Elite performance players from Braidhurst S2/S3 took part in an elite training camp over the October break at the Ravenscraig regional football centre.   The dedication shown by these young athletes was more than commendable.   They train every day at school as part of the SFA performance programme and then again at night with their clubs.   The players worked with Gordon Craig, SFA Elite performance coach, John Kerr SFA and Hamilton Accies goalkeeping coach, Andy Smith NL Trust Motherwell FC head coach, Craig Mcleish Assistant Coach as well as NL Trust sports science support staff.

Gordon Craig explained, “The young players were put through their paces on and off the pitch with sessions covering Individual technique, game behaviours such as protecting the ball through good possession including speed of play, protecting and shielding mentality, moves to create space to a pressing mentality both individual and as a team then onto more themed sessions such as defensive organisation.   It was also an ideal opportunity for us to educate the players in a modern gym set up and thanks to the NL Trust the players were taken around the gym and shown useful exercises on and off the machines to help core work, power, speed and agility.

The time we had the facility also allowed us to spend some quality class room time with the players.   It is hoped we can expand this relationship with NL Trust and the Ravenscraig facility and staff to provide a series of these days throughout the year.

I feel this will also help encourage the young players and even their parents to have that mentality of utilising such facilities and expertise in their own time in a hope to give them the edge or for some parents to get them out there utilising gyms, classes and facilities helping send a positive supportive message to the players”.