Coerver Kid, Ellie Carpenter will represent Australia at the Rio Olympics. Ellie will be the youngest athlete at the 2016 Olympic games. Ellie began with Coerver Coaching in Australia at 4 years of age, has worked with both Coerver Co-founders Charlie Cooke and Alfred Galustian and has appeared on both the Improve your game and Play like the stars DVD’s. Please see the recent interview below with Ellie.

CC. Firstly congratulations on your selection to the Matilda’s and being named as the youngest Australian Olympian at the Rio Olympics, can you explain what that was like to be selected?

EC. It was surreal. I was absolutely stunned and super excited. It was and is, a dream come true

CC. We remember you as a young girl beginning at Coerver Coaching at just 4 years of age with your brother Jeremy. Can you recall your first Coerver experience?

EC: Yes. I remember arriving at the field and every one of us was given a ball. I have a clear memory of all these kids surrounded by footballs and we were all learning to juggle and we were taught so many ball mastery skills.
CC. In the initial years you would travel a 7 hour round trip from Cowra to Canberra 2-3 times per week and have to do your school homework in the car. Do you feel that all the hard work has now paid off?

E: Yes definitely. Football has taken me to places I never thought I would go and I’ve met so many fantastic people through football! It has exposed me to so many different learning experiences.
CC. You spent 5 years at Coerver Coaching how did the Coerver program improve your game and what is it that makes the Coerver program so unique?

E: Coerver gave me the skill I needed to be competitive, especially in the boy’s teams I was a part of. It also taught me about discipline and being thorough with preparation.
CC. What is it about Coerver Coaching you enjoyed most?

E: There are so many great memories associated with my time at Coerver. From the fun trips to Canberra with my family to the tour in Japan! I especially loved making the DVD’s at the AIS and when I was in Japan.
CC. What are some of your best memories from your time at Coerver Coaching?

E: The fun we had and the rapport we developed with all the coaches there. Jason, Bugsy and Adrian had a big influence on my brother and I.
CC. You toured with Coerver Coaching to Tokyo, Japan in 2010 in the Coerver Select touring program and more recently returned with the Matilda’s for the Rio Olympic qualifiers did that bring back memories from your tour as a ten year old?

E: I love Japan. When I knew the Olympic Qualifiers were in Japan and that I had been selected, I knew I would feel at home there because I had been there for the Coerver tour and also to visit my brother who spent time playing and going to school over there.
CC. The Coerver Coaching program has been a strong advocate for women’s football with one of our Ambassadors being one of the greatest female footballers of all time Kristine Lilley, what advice would you give to our young Coerver girls in our programs?

E: To listen to the coaches and to try and do everything to the best of your ability!

Thank you Ellie and we wish you all the very best for the Olympics and we hope to have you back with us at a Coerver event on your return from Rio