Charles Impey arrived in 麻豆社国产five years ago to pursue his soccer dreams, and after four years at Quest University he鈥檚 now passing that knowledge on to a future generation of soccer stars.
The former Quest Kermode centre-back signed on as a coach with the Don Ross Secondary School (DRSS) soccer academy and he said the first few months of the brand new program have been a blast.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 really ask for a much better job,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really loving it and the kids are a lot of fun.鈥�
Originally from England, he leads much of the on-field teaching for the two classes of 20-plus Grade eight and nine boys and girls. He said he likes to run a structured class, but allows the kids to have fun.
鈥淲e teach the kids to be really professional with time management and respect everyone鈥檚 time and the equipment,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very structured and I think the kids are enjoying it. They鈥檙e all excited and really want to be here with us.鈥�
Classes occur two hours every other day and can be outside or classroom sessions. Students in the classroom learn about everything from tactics to physical fitness and nutrition. Jonas Worth of the Pelada Soccer Academy, who hired Impey and partnered with the Sea to Sky School district on the academy, said it鈥檚 been a nice start to the partnership.
鈥淭he response has been very good and I think the demand is there to keep this program running for the future,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to help set a foundation for things we can do with soccer in 麻豆社国产and the Sea to Sky Corridor for the future.鈥�
Worth said the value of those participating in the program will be realized in the coming months.
鈥淵ou will see how much the kids got out of this come tryout season,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose kids who have been in the program all year should see a massive difference in improvement, first touch and overall fitness. Soccer players in the Lower Mainland often get four or five practices a week and we give our athletes the same opportunity to do that without leaving town.鈥�
The arrangement has also allowed Worth to continue working with Impey. The pair got to know each other when Worth coached the Quest soccer team for several years.
鈥淐harles become licensed in England in August and I鈥檓 here to sort of mentor Charles and make sure he gets ongoing development as a coach,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey need a coach like Charles, he鈥檚 kind of still a player in his mid-20s and can speak their language and help kids transition to more advanced tactics.鈥�
Impey, who has worked with Pelada during spring and summer camps said he鈥檚 relishing the chance to get to know the kids better and helping them develop.
鈥淲ith some of my part-time work you see 10 kids once a week and sometimes there鈥檚 little progression between sessions,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the academy I see these guys everyday. I鈥檝e seen them improve and it鈥檚 amazing to see how much they鈥檝e progressed in this first term. It makes me really want to keep doing this.鈥�
Worth said he will be discussing the future of the academy with DRSS officials and said he鈥檇 like to expand the academy to older ages and possibly younger groups.
鈥淭he mandate from the school board was to keep this program affordable and I think we鈥檝e done that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a fantastic project and we would hire some new top-notch coaches for older kids and would need more coaches for younger kids. I think the demand is there and even if we don鈥檛 have an academy at HSSS we could offer an after school program or something like that.鈥�
Impey said it only makes sense to grow the program if the community wants it.
鈥淚鈥檇 really like to see where this program goes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for the progression of the players in the academy to not drop off. And I鈥檓 very keen to progress to younger age groups, the earlier the better and hopefully it can spread to other groups.鈥�
Soccer academy plans for the 2015-16 school year are expected to be released early in the 2015 calendar year.
