All great sports on the pitch
These local youngsters were improving all of the time Glenalmond College has been bustling with sporting activity this week.
The Perthshire school’s summer camps have been proving a hit with enthusiastic kids.
And a high-profile squad of coaches are ensuring that enjoyment remains top of the agenda as skills across a range of activities are improved upon.
MBE Pauline Stott, a double Olympian who gained more than 200 international caps, is helping to inspire on the hockey field.
Husband David - the director of hockey at Glenalmond - is overseeing the camp and revealed it could have been filled twice over, such was the interest.
“One of my passions and ambitions is to create a learning environment for the kids, but also to have the best residential camp in Scotland,” he explained.
“I think we have presented that over the last three years. We could have filled this hockey camp twice over.
“Next year we will maybe need to look at separating two camps over the course of the summer. That will allow us to cater for more kids.
“We have a good group of coaches. Pauline was double Olympic Games and she is one of the coaches, which helps to sell it.
“Generally we try to do a lot of holistic stuff too, so it’s not all based on the pitch. This is a real fun-based camp.
“Giving something back to the kids is really important. These coaches are real role models.
“We have girls ranging from 11 to 15 years of age at the camp this week and there are plenty of good skills.
“I think that reflects a lot on the coaching that they are getting from their schools as well.”
A mere five minute stroll across the grounds of the school takes you to a busy rugby camp, fronted up by former Leeds Rhinos’ star Gary Mercer.
The New Zealander, working alongside Gary Strain, is enjoying giving back to the next generation and said: “We have a good range of calibre of player at the camp this week.
“I really enjoy this and I said to the boys when you are at this camp you’re going to have fun.
“There is so much in rugby and if you don’t throw it into the younger generation now, they will struggle when they move up to an older age group.
“I’ve only had the boys for a short amount of time but I’ve said to the group how much they have improved, when they take on the disciplines of the practice.
“When you get the disciplines right and then the technical skill right, you enjoy it more.
“They are passionate and what’s important when they are here is that they enjoy it.”