“What do you put on your pizza?” asks Spencer Rich, addressing the dozen or so budding young soccer players that have come out to the Canada Games Centre to participate in one of the various “drills and skills” drop-in sessions being offered by the City of Whitehorse Park and Recreation Association.
Rich is one of the coaches running the soccer lessons and putting imaginary toppings on your invisible pizza is just one of many fun and creative ways to get the young players warmed up.
“The hope is to get more young kids out developing their skills,” explains Derric Lewis, the brainchild behind the soccer sessions and one of the coaches. “We’re offering sessions for players from the age of seven to 11 and goalie clinics, too.
“And this isn’t specialized for rep players, the great thing about this is it is open to all skill levels.”
Lewis, who has been running successful summer soccer camps for youth for the past few years and has coached several youth rep teams, says the “drills and skills” idea has been floating around in his head for a while and it was only a month or so ago that he got the green light from the city to make it happen.
“They’ve been so supportive and that’s the key,” said Lewis. “It works great, players just pay their entrance fee to the Canada Games Centre and then they’re free to attend the lesson.”
Lewis says despite relying solely on word of mouth so far, the lessons have been well attended.
“It’s important the young players pick up good habits at a young age,” said Lewis. “The sooner they can play the game properly the better players they will become down the road.”
Lewis adds following the completion of the inaugural “drills and skills” he hopes to hold another month of lessons in the spring next year, but before that happens, later this fall he wants to take the lessons on the road and provide soccer skills in the communities.
“I truly believe there’s enough interest in the Yukon to hold a soccer camp every weekend throughout the territory.”
