Every Wednesday night, the lights come on at the Mitchell Rangers Soccer Club (MRSC) pitch in Broadford for all their players to practice their soccer skills, and earlier this month there was a super clinic the brainchild of an U11 player: Noah Rolfe.
He suggested to the Club that their coaches write a list of skills for them to work on, and then give them to the senior players who could devise a series of skill drills for them. President of the Club Bec Rolph was both nervous and excited for her son when the Club endorsed the idea.
Around 50 junior players, and 10 senior players-turned- mentors from both the men’s and women’s turned up.
Men’s State League 5 North Reserves Captain Simon Keevers said the seniors would train afterwards, but the idea of having a skills clinic with the juniors first was a great way to warm up.
“We are sharing what we have learnt throughout our career and passing it on – these kids are the future of the Club,” he said.
The main groups practiced basic ball movement and ball trapping skills, and the smaller groups branched off to learn goal keeping defence skills.
U13 girls’ players Lily and Lara were part of the goal keeping clinic, and they said even though soccer is a winter sport they enjoy every moment. In summer, Lily will be horse riding and water skiing and Lara will be commencing a gym program with her dad.
“We would play all year round,” they said.
Women’s League 4 player, Bridgett Davies has had to sit the season out because she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Despite her injury, the Club encouraged her to join in and help develop the girls’ ball skills around the net, and she taught them the correct diving techniques, positioning, catching, and game scenarios.
To conclude the clinic and put their newly acquired skills into practice, the boys had a friendly game with the playing group evenly split, with even their mentors and coaches joining in.
