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Cochrane Minor Soccer brings out major potential

By Jake Cressy The Cochrane Minor Soccer League (CMS) is in good hands – and feet – thanks to the work of John Castrillon, technical director of the program for the past four years.
20190319 Cochrane Minor Soccer JC 0006
Junior Coach Hannah Engdahl and Technical Director John Castrillon pose with the Cochrane Minor Soccer League logo at the Spray Lakes Sawmill Family Sports Centre in Cochrane on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Castrillon has been serving as technical director for the past four years and has taught Engdahl both as a player and a coach.

By Jake Cressy

The Cochrane Minor Soccer League (CMS) is in good hands – and feet – thanks to the work of John Castrillon, technical director of the program for the past four years.

Castrillon has over 35 years of coaching experience that includes working with the Colombia national soccer team, and the Calgary Flames. Major and minor leagues may seem like two different worlds, but from a coaching aspect, they are fundamentally similar.

“It doesn’t matter the level. You always have that gap in performance to narrow so you can perform to your best,” said Castrillon.

That focus on performance is one aspect that makes the CMS program stand out.

“It’s not about the team first, it’s about individuals first. When we develop [the] individual then we get a great team.”

Kids in the program are given optional homework, simple tasks to improve ball mastery, which allows them to improve at their own rate.

The program is designed to be flexible.

“We don’t tell them what to do. We advise them on options they have,” said Castrillon.

The emphasis on individuals and personal growth allows the CMS to meet the needs of the most recreational soccer players as well as the more serious ones.

“Not everybody out on that field is the same, said Hannah Engdahl, Junior Coach for CMS.

“I know there are kids that are not as technically skilled, not as fast, or don’t really want to be here all the time.”

Engdahl has been taught by Castrillon both as a player and a coach.

“When I first started with John’s team I was the weakest player, said Engdahl.

“He took me aside for one-on-one training for three or four hours a week because he understood I really wanted it.”

Castrillon’s coaching methods and philosophy are followed closely by Engdahl.

“He’s taught me about integrity, patience, keeping everything simple, and how to connect with people rather than just playing my sport,” she said.

“Everything I try and teach has come from John.”

Engdahl also credits her own experience in minor league soccer as a huge coaching asset

“I always try and understand how [the kids] feel in that situation because I’ve been in that situation. It helps me as a coach and helps me connect with the parents,” she said.

Castrillon believes the skills the program teaches are not only applicable in sports but to the world at large.

“We want them to be good sports citizens,” said Castrillon.

“It’s not about playing professionally or not, it’s about what values and what solid ground we give them for life.”

The CMS has a variety of programs for different age groups.

The programs span from their First Kicks program for children as young as 3-years old to their male and female U18 programs for 18-year old youths.

Occasionally, slightly older groups will play with the younger ones as a means of building community and alternative teaching.

“The [younger] kids can see and start mimicking the older ones,” said Castrillon.

Registration for the 2019 outdoor program can be found at 932kick.com.

Programs begin in April.

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