Soccer School



We are pleased to announce that Andy Townsend & Mark Bowen (Fulham FC) will both be at Buccament Bay Resort for one week at the end of October 2011 to coach during the School Half-Term.
Guests will receive a daily group coaching schedule upon arrival into the resort. Please note that this coaching is mainly aimed at children (6+) and teenagers. There will be games outside of coaching times with both players for adults and children.
There are also plans for ex-player coaching during future school holidays with at least 1 ex-player for each week of the August school holidays in 2012, from week commencing 23rd July 2012 to 25th August 2012. Details are to be announced nearer the time.
Liverpool Football Club is the most successful English football team, having won 5 European Cups and 18 league (English Premier League, formerly First Division) titles amongst a record 40 major honours. Great players from the past include Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, David Fairclough and Ian Rush, through to the modern era of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Buccament Bay Resort is the first of Harlequin’s resorts to feature a Liverpool Football Club Soccer School. The Soccer School provides training and coaching programmes for both adults and children aged 5 and above in an environment where everyone is given the opportunity to play football to the best of their ability, with encouragement and training to develop the skills necessary to enjoy the game at whatever level they wish to play. Coaching sessions are interactive, challenging and fun.
The programmes teach the fundamental techniques of the game and show players how to develop their ball skills, focussing on the tactical, physical, mental and social elements of the game. Whilst developing players as individuals, the coaching also encourages players to work as a team both in defensive and attacking situations including positional sense, communication, handling, footwork, distribution, crosses, organisational skills, kicking, agility and flexibility.
Harlequin allows children from local schools and football associations to use the Liverpool Football Club Soccer Schools at Buccament Bay Resort to improve the standard of football and give opportunities to talented youngsters with Liverpool Football Club to encourage education through sports as part of its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. Who knows, the next Steven Gerrard may be discovered in St Vincent!
The artificial pitch is available for fun-filled friendly football games for both adults and children supervised by the Liverpool Football Club Soccer School coaches at scheduled times each day when not being used for coaching.
Coaching
The football coaching courses take place over 4 days on the artificial pitch at Buccament Bay Resort. The coaches have been trained at the Liverpool Academy and use the Liverpool coaching guidelines and exercises.
Coaching programmes
The content of the coaching sessions is designed for the age group taking part. The final part of each session will be practice games.
The maximum number of children in a session will be 15. Times for each session will be given when you arrive at the resort.
Refreshments will be provided during and after each session.
5 to 7 Years
Each session will start with fun games to warm up muscles and allow the children to get to know one another and the coach. This will be followed by games and drills working on the key techniques of the game:
- Footwork, touch work, using both feet and the inside, outside and sole of the boot passing and control
- Running with the ball and dribbling
- Basic turns with the ball
- Shooting and attacking
In addition the principles of teamwork for defence and attack, positional play and communication will be introduced at a very basic level e.g. close player down, side-on, make play predictable, eye on ball, etc.
The level of skills coached will depend on the ability of the children. Some of the following may be introduced:
- Short, medium and long range passing
- Ball control practice will include aerial control e.g. thigh, instep and chest
- More advanced turning techniques e.g. Cruyff and stop turns
- More advanced dribbling techniques e.g. step over, body fake etc.
8 to 11 years and 12 to 14 years
Each session will start with stretching and warm up exercises. This will be followed by games and drills working on the key techniques of the game as for the 5 to 7 year olds but at a higher level. Other key principles are developed if ability levels allow. For example, 2 v 2 defending which introduces the need for cover and balance by the covering defender and more advanced shooting techniques such as volleying.