AN INVERCLYDE goalkeeping guru has been helping the next generation of budding shot-stoppers at his academy summer camp.
Former Morton goalkeeping coach David Scott hosted 20 local goalkeeping hotshots who were put through their paces over the course of two days.
The two-day camp, at the Battery Park, saw kids put through their paces as they looked to finish their summer holidays off with a bang by putting what they’d been taught by Scott to the test.
And he’s delighted to have been able to have the group in for a two-day camp for the first time whilst helping buffer the dreaded countdown back to school.
He told the Tele: “It’s been great to get the kids in. We tend to do these kinds of camps whenever the kids are off school, but this is the first time we’ve managed to do a two-day camp.
“I’m grateful to have had the backing of the parents to be able to do it and the response from the kids has been amazing.
“We had 20 down on Thursday and 16 on Friday, with four of Thursday’s attendees away on holiday.
“The weather’s been relatively kind to us as well, so it’s meant that the kids have done lots of practices on defending the goal, developing their shot stopping which they all love and defending their space on 1v1 situations.
“We’re giving them proper coaching exercises where they’re making game-related decisions, and they’ve really enjoyed it which is good to see.
“It’s been good to get them back in before term-time starts again, it’s just a countdown for them coming back to school.
"It’s been good to give them that extra support over the summer and we’re looking forward to seeing how they progress during the season as a result."
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Scott, founder of goalkeeping academy BeNo.1 Coaching has previously arranged all-star visits for his camps, with the likes of Brian Schwake, Jack Hamilton and current favourite Ryan Mullen sharing their pearls of wisdom to attendees over the years.
This has seen the popularity of the sessions grow ten-fold as his academy fast became the biggest in Inverclyde.
After leaving Morton in the summer, Scott is just happy to be able to give back to the local community and help nurture the next generation of shot stoppers currently coming through the ranks across the area’s grassroots leagues.
He continued: “It’s brilliant to get back to coaching the kids, I really enjoy it. This is the 11th year I’ve run the academy. Three of those I ran it alongside being in Morton.
“It’s great to get back working with them more often, because the progress you see in kids, not only as a player but as a person over three or four years is very rewarding.
“I look forward to seeing that continue with camps lined up in September and October as well.”
Camp attendee Zara Christie-Cree, pictured, says that the event has been her favourite of her three years within BeNo.1 Coaching.
She says that the guidance offered to her by Scott will help her massively in her upcoming season in the Morton Girls’ Pathway.
She added: “This was my third camp with BeNo.1 and it’s probably been my favourite so far, I’ve learned a lot.
“I love being a goalkeeper because it’s fun, you can make friends and making good saves is really special.
“I play in the Morton Girls’ Pathway and after coming here, my coaches there and even my Mum have said how much I’ve improved which is really pleasing.
“In this camp we’ve learned about smothering the ball, defending your bubble and not being beaten at an angle.
“I’ve learned about realising what’s in my bubble and what I can and can’t dive for, which I’m looking forward to taking into the new season.”
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