Skills improving for Spartans

Times Reporter   

 

The Spartans boys soccer team have yet to play their first game for Strathmore High School – following postponed games on April 28 and May 5 – but are still working on their fundamental skills.

“Some of these kids haven’t played, but some of them have some good skills and experience,” coach Kevin Reilly said. “It’s starting from the basics, and working its way up. It’s trying to get them to do it at speed, and do it right. Sometimes they think speed is better than doing it right.”

This is not only for the players, Reilly said, but also a big learning curve for their rookie keeper, as well. Still, he’s very hopeful of his hardworking squad.

“To be honest, I’ve coached a lot – about 20 years of coaching soccer, and these kids are probably the most coachable kids I’ve ever worked with. They have enough skill to know what you want them to do, but they don’t have so much that they think they know it all.”

Co-coach Travis Gorski began the season with a week-long conditioning camp of getting the 19 players on the roster in shape.

“I run the kids through anything conditioning wise,” he said. “We want to bring the intensity and get ready to work hard.”

Reilly, Gorski, and fellow coach Kaitrin McDonnell will be working on ball control, passing, but also set plays.

“Tactics can be somewhat difficult with regards to different positions of the players – both offensive and defensive,” Reilly said. “But they really want to learn. From three weeks ago when we started, they’ve improved 300 per cent. It’s nice to see, because it’s really noticeable.”