Todd Beane shares knowledge with Christchurch United FC
Christchurch United coaches have been like kids in a candy store this month with the visit of high-profile Barcelona-based coach Todd Beane.
Beane visited Christchurch after an invite by club president Slava Meyn to share his extensive knowledge with the CUFC coaching team and to evaluate the club’s academy programmes and coaching structures.
The American coach these runs his own live-in TOVO football academy in Barcelona, after spending 15 years working with his father-in-law Johan Cruyff, who created the unique Totaal Voetbal (TOVO) styles of Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona FC, winning several European trophies in the process.
Christchurch United Academy coach Colin Williamson said that the time spent with Beane was incredibly valuable for himself and the other coaches.
“And it was really enjoyable to talk about football for days with a man who has worked with so many great coaches and players,” said Williamson.
Even for experienced coaches like club Head Coach Fernando Lambert and Williamson, who have both worked some several high-profile international coaches during their career, Beane’s view on football gave them plenty of food for thought.
“Todd provided us with a great professional evaluation of our Academy plan which has provided us with useful new targets for the coming months,” said Williamson.
“His input will help us to create the best possible development plan for each individual player to reach their dreams.”
The Christchurch United coaches spent countless hours with Beane discussing player development and club structures, which will be valuable for all the coaches for years to come.
“The coaches did not see their wives a lot during the week but will hopefully have increased their coaching knowledge and skills,” said Williamson.
Beane observed several training sessions, and provide coaches with feedback on their approach and on the Thursday night joined forces with several coaches to deliver his own coaching style on the pitch.
On the final night, Christchurch United opened the door to other clubs and made Beane’s expertise available to coaches of other clubs and 25 coaches took up the opportunity to lift the level of youth football across the region.
“It was great to see that all those coaches wanted to invest time and money to come and listen to Todd, and to share knowledge, instead of being rivals, to improve the game of football in Canterbury.”
Christchurch United now considers to invite other coaches from the TOVO academy to Christchurch to build on the lessons learned this month.