MY CAC EXPERIENCE || Coaches Across Continents 2016

Tacloban City - ​When I heard that we are going to attend a CAC seminar, I felt excited to meet and learn from the foreign and local coaches from Tacloban.

On the first day of the CAC seminar, our first activity was a warm up exercise called “Circle of Friends” wherein we all form a circle and some players go to the center while doing an exercise and shout something, like your name, favorite food, favorite player, etc. This activity was fun as it makes the typical warm up exercise more enjoyable by giving us the opportunity to express ourselves and get to know others. The CAC coaches also introduced a significant person in football, “Mia Hamm”.

She is the most decorated player in the US National Team. She is an example of an empowered woman and an inspiration for young female kids who are shy and hesitant to play football because they think that football is for boys. Her story proves that football is for everyone.
 
On the second day,  the coaches introduced another significant player, Luis Suarez, the leading goal scorer of the Uruguay National Team. He is one of the best players in the world now, but he actually came from a poor family and couldn’t even afford to buy soccer shoes. However, because of his determination, he achieved his dreams. We also practiced some Suarez skills and played games like Suarez for Health and Wellness. It is a game of tag but the taggers can’t tag someone if the players say a nutritious food. This is a good game to replicate in our Football for Life sessions to teach the kids about nutrition and how to eat healthy.
 
On the third day, we were introduced to different world issues such as gender equality, children’s rights, and HIV/AIDS. We also played games to discuss them. One was called “Indonesia for Choice”, wherein we were asked about the different traits of men and women. The lesson from this game is that anyone can be someone; it doesn’t matter if you are a girl or a boy. Another game we had discussed children’s rights and it’s called the “Punishment Game”. The players have to do some exercise and the team who has a poor performance will receive a punishment which the other team suggested and agreed on. This game explains that children have rights and they should receive fair punishment.
 
Finally, on the last day, we reviewed what we have learned from the previous days. In the afternoon, we had to make our own game which should discuss some issues in the Philippines like poverty, hunger, corruption and drugs. We were grouped into different teams to discuss and to give everyone a chance to be the coach of our own game. This is a great activity for teamwork, wherein all of the coaches think together to create exciting games and ideas to solve these problems.
 
Overall, my experience in the CAC was the best. I played, enjoyed the sun, met other people and learned a lot of things. It was way better than the other seminars wherein I just sit  and listen. I will share what I have learned in the CAC seminar to the kids I coach and to the new coaches that I will meet in the future. I am already looking forward to the CAC seminar next year. ​~

John Paul Masubay
Football for Life Coach

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