We are fast approaching the Kanga Cup Tournament which starts on July 3rd with the opening ceremony at the Bruce Stadium in Canberra. There have been several months of planning involving everyone in the college football program.
All the teams are starting preparations, with practice games being organised within college training times. Coaches are looking at the new combinations of players who are coming together for this big week of football in the nation’s capital. By the end of this college term all the players will be ready for a week of competition on well managed fields and probably in very cold conditions.
Tournaments like Kanga Cup get mixed reactions from all involved; the players, the coaches and the parents. The excitement of possibly winning a tournament in a week is most likely what all the players are thinking. For most parents it’s a time to see their kids come into the limelight, displaying skills and love of the game for all to see. For the coaches, well, I’ll give you my thoughts on last year and what I’d hope to get out of this year’s Kanga experience.
Last year was a mixed experience with some success and some better forgotten moments, but for the most part it was a good learning experience. My 13s team did very well and after sustaining a couple of big losses, came back and played some very good football to come away with many smiling faces. Parents and players witnessed some of the ugly side of opposition coaches who think screaming instructions and ripping in to their players is still acceptable. The kids were able to stay together in rooms that were a little tight but sufficient for a laugh and a sleep, when they were ready.
As a coach I see lots of benefits in having the players work towards a competition because they can have a clear short-term purpose for their hard work. The journey throughout their college life as a footballer, as well as a student, needs challenges like the Kanga experience because of the life-lessons they will get from various aspects; friendships, disagreements, discomfort, fatigue, disappointment, injury, success …
I could go on, but suffice it to say that the upcoming tournament will strengthen many and possibly weaken some. The memories of a trip away with friends, family, teachers and coaches will be talked about by everyone for some time after our return from the Kanga Cup 2016.
I’ll be sure to share some of my memories from this year’s event in my next blog …
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