From the start of Term 4, tge Ricki Herbert Academy introduced a 6 week Talent Program.A welcome relief for the dad, as I alwats considered the normal training program to have not been giving Del the challenge he needs to develop further.
As expected he was invited to attend the progr, which involved selected kids from 8-12 years considered to be upcoming.
They would train for two weeks, 1.5 hour training sessions every Sunday, and then have a competitive game against a similar group in Cambridge.
Today was the first day of the program.We had to leave early in the morning by 6:45am , so that we are there by start of the training ar 8am.The whole family tracked along.
As is normal when a new group come together, the first moments were all about trying to measure each other up in terms of dribbling more than purposeful football.Good thing the coach were aware of this and discouraged it as much as possible, forcing them to be more team minded than individual.
Everytime a player hogged the ball, and not release it to an available player, the coaches would blow the whistle to stop play, and explain to the player what they were expected to do with the ball at the moment.Give to a team mate as an outlet to allow the next move.
Some listened, others did, but surely with time, it will come out all together.
As for Del, he preety much was spot on eveytime he was in possession when they played mini games at the end of the sessions.He is normally naturally subdued at the start but always picks himself up as time goes, so that was good to see him still play well not much but with an equally good set of players.
All the best to Del, this looks like a good program, he just needs to keep stepping out of his shell and bring out his best as early as he can possibly do.
Everyone wants to be seen to be good.He has to be excellent.And will do even better.
