For the clinic participants, playing soccer with the youth players provided an opportunity to experience what they aspire to. For the youth players, experiencing firsthand the presence of children who look up to them, their parents, and the clinic coaches, all of whom support them, reaffirmed their goal of reaching the top team. This clinic participation was carried out with these objectives in mind.
The players were briefed on the overview of the Antlers Clinic and coaching points before participating. It was emphasized that their participation was not merely to play soccer with children, but to fulfill the aforementioned objectives.
Upon arriving at the clinic venue, the players immediately engaged with the children, asking their names and kicking the ball around with them.
As the training began, the session, though filled with smiles, revealed the essence of soccer, with players sometimes gently passing to younger children and at other times engaging in serious challenges to demonstrate their skills. The players occasionally showcased their techniques, drawing gasps of admiration from the watching parents.
The players likely felt the difficulty of coaching children, and also had an opportunity to rediscover the joy of soccer and their position of being supported by many people.
The children at the clinic must have also felt the joy of soccer by playing with the players. While aiming to become top team players is important, the youth team, as an earlier stage, must have also become a significant goal for them.
It was a day that truly reminded everyone of the wonderful Antlers family.