50p
The Things I Saw During Soccer Skills
There are few things at Brentwood that are inevitable. Sign-ins. Saturday classes. SAC events each week. And Mr Barrett’s presence every sports afternoon, leading the soccer program, September through June. As we transition from term one to two, the sun doesn’t set on the soccer program as we seamlessly move from term one boys’ competitive soccer to second term soccer skills.
Soccer skills is a coed sport option that focuses on developing the technical aspect of the game through ball work and gameplay. It is a place for both beginner and experienced players alike, focusing heavily on individual improvement through the three-month timespan.
The fearless leaders through the cold and dark skills sessions are none other than the man who bore the golden stache, Mr Barrett, the illustrious Mr Collis, and a hybrid of the two - dubbed the second coming of Collis - Mr Collis Handford. This three-man dream team has crafted a plan for the next three months to help players improve while still meeting COVID protocols. These mitigations strategies include inter-cohort practice, non-contact scrimmages, individual and socially distant, all followed by a ball sanitation system after each session.
Now, this does not mean every session is similar. I have been known to find myself visiting this roller coaster from time to time, so allow me to walk you through what you are sure to see during a succulent second term session. First, there is a warm and firm welcome from the silver fox, Mr Barrett. That leads into a warm-up run by the prince of the pitch, Mr Collis. From there the session breaks up into either technical games or scrimmages.
Across the sessions you are sure to see a couple of habitual occurrences: balls shanked over the fence in warm-ups by none other than Chris S, Whittall ‘24 and at least one miraculous stop by the defensive brick wall that is Olivia B, Alex’21. These events usually coincide with showings of earth-shattering pace from Senior Soccer Captain Ankit B, Privett ‘21 as well as displays of extreme technicality and scrumptious left-footed strikes by Emil F, Privett ‘22.
There are certain aspects that create each student’s love for second term soccer. For Simon G, Privett ‘23 it is “the chance to improve throughout the second term as well as Mr Collis’ hilarious antics during practice”. For Florence T, Hope ‘24, it is the “freedom of a non-competitive season and an atmosphere that allows for relaxed improvement.”
The soccer program gives thanks to its three fearless leaders who ensure that soccer skills is a home for all through the rainy winter months. Though it may seem bland from the outside looking in, once you are inside the madness, the things you will see are sure to amaze you.
Tommy M, Privett ‘23
Soccer skills is a coed sport option that focuses on developing the technical aspect of the game through ball work and gameplay. It is a place for both beginner and experienced players alike, focusing heavily on individual improvement through the three-month timespan.
The fearless leaders through the cold and dark skills sessions are none other than the man who bore the golden stache, Mr Barrett, the illustrious Mr Collis, and a hybrid of the two - dubbed the second coming of Collis - Mr Collis Handford. This three-man dream team has crafted a plan for the next three months to help players improve while still meeting COVID protocols. These mitigations strategies include inter-cohort practice, non-contact scrimmages, individual and socially distant, all followed by a ball sanitation system after each session.
Now, this does not mean every session is similar. I have been known to find myself visiting this roller coaster from time to time, so allow me to walk you through what you are sure to see during a succulent second term session. First, there is a warm and firm welcome from the silver fox, Mr Barrett. That leads into a warm-up run by the prince of the pitch, Mr Collis. From there the session breaks up into either technical games or scrimmages.
Across the sessions you are sure to see a couple of habitual occurrences: balls shanked over the fence in warm-ups by none other than Chris S, Whittall ‘24 and at least one miraculous stop by the defensive brick wall that is Olivia B, Alex’21. These events usually coincide with showings of earth-shattering pace from Senior Soccer Captain Ankit B, Privett ‘21 as well as displays of extreme technicality and scrumptious left-footed strikes by Emil F, Privett ‘22.
There are certain aspects that create each student’s love for second term soccer. For Simon G, Privett ‘23 it is “the chance to improve throughout the second term as well as Mr Collis’ hilarious antics during practice”. For Florence T, Hope ‘24, it is the “freedom of a non-competitive season and an atmosphere that allows for relaxed improvement.”
The soccer program gives thanks to its three fearless leaders who ensure that soccer skills is a home for all through the rainy winter months. Though it may seem bland from the outside looking in, once you are inside the madness, the things you will see are sure to amaze you.
Tommy M, Privett ‘23