Young soccer players in the Alberni Valley got first-hand lessons from Whitecaps coaches on Monday, Nov. 13.
Players, aged eight to 15, learned the “Whitecaps Way,” said Whitecaps Island head coach Kevin Lindo.
“So what we teach and how we teach,” Lindo said. “We’re trying to get involved a little bit more in the community and give parents and coaches information on what kind of programs we have.”
Invitations were sent out to players in the Valley, and Travis Cross, coach with the Alberni Valley Youth Soccer Association, said 45 kids came out.
“It’s great to connect with the Whitecaps Academy and have them come here to Alberni to give the kids a little taste of the next level and experience professional coaching,” Cross said. “We had the two sessions on the field and then the coaches all came afterwards in the coaches room and we had sessions for the coaches to learn.”
Cross said learning from Whitecaps’ coaches was invaluable.
“They’re professional coaches so they have a lot of great skills and ideas and techniques in helping us improve our coaching skills,” he said. “It gave us some things that we could work on with our kids in practice and it will translate to helping to develop our kids here.”
karly.blats@vancouver