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| NEWS - March 2, 2010 |
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| Soccer camp offers U.K. coaching |
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Tobias Romaniuk
Post Staff
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In the United Kingdom – that’s where England is – they treat soccer the way Canadians treat hockey.
This summer, the British soccer advantage will be coming to Lac La Biche in the form of a week-long camp led by soccer coaches from the U.K. to teach local kids some essential skills.
The camp is offered by Challenger Sports, which offers camps across Canada and the United States.
The Seattle-based company has been offering camps to B.C. and Alberta kids for years, and is now starting to make its way north, reaching as far as Fort McMurray this year.
The idea behind visiting a myriad of smaller communities is to bring the skills to the kids, said Jack Butler, regional director for Challenger Sports.
"Our aim is to reach kids in their community," he said, adding that with these camps, kids are learning the same skills as if they had attended a city-based camp, but without having to travel.
The five-day camp is broken into half-day sessions, and kids are taught a wide variety of skills by the coaches.
Every coach at the camp is from the U.K., which has a higher level of soccer play than is generally found in Canada. Taking advantage of soccer’s summer off-season, the coaches make the trip to teach Canadian kids about football, European style.
The camp is about more than just soccer skills, said Butler. They also teach kids about the culture of sport, including respect for others, responsibility for one’s actions, and the importance of teamwork.
The camp runs from Aug. 9 to 13 in Lac La Biche at the Knights of Columbus soccer grounds, and is aimed at kids aged six to 14 years old. The five-day camp costs $115, and the registration includes a t-shirt and soccer ball, said Butler.
For the younger kids, the focus is on just showing them the game, said Butler.
"Our aim is to introduce them to the game," he said.
The older kids will receive more in-depth look at the game, and develop skills to make them stronger players. There will also be a special program for goalkeepers, as well, said Butler.
The program is being brought to the area with the help of Lac La Biche County’s recreation department, said Butler, adding that kids can register online at www.challengersports.com. Early-bird registrants get a free soccer jersey, similar to the one worn by coaches. |
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