Soccer Coaching Course

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 5

Soccer Coaching Course

JF those who attended the recent A soccar coaching school under the direction of Mr Ken Armstrong show the same keenness during the forthcoming season as they did- while they were attending the course, the standard of local soccer will improve considerably. * Twenty-two coaches attended the week’s course and attendances were almost 100 per cent, throughout. As some of them were well past their active playing years, this excellent attendance must have been gratifying to the organiser for the Canterbury district (Mr W. Carruthers) and to Mr Armstrong.

But it was no less than Mr Armstrong deserved. His unbounded enthusiasm for the game and the vitality and energy he displayed were an inspiration to the coaches. Mr Armstrong not only told how soccer should be played, buc showed how it should be played. He was the fittest man of the ! course and he did not spare himI self His enthusiasm was infectious and those attending the course worked hard from 6.30 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. for five succesisive evenings.

Mr Armstrong covered a lot of ground during the week but he constantly returned to the matter of ball control. This he considered the weakest feature of New Zealand soccer and he emphasised the importance of teaching young players to control the ball so that accurate, wellweighted passes could be played. He showed that control could be gained by practice and he introduced a variety of games for the gymnasium which all called for ball control.

AU concerned were well pleased with the course but its success or otherwise will depend on what use the coaches make of the knowledge imparted to them.' Coaching schools have been held before with negligible results. To make this one a success, coaches should return to their clubs and train the members as they have been taught. As Mr Armstrong said, that is the only way they can repay him and the New Zealand association which made the course possible.