Local children get once in a lifetime chance to visit fc barcelona

A 19 strong contingent of young soccer players from the midlands will visit the famed FC Barcelona in May.

The children, who took part in this year’s Young Lions’ Soccer School, based in Clara, Co Offaly, will visit the Spanish club on May 17, for five days of Master Class Coaching. A total travelling party of 42 people will make the journey, and the youngsters are from Athlone, Moate, Mount Temple, Ballycumber, Pullough and Ballinamere. They are aged between six and elevens years.

A similar programme is planned for 2016/2017 with the destination to be decided in June. Leigh Feery, the founder and head coach of the Soccer School, founded four years ago, said the 2016/2017 trip will be to Barcelona, Real Madrid or FC Porto.

Feery said: “We are nearing the completion of the 2014/2015 season in our Moate based Indoor Advance School. Everyone at this stage knows we do not favour competition for players under 13. At the beginning, people thought we were mad but judging from the number of approaches we have received from clubs, it seems our idea is gaining traction. There is nothing original about what we are doing; all across Europe outside of the UK and Ireland this is the approach, pioneered nearly 40 years ago by Ajax and adopted by the Dutch FA; Barcelona; the Italian FA and many others. We are a coaching school and not a club, and our focus is on creating an environment where the individual player is encouraged to play the game skilfully by retaining possession. This is a three-way partnership involving the coaches, the players and their parents. We don’t have a committee, we don’t need one, and have a programme which includes diet and rest.”

The Young Lions Summer Soccer School is open to children from across Offaly and Westmeath and is designed to encourage players at an early age to develop football and teamwork skills in a safe, non-competitive, fun-environment, with parental support and encouragement, under the direction of a team of skilled coaches.

It is based on the principles of positive behaviour reinforcement. “In other words,” said Mr Feery, “there is no criticism and the focus at all times is on encouragement.”

It will run in Stanley O’ Hara Park, home of Clara Town FC, every Saturday from June 6. The School welcomes boys and girls from ages five to ten to 10.

Once registered children and parents are requested to attend all sessions and be in attendance ten minutes before kick-off. There is a €20 Registration Fee and a €2 weekly player subscription. A reduced Family Registration Rate of €30 per household is in place. Player registration is on Saturday, April 18 at 2pm. Players may also register online before that date.
For more information see facebook.com/younglionssoccerschool or e-mail younglionssoccerschool@gmail.com