In a massive boost for The Round Ball’s up and coming Futsal Development Program, former Mount Gambier Socceroo and current English Premiership midfielder with Wigan Athletic, Josip Skoko has not only given his unconditional support to the initiative he has put his name to it!
The Skoko Squad will be the collective name for the grassroots program and will comprise the Skoko Squad, the under 10 cohort and the Skoko Kids, the under 10 cohort.
Scott Dickson, Director of Coaching for the Round Ball believes that the Skoko name will create the foundation for excellence for our Player Development Programs.
"We are delighted to have gained the support of Josip. He has played at the highest level for over a decade now and he understands what is needed to develop as a country player. The path he has traveled from attending St Paul’s Primary School and playing at Bishop Road to marking the likes of Steven Gerrard, Ronaldo and Cesc Fabergas in the English Premiership is one we should all admire."
Skoko who is in the final year of his contract at Wigan Athletic is currently in contract negotiations however it is possible he may chose to move on to gain more playing time. "I had contact with Josip last week and despite the fact he loves the Premiership and Wigan he said that as he is coming to the end of his overseas playing career he may move to mainland Europe for one final time" said Dickson. "I have been blown away with the support that Josip has offered The Round Ball and he is keen to assist us in any way he can. His support for this program is conformation that we are doing a very good job.
The Round Ball Futsal Development Program will commence next week with the under 12 and under 14 cohorts set to commence on Monday May 12 and the Skoko Squads, the under 10 and under 8 cohorts set to kick off on Saturday May 17, both at Grant High Schools Gymnasium.
Dickson believes the program will enable a rapid development in foot speed and skill and is quick to point out that Futsal has, for a long time now, been regarded as the grass roots coaching program in Brazil and has assisted in the amazing speed of Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and most of the current and past Brazilian stars.
"Futsal has an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique, its skills are easily transferable to conventional soccer and in the middle of Mount Gambier's wet winters how good is that we can improve our skills inside" Dickson adds with a smile.
Futsal is a five-a-side game played on a basketball-sized pitch with a weighted ball and is highly regarded as the impedance for change in many footballing countries.
"We are keen to assist in developing soccer across the region and we think Futsal has a part to play. There is no where to hide on a Futsal Pitch, the game makes you more composed and due to that you want the ball more so you can do something with it. It is challenging due to space and the weight of the ball and decision making is paramount. It is believed that Futsal is a platform to allow players to use invention and game understanding to not only develop but to get out of trouble. After all Football is all about problem solving."
The Skoko Squad will be the collective name for the grassroots program and will comprise the Skoko Squad, the under 10 cohort and the Skoko Kids, the under 10 cohort.
Scott Dickson, Director of Coaching for the Round Ball believes that the Skoko name will create the foundation for excellence for our Player Development Programs.
"We are delighted to have gained the support of Josip. He has played at the highest level for over a decade now and he understands what is needed to develop as a country player. The path he has traveled from attending St Paul’s Primary School and playing at Bishop Road to marking the likes of Steven Gerrard, Ronaldo and Cesc Fabergas in the English Premiership is one we should all admire."
Skoko who is in the final year of his contract at Wigan Athletic is currently in contract negotiations however it is possible he may chose to move on to gain more playing time. "I had contact with Josip last week and despite the fact he loves the Premiership and Wigan he said that as he is coming to the end of his overseas playing career he may move to mainland Europe for one final time" said Dickson. "I have been blown away with the support that Josip has offered The Round Ball and he is keen to assist us in any way he can. His support for this program is conformation that we are doing a very good job.
The Round Ball Futsal Development Program will commence next week with the under 12 and under 14 cohorts set to commence on Monday May 12 and the Skoko Squads, the under 10 and under 8 cohorts set to kick off on Saturday May 17, both at Grant High Schools Gymnasium.
Dickson believes the program will enable a rapid development in foot speed and skill and is quick to point out that Futsal has, for a long time now, been regarded as the grass roots coaching program in Brazil and has assisted in the amazing speed of Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and most of the current and past Brazilian stars.
"Futsal has an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique, its skills are easily transferable to conventional soccer and in the middle of Mount Gambier's wet winters how good is that we can improve our skills inside" Dickson adds with a smile.
Futsal is a five-a-side game played on a basketball-sized pitch with a weighted ball and is highly regarded as the impedance for change in many footballing countries.
"We are keen to assist in developing soccer across the region and we think Futsal has a part to play. There is no where to hide on a Futsal Pitch, the game makes you more composed and due to that you want the ball more so you can do something with it. It is challenging due to space and the weight of the ball and decision making is paramount. It is believed that Futsal is a platform to allow players to use invention and game understanding to not only develop but to get out of trouble. After all Football is all about problem solving."
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