Coaches proud of England players' growth at U18 Beach European Championships

The NEVZA Youth Championships bronze medallists won four of the six matches they played in Izmir, Turkiye to underline they are one of the best sides in Europe for the age group. 

Now Makowski is looking forward to seeing what the future could hold for the talented pair. 

“Finishing 9th at the CEV Euros is a very positive result for the boys," he said. "They came here to compete, but also to learn, and throughout the tournament they had to do both at the same time.” 

 “The biggest takeaway for me is how much they learned in tough moments. They were forced to find solutions, adapt to different situations and stay together when things weren’t going their way. That experience is extremely valuable for their development.”  

“We saw the boys apply what they had learned during the tournament in some very difficult matches. They were able to stay composed, find solutions and turn difficult situations into wins. That is an important step forward.” 

Makowski was particularly pleased that the pair successfully held their nerve to come through two tie break matches when their bid to go all the way was still intact. They also added a third tie break triumph ni their placement match. 

He said: “Winning two tiebreaks against Estonia and Lithuania, two strong Baltic nations, says a lot about the mental resilience of this team. 

In those moments, the quality was there, but more importantly, they showed the character and belief to finish the matches.” 

Having performed so well in the England jersey, Makowski is hoping the two will continue to listen and work hard so they can take the 'next step'.  

"We already have some dates and places in the diary where we are looking to train with top European nations," he said. 

"Finishing in the top 10 gives us opportunities to be welcomed into those environments and to challenge ourselves against stronger opposition. 

“The boys will now take two weeks completely off to recover and switch off. After that, we start the off-season work with gym training and preparation for the new U20 season. The focus will be on developing physically, technically and mentally so they can come back stronger.” 

  “This tournament is another important step in their journey as a pair. They have shown that they can compete, learn and find solutions together. 

"Now we want to put them in even more challenging environments, because that is where they will continue to grow."

It proved to be a tournament of mixed emotions for England's women's pair of Robyn Clifford and Tilly Hutton. 

The Boswells and Southampton duo had the high of making it through qualification and into the main draw. 

However, once competing at that level, they fund it tough to make any real headway with the standard so high. 

Nevertheless, coach Iwon Grabon says the two players have taken plenty from their experiences. 

She said: “What an incredible experience it’s been for Tilly and Robyn at the U18 European Championships. 

"The results don’t tell the whole story. The girls faced some of the best young teams in Europe, fought through a very tough group and experienced what it really takes to compete at this level. 

"I’m incredibly proud of their growth, resilience and character. We leave knowing exactly what we need to work on, but also knowing how much potential these two have. 

 “It’s a priceless experience, lots of lessons and another big step forward in their journey. I am a proud coach!"