From August 6-8, dozens of international kids, aged 5-12 from across the island joined Phuket Soccer Schools for a fun-filled three-day football camp, facilitating a variety of indoor and outdoor games, challenges, matches and team-building activities, and footwork exercises to help develop football techniques and team strategies, while fostering the development of physical, cognitive and coordinative skills and techniques – for footy and life.
The camp was led by Coach Martin Hill and Coach Joe, who really know how to put the 'fun' back into footy 'fundamentals.
Speaking to The Phuket News about about the latest camp, Coach Martin said, “It was a really fun camp this year, and the players gained a lot. Our staff utilize small-group and team settings so that each player improves his/her ball skills. We had about 20 campers, who were grouped according to their age and ability in order to maximize effective instruction, and everyone improved their skills, and left with an even greater love for football and fiends.”
Martin went to talk about other PSS News, including the upcoming PSS National Football tournament, to be held at Thanyapura on the weekend of October 3-4.
“This year we’ll be welcoming teams from Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiangmai and of course Phuket,” adding that he’s also received interest from a teams in Samui and Hua Hin.
The annual tournament, which includes up to eight teams in four age groups (U8, U10, U12 and U15) will be the third edition running.
“The Under-8s are five-a-side and the rest are seven-a-side. e use age appropriate goals, balls and fields and every team will leave with a token medal no matter what place they finish,” he said, noting that a showcase final will be played in each age category, with the top three teams to be issued gold, silver and bronze medals.
“We’re about 90 per cent booked already, but we can still take a few more teams. Anyone interested can email me sooner the better [see end info],” he added.
Martin then went on to talk about the PSS Academy, which is also based at Thanyapura.
“Our academy program is geared towards putting advanced players into a highly competitive environment. The academy is for the serious players who want to head down a pathway towards being able to play at collegiate and professional levels … and who are dedicated athletes that are committed to training in a professional environment, with professional coaching.”
Martin added that players generally train year-around on the weekend. In addition to the weekly training sessions, players also take part in trial matches with local clubs, and compete in at least three tournaments per year: one local, one national, and one international.
“PSS coaches want to maximize potential in each player, as well as increase their exposure in the soccer world, and these tournaments do just that – putting the players in a competitive environment, and really letting them test their abilities against their peers.”
Asked about Academy trials and admission, Martin said, “Our training sessions contain drills that are specifically designed towards helping players with a certain attitude and ability; and, as such, only certain types of players will be able to handle the culture that is inherently created. It is for this reason that the PSS Academy is by trials and invitation only.”
After trials, if the coaching staff thinks the player is a good fit, the player will then be invited to join the program.
“When PSS staff extends the invitation, it is a guarantee that our professional staff will be 100% committed to the child and helping them achieve their goals; however, we do ask that the family and the child is also 100% committed to our program, as well,” he added.
As of August 15, PSS Academy will resume the 2nd season of 2015 with U8/U10 and U12 Squads. Training is every Saturday at Thanyapura from 3.30pm - 6pm. PSS has one scholarship opening for its U12 Academy squad.
Any high standard football player (Thai national) who are born in 2003 or 2004 (2546 /2547) are urged to apply by contacting PSS Office Manager KhunChristine on c.wolferstaedter@phuketsoccerschools.com or telephone 082 347 5086. For other inquiries, email Martin on info@phuketsoccerschools.com