It’s only the second year it’s run but already the Northern Inland Academy of Sports’ and Northern Inland Football’s annual soccer camp has seen a surge in numbers.
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The University of New England played host to around 100 kids at the inaugural National Football Camp last year and, off the back of its success, this year’s program has had a massive 80 per cent increase in registrations with 180 young players taking part in the four day event.
The participants have the chance to learn new skills and brush up on their current ones from some of the best junior coaches brought in for the camp. Brian and Stephen McCarthy along with Brian Baker from Sydney’s Newington College are coaching at the camp for the second year and Baker said the talent has stepped up a level since 2017.
“They are great to work with, they adapt to the sessions so quickly, they learn so quickly, it is really impressive so I absolutely love coming up here,” he said.
Baker praised the “toughness” of the kids from the country.
“They are really good, I think they appreciate a lot more up here,” he said.
“When we come up it really is a joy for us, we are not just saying that, we genuinely enjoy coming up here because the kids are so good to work with, it is really easy.”
Matt Endemi coaches locally during soccer season and is helping with sessions at the camp and said there is one main thing he tries to instill in the kids.
“First thing they need to do is enjoy themselves,” he said.
“Enjoy themselves, learn something while they are here.”