New technologies win Peru over
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The Marcet Soccer Camp comes to a conclusion with a turn out that triples the previous edition.
“We had to close off inscriptions a week before the course was due to start”. Franco Sanchírico sheds light on the success the Marcet Soccer Camp in Lima has had the week of the 12th this february. “Over 100 trainees took part, a figure that triples last year’s”.
Alongside him on his trip to Peru were three other technicians and an analyst, in charge of what would be the Soccer Camp’s component to gain the most interest: the New Technologies sessions. “We went to Peru with smart balls and stroboscopic glasses”, explains Sanchírico. “It’s what both students and parent most enjoyed. They aren’t used to seeing these kinds of technologies applied to football which is why I’m guessing it caught their eye”.
The smart ball allows for detailed Instant Free Kick Analysis. With the information collected by the ball (trajectory, strength, speed, and rotation), Marcet’s trainers could immediately rectify and improve technique in real time, indicating where each trainee was doing well and where they were failing through a tablet connected to the ball. The trainees could follow and check up on their progress with every shot they took in a matter of seconds.
“Being able to perceive and appreciate progress in such a short space of time is fundamental in terms of positive reinforcement for the trainee”, comments the expedition leader. “In a week we could really see an improvement on behalf of the kids at the Soccer Camp. A lot of the parents were surprised with the speed at which their children had progressed embodying these new concepts”.
High expectations
Another thing to catch the interest of the attendees were the stroboscopic glasses, a gadget that leaves the wearer completely blind for a certain amount of time. ‘Strobe training’ is key for improving peripheral vision and anticipation. Depriving a player of their vision for a reduced amount of time forces their brain to take on more information in a shorter space of time. The trainees are left with no other option than to foresee what will happen whilst they’re blinded. This way, we’re teaching a deduction process which will eventually function intuitively and automatically.
“These elements, alongside the video analysis of each and every move, were key to the Soccer Camp’s success in Peru”, explains Sanchírico. “There were high expectations and we leave very happy with how it’s all panned out. The trainees want more so we’re already in the organising stages for next year’s edition. Our main intention is to reach other parts of the county but before that happens, more than one Peruvian student will be travelling to Barcelona this summer to experience Marcet’s method first hand”.