UKLC ELCHE 2014

[jbuklc2014]

The recent 2 week excursion to Elche was a really enjoyable experience. The 2 weeks spent with the club confirmed a lot to me about what happens at a professional team and I also managed to learn many different football games and training methods which will help me in the future. It was also a good insight into how they run their academy teams, and being able to shadow many of their youth teams and take some coaching was a great experience.

The trips we went on which took us round Elche and Alicante were really enjoyable especially with the guide as it is something I probably wouldn’t have done if by myself. The living areas were also fine and having that freedom of being in your own apartment was really good.

Everyone we met while in Elche was really friendly especially the people at the club who took a lot of time out to answer questions and explain any drills that some people didn’t understand even when they were busy taking a session.

The only improvement I could suggest would be the timing in which the trip took place, having it earlier in the season may be more beneficial as some of the teams were not training at the same level given the season was coming to a close and some of the junior teams had already stopped training.

I would also like to thank Jack and Adam for leading the trip while out there and organising extra Spanish lessons and the trips. Also all guys and girls who went and made it a really enjoyable trip.

[jbuklc2014]

[jbuklc2014]

MEGAN BALL Coaching abroad is something I have always wanted to do, and when given the opportunity to go to Elche and coach I just couldn't wait to get there. The opportunity was a lot more than what I expected it to be, the children were on another level of ability and the coaches were all very open to suggestions and very interested in how we coach. I feel like being abroad, being around new people and being out of my comfort zone has really improved me as a coach and person, I immediately applied what I had learned over there to my coaching at home an I'm pleased with the development I am seeing. Whilst over there we were given the chance to watch Elche reserves train every morning, and see the different aspects they focus on in the week leading up to the game. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given and I'd like to thank the rest of the group for being great people and making the experience much more enjoyable and Jack & Adam for supporting me whilst out there and being fab team leaders!

[jbuklc2014]

Working with Elche CF and UKLC was the first opportunity I have had to work with a professional football club. When I was told about this opportunity, it sounded too good to be true, especially for it to be what it was, however after the 2 weeks I spent in Spain, it was everything I had hoped it would be. As an aspiring professional coach, UKLC gave me an opportunity that I doubt any other company could offer. I was able to learn from the club, coaches, players and even from my coaching peers over the 2 weeks and it turned out to be an invaluable experience, whilst also interacting with the locals. I would strongly recommend this to anyone, not just to benefit your coaching knowledge but to see how a football club conducts itself on a day-to-day basis. To top it off, I was also able to coach a youth academy team and watch them play, it’s a different culture to the one I am used to in England, but again it’s an important learning curve for any coach. I would like to thank Adam & Jack for their assistance throughout the 2 weeks, they helped make it a fun & enjoyable experience with plenty to do throughout the stay. Jacob Edwards

[jbuklc2014]

Taking the trip to Elche on a last minute basis was the most rewarding decision of my coaching career by far. the amount of experience, ideas and knowledge I gained over the 2 weeks was far superior to any of my expectations prior to the trip. alongside the football experience the chance to experience the Spanish culture, learn the language (a little at least), sample the food and take the day excursions, learning the history of Spain all contributed to this outstanding trip. not only these factors but also the friendliness of all the UKLC staff, other coaches on the course, the Language staff at top school and in general the friendliness of the people around Elche C.F and the city itself made me want to stay forever. we had numerous opportunities to speak with the head coaches at Elche C.F and pick their brains about coaching, Spanish football, English football and basically anything we wanted to know, they were extremely friendly and the environment around the club was very relaxed making it easy for us to feel comfortable and part of the club. working with the youth academy was a brilliant experience, again picking the brains of the youth academy coaches on a one to basis helped me so much in developing my ideas and also enforcing the ideas and the philosophy i had already developed were along the right (if there is any right) lines. the relaxed approach from all the coaches and enthusiasm to allow us to coach there players made us all feel right at home. the players all enjoyed our presence and embraced the fact we were English coaches and gave 100% all the time. there is no way any English club would allow people to take part in this type of course so i am thankful to UKLC and Elche for this opportunity. overall an amazing educational experience, full of fun excitement and of course football. couldn't of asked for a better trip. I would give anything to go back and do this trip again. to pass up of this opportunity would be simply outrageous to anybody who is thinking about going. It's no doubt a definite yes. Special thanks to Jack and Adam for being great leaders, to everyone at Top school for their kindness and education, thanks to all the coaches for making the trip not only valuable but extremely memorable. And finally UKLC and Elche C.F for the opportunity and once in a lifetime priceless trip. Matthew Mosalski

[jbuklc2014]

The recent 2 week excursion to Elche was a really enjoyable experience. The 2 weeks spent with the club confirmed a lot to me about what happens at a professional team and I also managed to learn many different football games and training methods which will help me in the future. It was also a good insight into how they run their academy teams, and being able to shadow many of their youth teams and take some coaching was a great experience.

The trips we went on which took us round Elche and Alicante were really enjoyable especially with the guide as it is something I probably wouldn't have done if by myself. The living areas were also fine and having that freedom of being in your own apartment was really good.

Everyone we met while in Elche was really friendly especially the people at the club who took a lot of time out to answer questions and explain any drills that some people didn't understand even when they were busy taking a session.

The only improvement I could suggest would be the timing in which the trip took place, having it earlier in the season may be more beneficial as some of the teams were not training at the same level given the season was coming to a close and some of the junior teams had already stopped training.

I would also like to thank Jack and Adam for leading the trip while out there and organising extra Spanish lessons and the trips. Also all guys and girls who went and made it a really enjoyable trip.

[jbuklc2014]

When I was offered the chance to travel to Spain and work alongside the coaching staff at Elche CF, I jumped at the chance! The two weeks in Spain combined observing and taking coaching sessions with a range of elite level Spanish youth teams at the Primera Division club. I learnt an incredible amount in a short space of time about their footballing philosophy, how they wish to coach and the main principles behind their youth development set up (Fútbol Base). The talent of the teams was immediately obvious and the young Elche sides were clearly as good as, if not better than similar academy age groups in England. The coaches were extremely friendly and always open to new ideas, really treating the experience as a two way process and giving us plenty of opportunity to coach their team. After discussions with the coach of the U14s, he was more than happy to allow me on their team coach early on the Sunday morning for their away trip to Valencia CF. This was another amazing experience, to see the preparation going on at an elite level and seeing the top class facilities at Valencia’s ‘Cantera’. The facilities in Elche are fantastic, with eight or nine 3G pitches of varying sizes to cater for all different age groups, but Valencia’s carpet-like grass pitches were immaculate and being sprinkled in the sunshine right up until kick off. Elche played well and led 2-1 midway through the first half but a couple of unfortunate mistakes cost them. In the second half Elche were 3-2 down and while chasing the game, found themselves undone by Valencia’s fast and physical counter attack, eventually going down 5-2. An organised tour around Elche, a day trip to Alicante and football specific Spanish lessons were all fantastic for the cultural experience and fun for the group. My Spanish language skills improved massively and I would love to go back in the future to use them at Elche CF if I ever have the chance!

[jbuklc2014]