The session was delivered by former Chelsea FC player and now Chelsea FC academy coach, Damien Matthew. Damien lives locally in Maidstone and was very keen on helping local coaches from all over Kent with their personal development.
The session commenced with Damien giving a brief description of his playing career, his role within the Chelsea FC academy and an overview of the coaching he was going to deliver. The coaches were then taken through a 90 minute session, which replicated exactly how he would coach one of his academy teams. This included a warm up, speed development work, passing, dribbling and control technique work, unopposed practice playing from the back and opposed practice playing from the back. Damien commented that many of the sessions used were derived from first team coach Jose Mourinho, who likes to see his methods transcend down through the club. Indeed, Damien went on to state that all of the training the first team do is with a ball. The session was attended by twenty eight coaches, some of whom took part in the session and some who made notes. After the session coaches were given a debrief, which included information on the session and why it is conducted in that fashion. Coaches were then invited to fire questions at Damien.
The feedback received from the course was excellent with all the coaches attending stating how valuable the session was. Indeed, Paul Dolan, Football Development Officer at the Kent County FA commented “this sort of workshop is exactly why we have established our own County Coaches Association. All the coaches know how to be a coach through gaining their FA qualifications however, these practical sessions give our coaches more ideas from people who have vast experience. Coaches can then take back this vital knowledge to their clubs and schools”.
The session was attended by twenty eight coaches who all received a free water bottle. Damien Matthew will invite all attendees to watch the Chelsea academy train during the forthcoming season.