Dutch Soccer Camp improves technique & tactics

(CNS): This year 83 young would-be soccer stars aged between six and seventeen took part in the Dutch Soccer School, led by Coach Roy Wilhelm. For the fifth year running, the Dutch footballing expert worked with young Caymanian footballers for one week giving them instructions and a different coaching approach to help with their development. The players had technical and tactical classes covering all fundamentals of the game and also played different types of small games to implement the drills and techniques they learnt. At the end of the camp, Coach Wilhelm said the players showed technical and tactical improvements.

Although he pointed out that this was very good, he advised that the young footballers still need to work more on their tactical awareness.

"We watched them playing a game and the concern is the tactical discipline,” Wilhem said. “These players need to understand that the game is not only based on their individual techniques but also understand the positions they play and the transition from the defence to attack."

When asked about the performance of the Academy Sports Club youth team that recently travelled to Europe to play games, Coach Wilhelm said that they did very well and only lost the last game to a professional youth team and that they showed good skills comparing to European players.

Jeffrey Webb, FIFA Vice-President, CONCACAF President and CIFA President said he was thankful to the Dutch coaches' for their contribution to the camp and to the development of the young players.  He said that it was import for the future of the local game to have this sort of exchange program, in order to provide our young footballers with a better understanding of different techniques and tactics.

"As in prior years, the CIFA Dutch Camp was a huge success," said Webb. "The quality of our young players is improving tremendously from year to year. It is important that we teach the basics at a very young age, in order to ensure that these kids have the proper foundation."

The camp was held at the Cayman International School, Camana Bay, and everyone received a t-shirt, certificate and a football.