Testimonials

"I wish to express my appreciation to you for your excellent contribution you made to our National Street Soccer Coaching events. Your Street Soccer presentation was absolutely fist-class and the feedback from the delegates were most complimentary. We will call upon you in the near future and hope you will be willing to provide your Skills training concept again."

Brian Laudrup

"Darren is an exceptional performer with the ball who will excite, impress and educate both players, and coaches alike in a unique way. He has positive personal attributes which added to his talent make for an impressive training and coaching package."

Malcom Cook - Director of
Freeflow, Ex Academy Director for Liverpool FC, Author

"Darren has demonstrated his Street Soccer concept at our events throughout Denmark. His enthusiastic and professional presentation was stimulating and very different, with many ideas to create a new approach to achieving technical excellence. I believe this revolutionary coaching method will greatly assist at all levels of the game to play more creatively and perform better. We will definitely invite him back in the near future.”

Lars Hogh - Danish National Goalkeeper Coach & Ex professionl

"I found the coaching seminar that you put on for us in Belfast to be very benefical. It introduced me to new concepts and ideas, and made me question my own philosophies. I have used some of your ideas in sessions and the kids loved the freedom of being able to express themselves, solve the problems that have been set, and come up with new ideas and ways of moving and working with and without the ball. I always try and take new ideas from every coach Ed. seminar I go to, and more often than not you see the same ideas presented a different way, HOWEVER not this time, totally new, totally fresh and radical. I loved it."

"Darren has introduced and developed a new wave of exciting coaching methods that young players can only learn and benefit from. The methods and his coaching manner re-create the old street soccer feel that young people used to have but in a new, fresh environment that brings old mentality bang up to date. Young players taking part in the ISSA programme can really produce things they never thought possible and aim to reach levels unsurpassed by many players in the modern game”.

Mark Senior MANCHESTER UNITED ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT COACH

John O'Kane U.E.F.A. 'A' Licence

"The University College Plymouth, St Mark and St John offers a range of undergraduate degree in Sports Coaching as well as Physical Education teaching. Many of our students recently experienced a one day street soccer course led by tutor Darren Laver. The course was excellent; not only did the students gain innovative ideas to enhance their teaching and coaching practice, but they were also challenged by Darren’s child-centred philosophy of street soccer coaching. Based on his knowledge of learning theory, as well as his vast experience, the course encouraged the students to see coaching and teaching soccer in a new light. In addition, the local secondary school PE teachers who also enrolled on the course were able to see how Darren’s vision of street soccer meets the aims of the ’new’ national curriculum for physical education. I thoroughly recommend this course to anyone looking to develop their coaching and teaching of sport and PE.”

Gareth Long, Lecturer in Coach and Physical Education (BA Hons), University College Plymouth, St Mark and St John.

Darren is the most dynamic and progessive coach I have seen in 10 years of Coaching. He facilitates fast and meaningful skill learning through a player centred approach and innovative drills and practices.

Within just a few hours of working with our youngsters, it was clear that Darren had unlocked their hidden potential. They were more balanced, relaxed, focused and began executing difficult skills with ease; even under pressure in game situations.

This was a team that had struggled previously to express themselves on the ball and impose their natural ability in matches. Suddenly, ball control was outstanding, passes were finding their target and players were improvising and adapting to the game as it unfolded. All because Darren had helped them access the right emotional state for learning and performing.

I highly recommend Darren to anyone interested in developing more confident, creative and rounded footballers who express their talent and do so for the benefit of their team."

Frankie Burrows BSc (Hons) PGCE CMTA NLP

Coach - Seren Goch Football Club (Ex-Swansea City F.C. Centre of Excellence Coach) Creator of Mind-Body Coaching

In Leeds I had the advantage to experience ”ISSA” and “street soccer” live. Darren Laver entering and skilful presentation was, fun, interesting and inspiring. For my students on Västerskolans football profile the street soccer-practices are appreciated, and I also have in my ordinary team training, successfully used elements of street soccer in prepratice-training as well as in technical training.

Lars-Göran Edfors Coach för Vittsjö GIK:s ladiesteam (div I Sweden) Courseinstructor Skånes FF Instructor Västerskolans Footballprofile

Another local initiative is the Street Soccer Scheme in the St. John’s area, supported by Liberal Democrat controlled South Somerset District Council. Both Tony Lock and Tony Fife have been strong supporters of this scheme, which gives local young people something healthy and worthwhile to do, whilst also tackling the problems of boredom and isolation. The number of reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area were down by almost 80% whilst the Street Soccer scheme took place. Councillor Tony Fife said “I whole heartedly support this initiative. The scheme helps to build confidence and teaches skills to our young people, as well as giving them something to do with their evenings.”

Focus – Liberal Democrats (Winter 2008)

Darrens outlook on things………life in fact has been a big eye opener for me. If it wasn’t for meeting Darren and learning from his coaching techniques and outlooks on learning and self worth I would now be doing a mundane job and not achieving my goals. Darrens course helped me focus on the things I wanted and how to achieve them and did it in a way that made sense to me. Furthermore his coaching techniques which I have gone on to use on a daily basis have been an incredible tool for me and helped me create coaching environments where children weren’t afraid to make mistakes and could be who they wanted to be. I wont say that Darrens coaching course changed my life……………but it did.

Tom Ovenden - Regional Manager, Major League Soccer Camps

"The ISSA have took the development of Street Soccer to a new and exciting level which is accessible to all. The key to developing talent is to firstly have quality coaches in place and the ISSA Street Soccer Coaching Courses are without doubt the first step on the road to helping develop more creative and skilful players within Football. Having witnessed Darren Laver's coaching and engagement programmes at first hand, I can say that Darren's coaching methods are truly innovative and tap into young players' desire to just get the ball down and play without restrictions. His enthusiasm and dedication to the development of creative and skilful young football players is plain to see and the GAME ON Football Regeneration Project looks forward to working with Darren to developing many Street Soccer programmes in the future."

Kevin Tasker, GAME ON Regional Coordinator (North West) - Coalfields Regeneration Trust

' I first linked with Darren over 2 years ago and was instantly impressed by his passion and ability to think 'outside of the box'  when looking at player development and engagement with marginalised  and demotivated young people. His desire to take football back to the streets fitted perfectly into the Social Inclusion side of grass roots football that Nacro are embedded in across England's more deprived communities. The combination of skills, panna, music and the 'cool' 'wow' factor are a great tool for engagement and development of confidence , ABC movement and most importantly fun!!
 
Since our first meeting he has been a good partner to work with. He has delivered Street football coaching intro courses to Nacro Volunteers , he has been involved with Street Soccer tournaments delivered across the borough and also given opportunity for volunteering and paid work to youths that have progressed through my project.'

Dom Weir, Social Inclusion Football4All Coordinator, Nacro Dorset