The Brewster Trust annual football camp has been deemed a success.
More than 700 people took part in the camp which also featured a coaching course for 46 locals.
“In analyzing the camp, it shows, in our eyes, interesting and commanding statistics – like more [than] 10 per cent girls, nearly 20 per cent rejoined from last year, over 20 nationalities, around 44 per cent of the campers are linked to a local football team or club and children of all 11 parishes attended – nearly proportional to the respective population,” said Brewster Trust chief executive officer Axel Bernhardt.
“One figure which is an important indicator for us is the attendance. Reviewing the nine weeks, more than 80 per cent of the registered campers attended on average every day.”
Organizers are analyzing feedback forms with campers’ and parents’ statements and also reviewing strategy after two years in Barbados before planning the next initiative.
On the last day of the camp, several participants received awards.
Among them were: Jenee Ward, Darian Clarke, Alexander Dent, twins Shai and Shaunte Carrington, Dominic Dent, Tyrese Forde, Julia Taylor, Brendan Sidaway, Parker O’Donnell, Aaliyah Williams, Stefon Caesar, Tamika Campbell, Jeneva Miller, Wade Garner, Samuel Payne and Matthew Myers.
Awards were also presented to the most outstanding participant in “Coaching the coaches”, Tamisha Marshall and Renaldo Hunte.
“Although we intended initially to award one participant . . . two local coaches have been identified and got an invitation to the next Arsenal Gap Year programme for one month including accommodation in England as well as travel cost,” Bernhardt said.
The camp came complete with basics but also included extras for parental comfort and focus on the children such as health insurance cover, ambulance service, physiotherapist, hot healthy lunches and afternoon fruit breaks, isotonic beverages and shirts, shorts, socks and shinpads for every camper along with daily academic football sessions in classrooms.
The courses were conducted by coaches from Arsenal FC, namely Joe Mitchell, Sam Ingram, Luke Howard and Ognjen “Oggy” Soskic and Nathaniel Brewster, vice-president and co-founder of The Brewster Trust.
The coaching sessions included competitions, basic passing techniques, dribbling and turning at speed, slalom, turns, control and heading sessions, including aerial control, using various parts of the body and basic techniques of shooting. (HG/PR)
