WATCHING soccer great Harry Kewell score the opening goal for Australia in a World Cup qualifier at the MCG would rank as a formative sporting memory for most 10-year-olds.

For me, it provided a ticket to dream, stoking the motivation that led me to play the game at the highest levels around the world and years later, alongside my childhood hero.

Moments of dreaming are incredibly important for players of all levels and abilities regardless of whether they turn professional.

I see it firsthand with the kids we train; when they dream big their motivation lifts and they train with intent. Watching and learning from skilful players fuels their confidence, commitment and joy for the game.

And it’s not all about playing. My post-soccer career has been enriched by the decision four years ago to kick off Coerver’s Geelong and Surf Coast operations and help develop young talent.

I believe kids all over the country deserve access to excellent quality coaching and fantastic experiences. I love trying to push those experiences as much as possible with our training programs, tournaments, professional player visits, tours and coaches who establish a genuine connection with the kids.

The Coerver method is an internationally recognised coaching approach that delivers programs to players, coaches, clubs and schools in more than 53 countries. With more than 1.5 million participants worldwide, this training method has become a vital pathway for developing both elite and grass roots soccer talent.

Indeed, international federations and world-class clubs rely on Coerver to design their junior development curriculums. There’s a growing understanding that technical development and coach education are non-negotiables if we want to improve as a football nation.

Coerver Coaching Geelong has so far delivered hundreds of sessions to thousands of kids across our First Skills, Creative Player, Performance Academy, Summer Coerver Cup, school programs, holiday camps, club partners and tours.

When kids dream big, Coach Ado says, their motivation lifts and they train with intent.

 

This is thanks to the quality of our coaches and the mentoring role they play with our young kids.

We aim to provide an elite style environment where kids feel challenged, safe and excited to train. Seeing players progress, earn opportunities, or simply fall in love with the game again tells me we’re on the right path.

Last month, my team and I chaperoned 35 local Coerver kids to Canberra to train with and compete against 400 junior soccer players from around Australia and as far away as China.

For me, the time in Canberra reinforced why these experiences matter: football is the vehicle, but growth happens in the moments in between.

Watching the kids challenge themselves, support one another and gain confidence was extremely rewarding.

I was so proud of all our kids who held their own on the pitch. Special recognition went to Edith Andrews, Hadley Eaton and Maci Leijer who each won best player awards for their respective age groups.

As Australian football continues to evolve on the back of strong Matildas and Socceroos performances, I’m seeing increasing demand for programs like Coerver that complement club football rather than compete with it.

I’m tipping that the coming World Cup in June will provide a useful outlet for our young players to get even more excited about the game as they stay fit and healthy and enjoy their local soccer community.

Just like me as a 10-year-old watching Harry, they’ll be watching games, copying skills in the backyard, training a little harder and imagining themselves wearing that jersey one day.

See you on the pitch,Coach Ado

//SPONSORED CONTENT