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Soccer Academy - Day One
Around 5 P.M., after everyone was checked in, we gathered in the hall for the camp opening talk.
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John Ellis is the camp director, in front, welcoming the students and introducing the coaches: left, John Hancock; right, Jac Cicala. |
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 Don't be fooled by coach Clive Walker's charming smile. The camper's favorate quote from him, with an English accent, is "A running dog is a happy dog. A static dog gets a bullet in the head." It doesn't matter if you are 20 or 50 years old, any slightest infraction, he'll tell you "give me 10". That's 10 pushups. The trick is, I learned from good old Peter Noon, you go down when he tells you to, and get up as soon as he walks away. It's a fun game, I suppose.
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After the opening ceremony we headed for the cafeteria for dinner. Then out to the field to play 4v4 street soccer. We randomly make a team of 4 and play for 5 minutes. Breakup, make another team and play. After each game you report the points you (your team) earned. Coaches walked around and observed us. With the total points earned, plus their observation, they have a pretty good sense what level the students are.
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By the way, John Ellis is the Assistant Coach to the U.S. Women's National Team. Jac is the head coach of George Mason University. Here is a little news about Clive's appointment to Dover Athletic Football Club. John Hancock used to play at Leicester City and Sunderland of the English Premiere League. He is now a solicator (lawyer). He validates that soccer is a smart sport. |
Don't be fooled by coach Clive Walker's charming smile. The camper's favorate quote from him, with an English accent, is "A running dog is a happy dog. A static dog gets a bullet in the head." It doesn't matter if you are 20 or 50 years old, any slightest infraction, he'll tell you "give me 10". That's 10 pushups. The trick is, I learned from good old Peter Noon, you go down when he tells you to, and get up as soon as he walks away. It's a fun game, I suppose.