Primary School Coaching

Wednesday 21st October 2009

Hello, typing today's blog is Emma Gillott, Owen Phillips, Dave Hill.

In the morning we had a 'chillax' session. Today was the first day that we had a lie in which was good for most people but not for others as they got woken up early by people.

After breakfast, everyone went down to the beach. It was a glorious day, beautiful as well with the scorching sun beating down upon our backs. The waves in the sea were crashing down at our feet. It was like a cat catching a mouse when everyone got caught out by the undercurrent. The temperature of the sea was cold at first but we soon got used to the temperature and we soon all warmed up.

Then we had lunch! It consisted of tuna sandwiches, with tomato in them, and for the vegetarians salad. Mr O'foray was on top form! We then got ready for an exciting afternoon coaching Brenu's primary school children.

We assembled at 12:30pm alongside the corridor between the rooms. The bus shuddered and shaked along the road until we reached the school. A short walk up a sandy and dusty; treacherous slope with too many hazards to count got us to the school. We met many smiley faced children with beady eyes looking at us and wanting to hold our hands when we were there, which was considered very friendly of them, and was much appreciated by us for their kindness towards us.

Once inside, we got a tremendous welcome from all the Ghanaian's and Paddy who had previously visited us. After an X factor awarding performance from Owen Phillips for walking in and going along with the hands in the air, everyone from England were told to sing the National Anthem. It was rather embarrising as some people had really low voices (Owen Phillips and Will Jones) which could be heard over everyone else, but aside from that, the Ghanahians appreciated everyone elses singing. However, we got outdone by their choir as their singing was insanely good.
In the meeting, Paddy, the headteacher was giving his speech when his phone went off a number of times. We laughed because he answered the phone exactly the same way every time.

We then walked down the hill to the playing fields where we set up our coaching and we met the children. There were 5 stations for the lads, and there were only 3 stations for the ladies. The little boys were really good and all our coaching stations were easy to them! We had a : posession station, a shooting station, a dribbling station, a touch station, and a passing station. For the ladies, there was a passing station, an interception station, and a positioning of the game station. The girls who we were coaching were really good considering their age and the fact that they had done hardly any netball in their lives. For both genders, there was a massive age range which was strange; it took an hour. It seemed so much longer because it was so hot. We then got back onto the bus and traveled back to the famous Stumbleinn.
Once home, we played volley ball, and played cards until dinner but for some who were unfortunately ill slept. For dinner, there was golden rice, with pieces of chunky frazzled beef.

After dinner, there was a drumming and singing session led by the ghanahians who work here. Everyone was included in the singing but the ghanahians soon gave up teaching everyone because noone had good enough voices. We then sang songs that we knew, such as 'Get back in your biscuit tin...' and '99 Green Bottles...'.
Then, we went to bed! The lads stayed up for a long time being effortlessly annoying by having a banter session and complaining about a mysterious bug which seemed to end up always on their roof.
Love from, Emma Gillott
David Hill
Owen Phillips
Holly Newson
XXX