WHU-IA Regional Camp - Indianapolis

So, last blog was ‘Top 5 worse bathrooms’. Described by one as ‘compelling stuff’. I guess the job at the NYTimes is a bridge too far and on FB I have been accused of being a fat bloke diving in the trough at Wrigley Field. OK - Wrigley is a classic place to watch baseball. Just hang out on Waveland and pick up a few balls hit out of the ballpark. It’s just not the Cubbies who are hitting them there.

So, to the real story. Indiana’s first ever West Ham United International Regional Camp. You can see additional pics here.

We welcomed over 70 boys and girls to the International School of Indiana for a 3 day regional camp that put players through the same drills and practices used at West Ham’s ‘Academy’. For many it was a chance to greatly expand their soccer experience and for a few it was an opportunity to try to move up to National Level.

The camp enables the US based West Ham coaching staff to work with players in each location using the ‘Academy’ coaching methods and expectations. A select few are invited to move on to one of the two National Camps in July. At those camps, Tony Carr MBE and Paul Heffer work with the groups. Tony is the Director of the Academy and Paul the Assistant Director. They have over 50 years of West Ham ‘Academy’ coaching between them and have developed players such as Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Jermaine Defoe, Michael Carrick etc. Many other players such as John Terry spent time at the Academy, too.

For the majority of players it is a chance to work with coaches outside their typical clubs and have an insight and experience to the coaching game at an English Premier League Club. Premier League Club? Some of you might say West Ham currently run a great risk of being relegated to the Championship (old Div 2). As a lifelong Hammers fan I can tell you that is something you get used to. West Ham have turned out great players regardless. Trevor Brooking represented England even playing for a Hammers team in the old division 2. It’s only TV money and billionaires that have led us down the path of financial ruin an instant glory. Quality takes time. Just count how many European titles Chelsea have won since Russian oil money arrived. Do the same with Man City for the next decade. QPR in Europe? Maybe. Winners? Not likely. So, while the media rants on about whatever the Academy at West Ham quietly gets on with it’s job.

Back to the kids. Three sessions; all very intense and really pushing the players to the edge - not just technically, but intellectually too. Youtube soccer skills and you’ll see an aray of unbelieveble skills. But, mostly, it’s a sideshow. A circus. Stick the guy juggling the ball up on the lampost into the middle of a Madrid derby and see what happens. The drills are game related, contain both a simplicity yet are potentially multi-layed. You have to not only have control of the ball but also a keen awareness of what is going on around you. Knowing what you are going to do with the ball before you get it is crucial. The best players also seem to know what you are going to do with the ball before you do too.

The players spent time working on ‘playing the way you are facing’ on day 2. I appreciate that having spent a few years at ISI working with players who want to turn into danger - give the ball away and then watch the opponents put us under pressure. Vision; seeing the ‘picture’ alongside great communication are essential.

Day three included some 1v1, finishing and small sided games. It was great to see many players develop over the three days, especially with their confidence on the ball. Developing better awareness is part of an ongoing learning curve, but to have it emphasized for three days will surely help all the players develop.

To be perfectly honest with you the whole experience makes you want to be 10 again. How good could you be with that quality of coaching each week? An interesting question. How good can someone get with the right motivation and guidance. Maybe not all the way, but a far greater distance along than without. It adds even more fuel to the fire when I think about what can be done with a limited number of players. Like at ISI. The key is simplicity, high standards and a massive emphasis on player development. No child left behind...right?

I would very comfortable describing all the practices the players went through. It’s not rocket science and there is a somewhat ‘open door’ policy at the Academy at West Ham. The key ingredient is the people delievering the program. I worked with Paul Heffer for many years and I can tell you he was magic in any situation with any student or group of them. Think magic in the broadest educational sense. Paul taught PE, took kids to the South of France, worked with students with learning, behaviourial and hearing challenges. He also produced a quarter of the England Squad.

So, great camp. To all the players - well done. Lots of soccer to come. Good luck to those who made it to the National Camp - I’ll see you there in July.

West Ham @ Bolton tomorrow? 3pts on the way to the East End. My Nan wouldn’t expect anything less.

The next ISI soccer camp with 'The Academy of Football' - June 20 - 24   2011
 click here for details of school.isind.org/soccer