Looking to the Future ETTA Technical Manager, Steen Kyst Hansen presided over a coaching workshop at the club on Sunday, 1st February, attended by our coaches and others from the London region. Also present were John Standing, London Coaching Chairman, Brian Spicer London Development Officer and Mike Close, Middlesex TTA Chairman. Everyone enjoyed a full day of learning and camaraderie.       

Coaching Schedules We have recently changed our junior coaching schedules to use our professional coach, Simon Rockall, more effectively and improve players more quickly. Special sessions are now held on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school for selected players who have reached the required standard of play, attitude and application to enable the coaching staff to implement more advanced techniques and exercises – attendance to these sessions is by invitation only. Wednesday sessions continue as usual for everyone else and Saturday and Sunday mornings continue unchanged. As players improve, lack of space becomes a challenge for the coaches. 

Reg Rockall We welcome Simon’s dad, Reg, to the coaching team. Reg, like Simon, is a qualified tutor as well as a coach. Both Reg and Simon recently attended a Tutor Seminar on 24th January in Birmingham. Reg has vast experience, especially with young players and his knowledge and experience will be of great benefit to the club. 

School Links In addition to our long-standing links with Enfield Grammar School, we are widening our involvement to include other schools in the area. Peter Bussey is now coaching regularly at Winchmore Hill School and Simon Rockall is coaching twice a week at Lea Valley Sports College, who are endeavouring to organise a 2-a-side Schools Junior League on the same lines as the former Woolwich JL we held at the club. A new Junior League is being planned for Wednesdays at the club to give competition to our ‘early learners’.

Terry Wilson