Sydney FC developing next generation of footballers in isolation
Sport has been put on ice but top A-League club Sydney FC is doing everything it can to ensure the soccer players of tomorrow are more skilled than ever.
The Express
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It could be the upside weeks of social isolation due to the coronavirus - a new generation of highly motivated and super skilled young athletes.
As parents work to keep the children schooled, entertained and fit mentally and physically, more and more are taking to the backyard to practice new sporting skills.
In response Sydney FC has launched a series of backyard skills videos for stay at home parents with football mad kids.
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The A-League was halted along with numerous other elite sports including rugby, AFL and NRL at the start of the Covid-19 crisis. So to was junior and local sport throughout New South Wales.
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Now Sydney FC has devised a series of videos catering to young athletes keen to improve their football skills or just have some fun in the backyard.
And they have chosen a father-of-two who knows how to coach backyard skills better than most to star in the videos with his two children.
The program has been devised by former Socceroo and Former soccer room and Sydney FC coach Paul Reid who is advising son Aston, 11, and 11-year old son Aston and daughter Avery, 7.
“The main thing is for the kids to have the type of fun which can keep them entertained for hours,” Reid said.
“The exercises are easy to follow and designed for youngsters to get as many touches on the ball as possible, something which is really practical to do in any back yard.
“All the activities are about mastering the ball and doing that at an early age goes a long way to building their confidence and improving their skillset for their future as a footballer.”
The four videos, produced in partnership with McDonald’s, will be showcased each week on https://www.sydneyfc.com/backyardskills and focus on the four core skills of football – dribbling, first touch, striking the ball and ways to get past a defender in 1v1 situations.