Following last month鈥檚 visit from Carl Valentine, a group of young soccer players were again treated to some fun and skill-building with a former professional.

Erin MacNulty, who played in goal for the Canadian Under-20 women鈥檚 team, was guest coach at a Saturday clinic for girls at Valley View field.

鈥淚 like training young kids,鈥� said MacNulty, who took the group of U-8 to U-10 girls through a number of footwork drills and introduced them to goalkeeping. 鈥淢ake it fun for them 鈥� more fun than anything.鈥�

The Winnipeg-bred MacNulty had played under Riptide soccer development co-ordinator Shel Brodsgaard when he coached with the national program. She tended the pipes for the 2008 team that won gold at the U-20 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football ) championship. She later trained and played in tournaments with the women鈥檚 national team. MacNulty also played soccer at Florida State University, where she earned a bachelor鈥檚 in business management, and at Penn State, where she completed a masters. She now works in Vancouver, and coaches on the side.

鈥淚鈥檓 not sure if I鈥檓 going to go into coaching full-time,鈥� she said.

The Comox Valley United Soccer Club and the Marine Harvest Riptide co-hosted the clinic.

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to co-operate heavily with Riptide. We鈥檙e a feeder organization to them,鈥� said Stefan Szkwarek of the CVUSC.

鈥淭his is our way to reinvest in the future. We get an ex-professional, ex-national team player. Second time around, it鈥檚 amazing.鈥�