Toddy Goes Stateside

What started off as a pipe-dream last winter, finally became reality this week when Chris Todd, the outstanding find of last season, flew into Philadelphia Airport.

Day 5: Wednesday 27th June 2001

As we were setting up for camp this morning, I learned something for the first time that was surprising, if not shocking. I learned how much the Mifflinburg coaches have given up to be here at the camp.

The high school boys coach used a week of his holiday time to be here every day, when he could have been anywhere else in the world -- relaxing on the beach or wandering around Disney World -- instead of working and sweating under the hot sun.

The high school girls coach used part of his holiday time to free his afternoons, then goes in to work several hours earlier every day in order to free up most of his mornings. To be at this camp!

The middle school coach didn't give up any holiday time to be with us. He just works the night shift, goes home for a bit of food and a shower, and then immediately back to the camp for the rest of the day. Full shift at work. No sleep. Knackered. Football.

That's the kind of dedication I'm working around. It's not just the kids who are serious about football, but the coaches as well.

Believe me, Gary, it makes me feel very humble.

Today was another very hot day, so we worked things out to give the kids some relief.

We extended our breaks at the water horse and Trainer's table. We encouraged the kids to use the rest of their breaks in the shade of the trees which surround the practice field. And Field Marshal Laura made certain that we didn't slip away a few minutes early.

Here's the way the camp is organised.

We have two sessions -- morning and afternoon. Before every session, the coaches start by reviewing the plans for the day. We use whatever space is available at the moment. Today, because the Buildings and Grounds staff are preparing to work on the athletic spaces, we just settled in on a desk temporarily stored in the changing room shower.

In addition to the written and diagrammed lessons, I have found it very helpful to use plastic cups to go over the drills and lessons -- "Andy Gray style." It works.

Depending on what work we're doing, we have either three or four lessons in each session, each taught by a coach. In some periods, I teach one of the lessons. In other periods, I move from station to station, working with each coach and giving some direct attention to the kids.

The kids are in 4 groups by age and sex, and the groups are about equal in number.

We try to break things up so they don't lose interest. For example, this morning, we worked on corners and on free kicks, and did some fun passing and dribbling drills at the third station. Hard learning in the first two, fun learning in the third.

What is amazing is that they enjoy the hard stuff as much as the "fun stuff." Probably more!

One of the funniest and embarrassing things happened today because I had trouble communicating. I asked 3 boys if they wanted to take off their shirts because it was so hot playing defence. Then straight after, I asked two girls to go in and attack. The look on their faces would have been a great picture. I meant that the girls were to wear their shirts and use a bib, but they didn't understand me, and shook their heads. Everyone laughed when they understood what I really meant.

In the afternoon, we had a 7-a-side tournament with 8 teams. But first we had to move the goals to a side field so the high school band could practice on the large pitch!

We divided the 8 teams into two "leagues" of 4 teams, had each team play all the other teams in their league once. The league champions then played for the "Candy Bowl."

The British League had the Gunners, Man. U., Leeds, and Swansea. The North American League had Los Angeles, Chicago, D.C. United, and the Hershey Wildcats (naturally).

I went on a real power trip when I got my air horn and could blast the bark off the trees!

Now, every single word I'm about to write is true.

The Championship game was between Hershey and Swansea, with the Swans winning all the sweets 1-0. Record: 1-1-1. Goals for: 5, Goals against: 3.

The only kid in the camp that I know is of Welsh descent is named Evan Llewellyn. And he played for the camp Swans. Absolutely true! Good little player.

Tony's grandson, Stevie, is one of the youngest campers, or at least one of the 2 or 3 youngest. He played defender for the Swans and made several smashing saves.

As we were leaving the field, several boys came up to me and asked if we could do this again before the end of the camp.

After camp, I did more training, this time with a couple of kids trying to push me to better and better times.

After a shower and a change of clothes, I visited a natural beauty spot in Central Pennsylvania called "Penn's Cave," only about an hour's drive west of Mifflinburg.

The cave is very similar to Dan-Yr-Ogof Caves back home, but instead of walking, you ride through the whole cave in a boat. And Penn's Cave is more spectacular.

When I was in the cave, I felt like I was back home because it was so cold and wet :-)

And I saw my first chipmunks! They are very strange and beautiful little creatures. It would be so hard to describe them without a picture. I tried very hard to take a photo of one, but they move so very fast that I couldn't do it. Try to imagine an animal about the size of a rat, but with a beautiful face, beautiful light brown fur with black stripes down its back, and a large full tail which is constantly flicking around. What a wonderful creature! But you probably know what I'm trying to describe by having seen them on the Cartoon Channel or in countless Disney films.

While I was in the Gift Shop, I took a chance and sat in the arms of a stuffed bear. Danger is my business!

I know you've heard this before, Gary, but after I got home to the Vicksburg Inn, I went back to work again. It was out of one cave and into another -- the "planning" cave. I'm starting to find myself in a groove and enjoying it.

Hope the weather breaks tomorrow and we get some cooler weather, but it looks like it will be more sunny skies. Well, at least it's not rain.

Before I forget and someone complains, it's "Food Talk" time. For lunch today, I had a Hawaiian pizza. I was surprised that they had them over here. So was Tony!

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