KEEPERS CLINIC IS A HUGE HIT

SOCCER CAPE BRETON'S Keepers Clinic proved to be a huge hit with goalies and coaches from across the island on Saturday afternoon.

CBU CAPERS Women's no1 Ellie Lancaster and Men's Program goalkeeper Jack Harrington shared their knowledge and expertise in the free 90-minute session that was attended by young keepers and GK coaches from a host of SCB member clubs.

The goalies went through fun technical drills and games in an afternoon of terrific energy inside the CBU Dome.

In the female session Ellie worked with keepers from U9 right up to the Soccer Cape Breton Senior Women's League.

And she said: "We worked through a session from handling, to passing to how to dive properly as a keeper.

"It was awesome to see everyone helping each other out and developing, they were a joy to work with."

Over the last six months Ellie and Jack have been in charge of the goalkeeping teaching provision within the CAPERS Academy as part of the Future Coaches Initiative.

The have grown immensely in their roles and this was shown as they worked with island coaches who will tutor young keepers in the Soccer Cape Breton league this summer.

Jack said: "Coaching the keepers has taught me so much about how to develop my own game for the CAPERS.

"It's great to see the kids look around and learn from each other in what is a unique position on the field."

Each coach was given a copy of the session delivered by the Varsity players, which was designed on the CAPERS Academy Sports Session Planner software, and this will also be distributed to every island club and available on demand from the Club Leads to help spread the learning.

* OUR picture shows Varsity keeper Jack with the Boys Keepers Class at Saturday's clinic.