In the past couple of months the coaching staff for the South Valley Chivas Academy have been very busy advancing their coaching education by attending coaching seminars by some of the world best soccer club at developing youth.

This past weekend Chivas coaches Esmaldo Hernandez, Gilbert Hernandez, Alexis Hernandez, Miriam Hernandez, Michael Beebe, Pedro Reyes and Jay Ward all attended a 3 day course in the Bay Area put on by the English Premier League very own Tottenham Hotspur coaching staff which included current Hotspur goalkeeper and former United States National Soccer Team legend Brad Friedel. Helping Friedel with the coaching was first team Technical Director, Chris Ramsey and Tottenham’s academy goalkeeper coach Perry Suckling both former EPL professional players. Friedel is best known for being one of the first American goalkeeper to play in the English Premier League where he has played for Newcastle United, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and the Tottenham Hotspurs. The 3 day Tottenham course emphasized alot on individual development as which is with all top notch coaches which tend to emphasis on individual development over winning.

Weeks earlier the Chivas staff had traveled to Davis to attend another coaching seminar put on by UEFA instructor and Scotland’s Motherswell FC, Head oF Youth, Gordon Young.

“All these coaches tend to say the exact same thing we preach at our academy which is it is not about the trophies and wins but about the individual player and creating an atomsphere around them to make them succeed!”, said Chivas Director of Coaching Gilbert Hernandez. “Unfornuately here in the states youth sports have always been about winning at all cost which is totally the opposite of what you hear from these coaches. I rather development an individual player and teach him/her all aspect of the game and life than have a bookcase full of trophies collecting dust!”

“This past couple of months have been very busy but yet very rewarding and enlighting for our Chivas coaching staff” said Hernandez. “In order for us to continue to help develop our academy youth soccer players, us as coaches must ourselves continue to be educated and what better if it is with top professional coaches.

Featured picture on top page l-r: Perry Suckling, Gilbert Hernandez, Brad Friedel, Chris Ramsey, Esmaldo Hernandez and Alexis Hernandez

l-r: Pedro Reyes, Gilbert Hernandez, Tottenham Techincal Director Chris Ramsey, Esmaldo Hernandez and Michael Beebe.

Brad Friedel Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Friedel
Perry Suckling Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Suckling
Chris Ramsey Wike: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Ramsey_(footballer)