In conjunction with the Kentucky Olympic Development Program (ODP) sessions on December 14th, Kentucky Youth Soccer’s Director of Education, Adrian Parrish, ran a pilot coaching event for a small group of coaches from local clubs. The coaches attending this event had the opportunity to observe training sessions with the 2006 and 2007 ODP state pools.
“After evaluating coaches during a recent national coaching license performance center, we wanted to offer an event for our local club coaches. We noticed a need for offering insight to higher caliber activities so coaches can better understand the relationships and actions of players on the field,” said Parrish.
Coaches from Kings Hammer Bluegrass, Georgetown FC, and Commonwealth SC along with a handful of ODP coaches attended two sessions, a training session and a classroom session. Parrish followed up the training session with a post-session chalkboard talk. This event also gave Kentucky Youth Soccer’s Director of Player Development, Derek Willis, the opportunity to highlight the level of players currently participating in ODP.
"The coaching event was thoroughly enjoyed by our Kings Hammer Bluegrass coaching staff. For some of our coaches, it was a first experience seeing behind the scenes of the ODP training environment. It was a personalized in-depth view focusing on managing all the key elements of the training environment. Adrian Parrish's modeling of coaching technique along with mastery of activities geared toward solving specific problems. Kings Hammer Bluegrass fully supports KYSA's Coaching Clinic initiative, recognizes the value fully for our coaches in having a chance to learn at open ODP sessions moving forward, and looks forward to participating in the next coaching clinic,” said Dan Ensley, Technical Director at Kings Hammer Bluegrass Soccer Club.
Kentucky Youth Soccer hopes to offer more opportunities to expand on this successful event in future.