The weather lately in Yellowknife hasn't exactly lent itself to outdoor training.
So if you can't train outdoors, something which you have to do when you're getting ready for the Canada Summer Games in July in Winnipeg, you head to a place where it's a bit more palatable.
That's what the boys soccer team did as it made the trip to Ventura, California earlier this month for a 12-day training camp with the Ventura County Fusion program and it was as full as you could get.
Huw Morris, head coach of the boys team, said he has no doubt the boys had the experience of a lifetime during their time down south.
SA国际影视传媒淭he idea was to get them on the outdoor field and break every rule in sport science methodology that I'm a part of,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The broken rule was having two sessions per day or practice, broken down into using functional phases of play and small-side games in the mornings and going over more technical plays in the afternoon. Sandwiched in between the training sessions were a total of six exhibition games against teams in the Fusion program.
Morris said all of the games were as well-matched as they could have been and they weren't blowouts by any means.
SA国际影视传媒淰ery competitive and all within a goal or two (in the final score),SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat means we were matched well against very good technical teams, which enabled us to take the inputs and process the thoughts quicker, which in turn makes these lads far better players both organizational-wise and decision-making on and off the field.SA国际影视传媒�
The training sessions included work with guest coaches from the Fusion program and they put the players through the ringer with plenty of skill development work.
SA国际影视传媒淭he astounding part is that when you create the environment, the learning will come,SA国际影视传媒� said Morris. SA国际影视传媒淗aving the ability of the guest coaches coming out, working with the lads in both goalkeeping and in field sessions and the hospitality of the Fusion organization, it's been world-class. I've had the luxury of playing the game and the luxury of travelling to many parts of the world but seeing this down there was very heartwarming.SA国际影视传媒�
The players were also impressed with how things went, especially Josh Beland, who will be making the trip to Winnipeg.
He said the boys were working hard and things were a lot different down there than what they were used to back home.
SA国际影视传媒淲e only get to train outdoor two months a year so it's a good experience for us to practice for the Canada Games,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was a great experience to see parts of the world that you might not get to see and I'm very fortunate to get that experience.SA国际影视传媒�
Bonding together as a team was a big thing, he added, and that was evident as the boys got to take in some of the sights and sounds of the area and even had a paintball game together.
But Beland said the competition was the big thing because it allowed to get better and be more prepared for what awaits them.
SA国际影视传媒淲e're always playing better teams and it allows us to practice on what we need to when we play teams at Canada Games,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭eams like Ontario are going to come at us hard so it's good to practice on teams like that.SA国际影视传媒�
