An enthusiastic group of soccer players turned out Sunday for a Winter Soccer Showcase at my school, Ridley College, in St.Catharines, Ontario, Canada. This event featured current Ridley players, and selected guests from the local Niagara soccer community. Guest Coach Chris Williams (former player with Canada and Vancouver Whitecaps) had this to say about his experience at Ridley:
"Thank you again for today's session. It was a pleasure to work alongside you. A session like today provided a clear indication that fundamental instruction and overall guidance in our sport needs to be applied constantly to youth players. "
Coach Williams worked alongside Clayton Rosario (Elite Soccer Development, Ridley College Technical Instructor) and Paul O'Rourke (Director of Soccer, Ridley College) to deliver the session that was aimed at creating a healthy competitive soccer environment, and establishing the fundamentals of defensive play. Several coaches from Ridley and the Niagara soccer community were on hand to take part in the coaching workshop and were able to continue with their own professional development in the game.
The day can best be described as step in the right direction for Ridley soccer. As an international school, we are fortunate to have players from all over the world. In the soccer showcase we had players from China, Korea, Jamaica, Nigeria, Cayman Island, and of course, Canada. Soccer is one of those unique sports that travels the globe with great popularity. Its language is understood by all players regardless of ethnicity. Still, in this particular setting the importance of effective and clear communication was underscored. Like in the classroom, the fundamentals were established, refined and developed through a variety of paired and small-sided games. Although there was a range of ability, gender, and age on display for this workshop, the smiles on the faces of players and coaches alike attested to the universal nature of the game. Enjoyment for all!
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