Weekly Round-Up 13th-20th March
Always helping our players
This week, the world has been shocked by the progression of COVID19. Schools have shut down, certain countries have gone into lock-down, and all professional football has been postponed. At Soccer Smart, we completely support all the actions taken to stop this virus and have taken the necessary precautions to protect our players and others. This being said, we are still working tirelessly to help our players plan for the future. The football season will resume in time, life will go back to normal, and we are planning for this by maintaining an online relationship with our players, discussing their options for the future, as well as contacting clubs and universities around the globe to forge new relationships in the world of football and provide yet even more opportunities. We have also offered a discount on our football trial in Birmingham to provide some relief during this current situation as well as promising to re-schedule the trial day for free if we are obliged to do so.
#stayathome
Due to Spain ordering a quarantine, our Spanish Football Academy have been unable to use the training pitch or gym so as to ensure they don’t become ill or infect other, more vulnerable, people. However, football is life for us and our players, and we have combated the lock-down by continuing with technique training and fitness sessions. We are lucky enough to have a private villa with a garden and pool, not to mention the beautiful Spanish sun (it could be worse I suppose), so the morning sessions enable our players to work on their touch and reflexes with innovative training drills led by The ACFC Academy director of football Phil Phillipou, followed by an afternoon session to maintain the high level of fitness our players posses. And we haven’t stopped there to provide for our players, as we have also organised Fifa tournaments on the PS4, Table Tennis, and pool to keep our players entertained during this difficult time.
Exposure for Soccer Smart Womens
Our head female consultant, Charlotte King, has been determined to increase the exposure of Soccer Smart Womens and give more female players the chance to play abroad and realise their dream of playing semi-professional or professional football. This passion has paid off with new relationships being formed with colleges and universities and more female players showing an interest in Soccer Scholarships in the USA and Canada, due to the opportunities that Soccer Smart Womens is providing. Playing Semi-professional or professional soccer in Australia are also becoming more in demand with female players eager to experience the football culture and sunshine that Australia can provide, and we have prepared for this by forging and maintaining relationships with clubs down under. Charlotte’s hard work also resulted in her being able to write an article for Women’s Soccer Scene to be able to reach even more female players and provide support and advice on how to play football abroad.
