Aspiring soccer keepers in the Interior will get the chance to get some tips from a renowned coach this summer.
Marius Rovde has coached in the MLS with both the Vancouver Whitecaps and Minnesota for almost a decade. He will be holding his first ever camp in Kamloops August 5-9th and will be working with keepers with the TRU WolfPack at the same time.
The camp will be held at Hillside Stadium from 4:30-6 PM that week.
“In my opinion, Marius is one of the best goalkeeper coaches in Canada and his resume and experience speaks for itself,” says WolfPack women’s team head coach Mark Pennington. “ I have had the privilege of working with him a number of times over the years and he gets the best out of every goalkeeper he works with.”
Pennington and Rovde worked with a Coastal FC U-17 squad which went to nationals and finished third. The two then teamed up again with Coastal FC on a team that won a Canadian title.
Rovde was Evan Pellerud’s (later Canada’s women’s national team coach for nine years) keeper coach for three years with Trinidad and Tobago where they coached in the World Cup and a few qualifying matches for both the World Cup and the Olympics together. While working with that country’s U-17 team, they were ranked number one in CONCACAF. He also played professionally at the highest level in Norway, Scotland and England.
“I am super excited to see the local talent in the Interior,” says Rovde about his first ever camp in the area. “ I will be working with the keepers in small groups, give them correct information and coaching points and give them scenarios which will help them be the best keepers they can be. “
The camp will focus on High balls/Cross balls on the Monday, Shot-stopping on Tuesday, 1 v1 breakways on Wednesday, Thursday will focus on distribution with the plan for Friday being Match day and Warm ups.
The WolfPack keepers will be training with Rovde at the same time he is conducting his clinic. “We look forward to having a coach as highly rated as Marius working with not only our university goalkeepers but our young keepers in Kamloops,” stated WolfPack men’s head coach John Antulov. “ having coaches of his caliber coming to Thompson Rivers is excellent for players and coaches alike.”
“When I took over the head coaches job with the WolfPack he was one of the first people I contacted to see what we could do to bring him up to Kamloops and work with our goalkeepers,” added Pennington. “I am excited to bring Marius to TRU for the camp. This is a massive coup for our program.”
The camp is open to players U-11 to U-21. Cost is $250.00 per athlete. If you want to register, email [email protected] along with your name ,age, email and date of the camp. You are also asked to etransfer to that email address using the bank security question: Position? Goalkeeper.