Inspire A Generation Summit 2017: High Participation In Football Clinic Are Encouraging Signs For Indian Football

by Balbir Singh October 21, 2017

Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai: As the first part of the ‘Inspire A Generation Summit 2017′, India Rush Soccer Club in association with Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) organised a one-day Football Workshop for coaches football professionals including referees, coaches and Football Clinic for Children. The topic for the workshop and Clinic was nothing can stop you from football. This three-session workshop for coaches consisting of theory and practice was conducted by highly-experienced International coaches and referee.

In a bid to capture the challenges present with players, regarding their emotional connection with the game, a Football Workshop was organised. The session was conducted by Tim Schulz, Founder President of Rush Soccer, former US Women National Team Coach for FIFA U-20 World Cup & United States Soccer Federation (USSF) A License Coach, Claude Bolton, Technical Director India Rush SC, former Guyana International & USSF A License Coach, former Technical Director Guyana Football Federation and Paulo Magalhaes, Technical Director at India Rush & Former Portuguese and Brazilian Club Coach. This 60 -minute session consisted of coaches from across various divisions of MDFA, Mumbai Schools and academies gathered under a common roof to understand how to Inspire players and to stay connected with football.

The emphasis of the session was that Football is there for everybody to be part of it. Either you are a Player, a Coach, a Fan, a Journalist, Boy or Girl, Young or Elder, Rich or Poor, there are moments and events in football that brings their emotions to surface. And the coaches have the job, to show love and passion when coaching and ensure that the players grow those emotions within them. Remember, if you love football, nothing can stop you from football!

Coach Paulo explained how to bring fun back into training by getting street football into the academy training, while Claude concluded his session aptly with message “A child is not a vessel to be filled, but a lamp to be lit.” and for Indian football to develop coaches have to keep the light burning which has been lit by the World Cup.

“We have the (FIFA Under-17) World Cup here in India, and this presents a great opportunity to spark every quadrant of Indian football, from the fans to the footballers and coaches. We are happy to contribute and hope to organise more events, as we plan for the future,” said Paulo Magalhaes.

Tim Schulz expressed his enthusiasm about the Football Clinic and said positively about what the future holds for India. “I agree with the philosophy that this event serves as a beginning for what is more to come and follow in this country. I am hopeful that a deeper passion for the game is instilled after the (FIFA Under-17) World Cup is over.”

The full ground was decorated as if a rangoli on Diwali with colourful cones and markers, welcoming 140 enthusiastic children for the football clinic and coaches on-field session. Each of the four stations was designed to create an environment of fun with football, to motivate the players and to keep coming back for more football.

“Despite it being a holiday, and the day of Diwali, we received a very positive response and eagerness to learn from the children, as they participated in more numbers than we anticipated,” expressed Udayan Banerjee, Honourable General Secretary of MDFA.

The final session in the classroom was conducted by Walter Perreira, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Elite Assistant Referees & Referee Assessor and an All India Football Federation (AIFF) Match Commissioner educating them with recent guidelines and amendments. The session also constituted of Pereira speaking about Rule 11 i.e. Offside Offense in Football and clarify doubts about several other questions raised in a very interactive class.

In his closing address for the day, Udayan Banerjee mentioned about this important and crucial association of MDFA with India Rush Soccer Club, this year. “When India Rush Soccer Club first approached us, we liked their intentions and ideology. They showed real concern regarding the post-FIFA Under-17 World Cup phase and were determined to make an impact. These are exciting times for all of us, and we are really excited about how things are moving forward and glad to be a part of this.”