One of the most famous football grounds in Queensland welcomed the biggest name in Australian football last week when Socceroo superstar Tim Cahill hosted a coaching clinic at Perry Park in Brisbane.

Forty-eight of Queensland’s aspiring young footballers were on hand for the Foxtel All-Stars Tim Cahill Academy two day clinic at the iconic stadium, as well as coaches from NPL Queensland’s own Brisbane Strikers and Brisbane City clubs.

The Academy is designed as a complimentary programme to the national curriculum and intends to nurture grassroots football and inspire the next generation of Australian footballers between ages of 6 and 11.

While Cahill’s programme does not form part of the National Premier Leagues pathway, which commences at the Under 12 age level, Strikers Director of Coaching David Large said he had picked up some valuable lessons from the clinic that could be applied to his club’s development programmes for boys and girls.

“I think what we see in Tim’s programme is player participation which is I think fits into the discovery phase of the curriculum,” Large explained.

“Obviously, where we fit into that is we pick up from where he leaves off and once they’ve accepted the fact they want to play in football we bring them along, develop their skills and move them along the pathway.”

Large said he was impressed by the size of the event and that Strikers would learn from the event organisation.

“It’s a major event as far as I’m concerned,” Large said.

“Very, very well organised and well ran and it’s a credit to Tim and to Foxtel for what they are trying to achieve.

“I think it only augers well for our community clubs and that hopefully we’re going to get a lot more footballers playing the game.”

Large even conceded that a coach of his standing would take a few lessons from the clinic.

“I think if I personally got anything out of it it was a kick up the backside to remember this game is about fun.

“Sometimes we get bogged down in trying to improve players and not realising that sometimes the players can improve themselves just by enjoying the game and having a lot of fun.”

“I’m not sure if we get anything major out of it from a technical coaching point of view, but certainly from an organisational sense and a life skills sense, we’ve seen an opportunity for some of our local coaches to be able to take advantage of that and take it back to their clubs.”

Cahill spoke to Strikers officials and coaches and posed for photographs following the session, but Large said the club had no plans to approach the Cahill for a future role in NPL Queensland competition.

However, Large joked that Cahill, like every potential recruit for Strikers, would have to prove his merits first on the training park.

“Look anyone is welcome to come and try out, but I just can’t guarantee anybody any spots at this club,” he said tongue-in-cheek.

 

Words & Image: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)