After eight seasons of camps, the coached are becoming the coaches at the annual Andy Boyens holiday football programme.
Boyens (31), a former All White and Major League Soccer centreback launched the programme in 2007 and as the three-day, 70-pupil camp entered its final day at John McGlashan College on Wednesday, Boyens noted many of his fellow coaches were familiar faces.
''The favourite part of the camps for me is to get a good look from ages 7 all the way to 13 to see who are the talented kids coming through,'' Boyens said.
''A lot of the guys who are coaching now actually did the camps when they were younger.''
Boyens and his wife, Claire, came up with the holiday programme as a way of repaying the Otago region for the time invested in his career.
''We got a decent break over the off-season and we wanted to come home.
''Myself and my wife sat down and thought what would be a good way to give back. Otago's given me so much with my football, so this is a way to give back to the young 'uns.''
Boyens works closely with Football South and its football development manager, Shane Carvell, to provide the camps, with a two-day one to be held in Timaru in January.
''It's a Football South-run programme, which I come in and run with them,'' he said.
The camps have been spread around the Football South district over the eight years between Dunedin, Invercargill, Central Otago and Timaru.
''Over the eight years we've had about 25 different coaches help out, which I hope is really good development for them as young coaches.
''A lot of these guys are playing National League or National Youth League for Southern United, and we get them to mix in with the youth.''
Boyens, now working for Northern Football in Auckland as the football development manager, has long-term aims to be part of the drive to grow the sport in New Zealand.
''One of my end goals is to be involved with New Zealand Football and continue to elevate the game which is on such a positive note in this country.''
