GIFFNOCK SC EASTER CAMP 2014

Camp Programme

For the second year Giffnock SC has been able to provide the opportunity for our young footballers to continue playing over the Easter Holidays. After the success of last year's East Camp 2013 and Summer Camp 2013 we were looking to offer an even better Football Camp experience than ever before. Unfortunately our own Eastwood Park 3G is still under construction and we were unable to host the Easter Camp at the home of Giffnock SC- instead we held the camp at the 3Ms 3G park opposite Mearns Castle High School.

Over the five days players would work on a planned course of football activity designed to sharpen their technical, physical and tactical skills.

Day	Theme
Monday	Control - players will work on receiving the ball and bringing it under control with the head, chest, thigh or foot.
Tuesday	Passing - players will work on passing the ball to other players and extending this to look at how to position themselves to best receive a pass.
Wednesday	Dribbling - players will work on moving with the ball and using two feet and lifting their head to dribble. When space is available players will be encouraged to 'drive' with less touches in to space.
Thursday	Odd socks week - players should wear their normal black sock on their 'stronger' foot and any other sock on their other foot. This allows coaches to more easily see the player is working on their weaker foot and building the capability with it.
Friday	Games - an opportunity to put into practice all the skills players have been working on and developing over the week.

Each day the players would begin with a warm-up, a technical practice, small-sided games, a development of the technical practice and then more games. By maximising the amount of game-time that players get we are able to help them develop their ability to implement technical skills in the fast-paced small-sided games.

Delivery

The Easter Camp 2014 was planned and co-ordinated by Giffnock SC Football Development Officer, George Milliken (me!) and the coaching was led by Andro Sneddon (coach at 1997s) and Ross Carlin (Coach at Soccer Centre). Andro and Ross were supported by three of our 1996 players and Soccer Centre coaches- Paul McKerns, Steven McPhee and David Johnston.

From a personal point of view it was great to be able to step back from the coaching and leave it to a team of highly-motivated, young coaches. The coaches have enjoyed the delivery as much as the players have enjoyed the participation. I'm looking forward to the next group of player-coaches coming through from the 1997 age group in season 2014/15.

Review of the Easter Camp

Although the camp was once again fully booked, with over 70 players, there was unfortunately not enough interest to run a separate girls-only camp. However, two of the P6 girls came along to the boys' camp and gave the boys a run for their money. For the Summer Camp 2014 it would be great to be able to offer camps for both boys and girls to come and develop their skills in the fun Giffnock SC environment.

 One parent said this of the Camp:

"I took my son and his pal and they both absolutely loved it, they thought the coaches were really good and helpful, and would gladly have stayed all day. They were practising their skills in the garden after the sessions so the coaching obviously worked. The price of £30 was a bargain for such a positive, well organised experience."

Did your child attend the Camp- how did they enjoy it?

After the good response to last fortnight's guest blog, and in an effort to give more insight into the people involved in the club, this fortnight's blog is written by a Giffnock SC parent.

Saturday mornings at Giffnock Soccer Centre….a military operation!

By Anna-Marie Taylor

Chaos! That’s the word that sums up our house on a Saturday morning.  With three kids at the Giffnock Soccer Centre all training on a Sat morning, what other word could be used to describe it? It’s like a military operation, one parent focuses on getting the kids up and eating their breakfast whilst the other gets the strips, shinpads, shoes, coats, de-ices the car, finds the car keys as well as shouting orders about the itinerary for the day. But alongside chaos, I would also add excitement, fun and lots of laughter as the kids all look forward to an hour of learning new skills and playing with their team mates. 

I thought I’d turn this blog into a “top tips” for all those Mums and Dads out there with more than one child at the club, here’s my tips on how to make it run a bit more smoothly…

My 6 Top Tips

1.       Always put the strips in the wash on a Saturday morning straight after training.  Many a Sat morning is spent looking for shorts, tops, shin pads etc at 8.50am down the back of the sofa, under the bed, in the bottom of the wardrobe and inevitably one sock is found but the other has been lost, never to be found again.  I swear my washing machine eats socks!

2.       Strips and boots should be looked out on a Fri night. Yes, we all do it, we get home from work on a Fri, order a pizza, open a bottle of wine and think, telly on, feet up and relax!  The thought of “looking out” the football gear is pushed to the back of your mind.  Well let’s just say if you don’t, that leads to the chaos of point no 1 on a Sat morning and is further hindered when you’ve got that fuzzy wine head!

3.       If you have 2 or more kids, make sure their strips are put away together in their age/size bundles!  It doesn’t really help if your 10 year old goes to training in your 5 year olds shorts!

4.       Aim to leave 15mins before you intend to.  If your 5 year old is playing at 9 make sure you are ready to go at 8.40 otherwise when you get that call “I need a poo” at 8.39 you’ve got time to spare!

5.       Be there 15mins before the end of the game.  Not every parent/carer can stay to watch their children play every week (especially if they have more than one child) but try and arrive early and watch their games, so when they say “Dad, did you see that amazing over the head, back flip shot that went into the top corner at the back of the net”, you can honestly say, yes son/daughter, it was truly amazing!

6.       And most importantly, if one parent is not going to be around to help out on the Sat morning – do NOT drink on the Friday night, otherwise it’s carnage!! 

The best time is when they all get home, the hot chocolates are made and they are talking about their morning.  It’s great to listen to them dissecting the game and talking about the fun they had, what new things their coaches told them to practise for next week and what their friends did, which makes the “chaos” of the morning all worthwhile!

Anna-Marie Taylor is Mum to Jack, Harry and Rory (aged 10, 8 & 5 respectively) who are all members of Giffnock Soccer Centre. 

Would you like to write an article for our blog? Get in touch with me at giffnocksc.footballdev@gmail.com