UK coaches score with young footballers
Coach Harry Cullum watches the 6- to 7-year-old campers during drills
(CNS): More than 100 young people took part in the recent Maples West Ham United Youth Camps at which coaches and scouts from the UK football club’s youth academy worked on improving participants’ skills over a week of training sessions.
The West Ham United youth coaches were Harry Cullum, former professional player who holds a UEFA B licence as well as an FA coaching certificate; Carl Griffiths, former professional player with Manchester City and Portsmouth, football league manager and current scout; and Steve Portway, former professional player, football league manager, current scout and coach who holds a UEFA B licence in coaching.
During the camps, which comprised separate sessions for ages 6-11, 12-17 and 18-23, the coaches implemented a technical, educational and fun approach, which included working on improving basic skills such as dribbling, controlling, passing and shooting as well as integrating communication, movement, sharpness, focus and teamwork.
Grasspiece Promotions hosted the camps, which were supported by major sponsors Maples and Calder and others including Conyers Dill & Pearman, Futbolista World, Wata, Pepsi and Cayman National.
In a joint statement on the camps, coaches Cullum and Griffiths said, “It was a fantastic week here in the Cayman Islands and if it was possible, we would love to be doing another week here. All the kids worked really hard and did everything we asked of them and with the right coaching, there could be one or two local players who could move on to that next level.”
On the final day of the camps, replica West Ham United jerseys and training gear were presented to four youngsters who were selected by the visiting coaches for their attitude and outstanding play throughout the week — Olivia Thorpe, 6; Jackson Kirkconnell, 11; Barry-Dre Tibbetts, 12; and Trey Ebanks, 14.
Each camper received a commemorative shirt prior to the camp and was also presented with a certificate of participation.
Bruce Sigsworth, Grasspiece Promotions director, said, “The boys and girls loved the camp, the coaches loved the camp and we as organisers loved the camp. It is always great to have highly qualified and experienced coaches guiding our players; with better coaches comes better players. Thank you to all involved in getting this very successful camp for the youth of Cayman; look out for the next edition.”
