For 16 weeks from April 2, the Eurobodalla Football Association (EFA) will hold a development program

for under-9 and under-10 players that is aimed at improving the youngsters’ skills.

But don’t be fooled, this program doesn’t involve the same old boring stand-and-pass drills.

EFA’s development coach Steve Enfield has geared the program to be all about fun.

“We want to do it through fun and entertaining game-based drills, as well as small-sided games,” he said.

“We’re going to do it with a limited amount of verbal coaching.”

Enfield insisted the best way for kids to improve their skills was not to teach them, but rather to “let them learn”.

Of course, qualified coaches will be there to run the sessions, but their emphasis is going to be on letting the kids have a good time.

Once that is achieved, the EFA coach said fancy footwork and ball skills would come naturally to most.

“It’s going to be all about fun and enjoyment,” Enfield said.

“If a player is having fun in what they’re doing, then they’re going to be more inclined to want to come back and improve their skills.”

The program first started in 1999, but shut down a few years later only to be reintroduced at the start of the 2008 soccer season.

Originally only opened up to under-9s, the sessions were then expanded to include under-10 players three years ago.

And in that time, Enfield said he had seen some talented players come through the system.

The program will take place on Monday evenings at Captain Oldrey Park in Broulee, but the fun won’t stop at the end of each session.

Kids will be encouraged to undertake a certain amount of “home training” to ensure they give themselves the best possible opportunity to further their game.

“If a player wishes to further their soccer outside of the club system, it suggested they undertake a reasonable amount of home training,” Enfield said.

“These various drills are designed to give a player more touches on the ball.”

But for those who have a more competitive edge, the program also includes regular seven-a-side matches on modified fields and with modified rules to fit in with Football Federation Australia’s small-sided games initiative.

“The beauty of small-sided games is that the kids pick up game awareness much quicker,” Enfield said.

Both boys and girls are strongly encouraged to get involved and any interested players should contact Steve Enfield on euro_soccer_development@bigpond.com to register their interest or to get more information.