U12s – the team in the groove

In addition to the daily workload set by the coaches Pierre De Wit and Maximilian Straub plus a range of challenges and video meetings, there is a special session for the 'coronavirus programme' for the Bayer 04 youth players: a dance routine.

Different training

Together with Celine Bürger, the sister of goalkeeper Elias, the U12s work on a street dance choreography. "We always include special sessions like this in training during the winter," explained De Wit. "For example, we have also done kick boxing."Now, it's time to get on down.

With the hip-hop beats from ‘Show me the money’ from the film ‘Step up’, the players and coaches do press ups, slides steps and moonwalking at home in their living rooms, corridors or fitness rooms under video direction from Celine. "The lads were a bit reserved at the start but Celine quickly got them going," said coach Straub.

Learning from the professional

No wonder. Celine is a true professional. The 16-year-old does a lot of work with the ‘The Soul of Dance Company’ from Düren. "We do all sorts of dancing: solos, duos, groups with hip-hop, street dancing through to ballet," said Celine who is a German champion in various disciplines and has already taken part in world championships. When her brother put the idea to her, she said yes straight away. “I usually dance at least four times a week and also have tournaments at the weekend. I'm missing that at the moment,” she said. The sessions with the Bayer 04 U12s are a welcome change: "The lads do it really well, have fun and are quick to learn."

Curious and ambitious

The football coaches fully agree. The team really enjoy playing and have a lot of potential," said De Wit. The class of 2009 have scored 255 goals over three years in the Reviersportcup competition." The team is very ambitious," added Straub. That is also evident in the dance sessions. Again and again, the players ask Celine during the breaks whether their arms should be more stretched, how turns are made and which pose they should do next.

"The choreography is quite long. The lads have got a lot about them," she said. The aim is to get really fit through street dance. Dancing is not just pure fun as Straub explained: "One the one hand, it keeps the lads together and also influences movements such as coordination and the sense of rhythm, which are very beneficial for development at this important age."

The pitch is the target

And, of course, the players should put theory into practice. "When we start training properly again then we’ll have something we’ve learnedThe class of 2009 have scored 255 goals together," said De Wit. And then the U12s will finally again be able to swerve with the ball at their feet, do turns and get the opposition confused.