Having had a successful series of clinics in Melbourne earlier this year, The Ciriello’s Coaching Academy (CCA) asked me to assist again this time at Ryde Hunters Hill Districts Hockey Club, Sydney, with the coaching of the under 16 Hockey players CCA hope to select for The Gryphon Cup in Perth. This is an under 16 international tournament which commences on November 20, 2022.
Lou Ciriello the Head Coach was wrapped with my input in Melbourne, which enabled all the CCA players on the Victorian State team be significantly faster.
So I got the call to assist Lou and his son Ryan in the preparation of the ACT/NSW based players for Perth, at their training camp on September 24/25.
Over the weekend we challenged the players and exposed them to new ways of doing things in both the Hockey specific and the movement patterns. First thing Sunday, Lou and Ryan hosted a session designed to ascertain what the players had retained from the Saturday.
Lou, Ryan and I threw a lot at them but they responded well and now are aware of what is required to raise their levels and how to go about achieving it.
In terms of my input we started with a loosen off then into the balance routine where the players are required to pick up a ball and place it back on the ground using one leg. If the ball was easy we moved them to safety pins!
Next up was a session on effective acceleration technique for the first 5-7m - what the feet do and footfall characteristics.
With some of the players tasked to be runners in short penalties, we looked at how to accelerate and the contribution of the arms depending on which foot is forward most at inertia.
It was a lot for these young players to take in and much to think about!
This weekend was made all the more enjoyable by the work of Richie and all the club volunteers who set up the meal on the Saturday evening, BBQ on arrival and the BBQ breakfast on the Sunday
morning. We were made very welcome, thank you all!
Stuart 26/09/2022