Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Veteran European athletes teach soccer skills and love of the game to young Socorro players

If players pick up the passion they will go home to practice on their own say coaches

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

In an annual tradition, AYSO has brought in players from Europe to teach local athletes the skills and the passion of the game.

"First we came to discover the culture and then to bring our passion," said French coach Frederic Picard. "In Europe the main sport ever is soccer."

Picard, played on a semi-pro team in his hometown of Paris, he also played on his university team, and has coached for the last two years and recently received a degree in coaching.

Fellow coach Tom Lancaster lives in England and coaches at a professional youth academy for youth who are trying to be premier soccer players.

"I really love soccer," Picard said. "In school, after school, with my friends, with my club - all the time."

The challenge for the pair is to work with Socorro players and help instill the passion - and skills of the game in the one week they have with the local athletes.

For the younger players, "My goal is to get them really comfortable with the ball and on a high so they go home and practice and you see a real big improvement," Lancaster said. "Obviously we want them all to improve, but also to have a good experience so they want to play more soccer."

The younger players have balance and coordination problems and are still afraid of the ball, according to Picard, so they focus on those things.

"The youngest group - we try to get them as many touches as possible," Lancaster said. "We also disguise skills in games. The main thing is to have fun and keep smiles on their faces. They are a really good group - quite responsive - and able to do some advanced moves."

With the older players they are able to teach more technique and tactical skills.

"I like really challenging the kids and working them quite hard," Lancaster said of the older players. "They learn quite fast and make bold moves."

The best part of the trip, according to Picard, is the kindness of people in general and the weather.

"You may think its small, but in Europe, especially in England it rains three times a day every day," Picard said.

And good news for those who know how much the English love their soccer.

"Compared to what I've seen in the states, (the Socorro players) are more on the level of what I see in England," Lancaster said.

The coaches will teach through Friday at Sedillo Park. The younger players practice in the mornings and the older in the evenings.

nholland@dchieftain.com

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