding young soccer players who are looking to socially take up the sport. For several summers, Mount Helen man Alan Clark has been arranging holiday soccer training sessions at the park for late primary and early secondary school aged […]<\/p>\n