SuperSport United Soccer School Greenside keeps active during the lockdown

GREENSIDE – Some parents have struggled financially during the lockdown but the soccer school has not prevented players from taking part if membership fees have not been paid.

June 16, 2020

Nicholas Zaal 1 minute read

Kai Todd and Tayo Agunbiade play at SuperSport United Soccer Schools Greenside before the lockdown. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

They may not be able to meet together but this does not stop members of SuperSport United Soccer School in Greenside from training during the lockdown.

A clever system involving points and skills badges has been set up so that every day players have ‘homework’ to do, franchise owner, Mike Hughes explained.”All our schools are busy with this and there is an online programme for players to follow as well as live Zoom sessions with coaches,” he said.”Children do the activities the coaches give them and parents take videos of this and upload them to earn points for the youngsters. Even our professional players demonstrate skills routines in videos and the youngsters can do them in videos for points.”The online programme includes a variety of drills, exercises and workout routines.

Alex Bishop plays in a game at the soccer school before the lockdown. Photo: Nicholas Zaal

Hughes said some parents have struggled financially during the lockdown but the school has not prevented players from taking part if their parents have not paid membership fees.”We have lots of self-employed people who have not been able to work much during the lockdown and we have made arrangements for the youngsters to continue playing even if the parents cannot pay. The children should not be penalised if their parents have lost their jobs or struggled financially.”

Furthermore, while group training cannot occur under the current lockdown regulations, the soccer school has already made plans to keep players and coaches safe when training resumes.”We will have thought of all the safety measures, like sanitising, clean soccer balls, staggering start and end times of practice. We need to keep it non-contact so there will be no game time but every child will train with their own ball and do drills on their own, keeping distance from others.”