Pathway for prodigies

JOEL RITCHIE

CREATING pathways is the new catchcry in the football fraternity and Fernhill Junior Soccer Club is embracing the concept in a big way.

The club is seeking qualified coaches for players from under 13s to 17s as part of their junior development program, which is unique to the Illawarra.

Each coach will hold a session with a ten-player contingent each Monday night at Ray Robinson Field.

The program has been formulated according to guidelines from Football NSW technical director Norm Broadman.

Alan Paine, who will also guide the Fernhill’s Illawarra Premier League first grade team, has been appointed technical director.

He will liase with the development coaches to implement the techniques that will prepare emerging players for senior football.

Furthermore, the club has appointed three coordinators to help the club’s development coaches.

The new program builds upon Fernhill’s measure of appointing development coaches for players from under 7s to under 12s to teach fundamental football skills.

The program aims to help grass-roots players to reach elite levels, Fernhill Junior Soccer Club president Rob Hunter said.

“Players will be shown how to train and how to play the game the way the seniors do,” he said.

“At the moment once players turn 16 they are thrown in the deep end.”

Hunter hopes the program will prepare the club’s older junior players for playing in senior matches.

“We don’t want to keep kids if they are so good – if kids are outstanding we will push them towards Wollongong FC,” he said.

The program is 18 months in the making and has been embraced by Fernhill’s senior club, including president Craig Armour. For more information phone 0413 832 470.