U.K. Meets U.S. in Soccer Camp by Donte Cooper - City News Group, Inc.

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U.K. Meets U.S. in Soccer Camp

By Donte Cooper
Community writer
08/07/2013 at 09:19 PM

From July 15 through 1 the United Kingdom International Soccer Camp organization came to the heart of Grand Terrace at Richard Rollins Park to put on a five day soccer clinic. Four groups of kids ages 4 to 13 participated in the camp, where they were taught basic soccer fundamentals, skills, techniques and team tactical development. Ron Helms, a 17-year Grand Terrace resident, saw the benefit the camp provided to the participants, his daughter among of them. “[She will] benefit mostly from the tactical lessons and skills she has gained from this camp going into her fifth year of soccer,” he said. Traveling thousands of miles across the ocean, Camp Director and Coach Luke Miles, 24, of Wales, reiterated that the goal of the camp is to “inspire the children through soccer and give them the best possible soccer experience.” Matt Alexander, who coaches the 4–6 age group, added, “A personal goal is to make sure that each and every child is playing and having a good time. Fun in the Sun is their motto.” “The U.K. International Soccer Camp (UKISC) organization attended a meeting of the Grand Terrace Community Soccer Club (GTCSC) and asked if we would be interested in hosting a camp,” said GTCSC Vice President Robert Sanchez. “It was an opportunity too good to pass up in terms of quality and price value.” Parents Charlie and Cecilia Brown and their sons Garret, 8, and Ethan, 11, attended a camp at Cal State San Bernardino but found a lot of value. “This camp was more beneficial than other camps we have attended,” the Browns said. Adrian Argumedo, 9, son of Marcella Pando, learned how to lean forward and backward while kicking the ball to keep it on the ground or make it sail through the air. Using cleat laces is a key to ball control and was demonstrated by all the students. Games like swabbing the deck for the youngest group taught players how to use their feet to move the ball and grasp ball control. Older youth groups played games like ‘Road Kill’ which taught them to be aware of their surroundings while maintaining ball control for seamless passing or shooting. Grand Terrace residents and soccer club board members Nick and Jody Betten said they enjoyed the excitement their daughter, Elizabeth, had every day after coming home and talking about the day’s events. Turnout of the camp was about 50 youth, and that number is anticipated to increase by 25 more members for next summer’s soccer camp. Resident and parent Katie Torres praised the “interaction of the kids with one another,” and her son Micah, 8, said, “The coaches are loads of fun.” Coaches Luke, Tom, Craig and Matt said, “Thank you on behalf of the U.K. International Soccer Camp to the great kids, parents, and league.”