Soccer camp
Central girls become the coaches this week.
Young soccer players who attended the Spartans’ camp long ago have now grown into the cleats of their former role models.
“Now the girls that used to be coming to these camps eight or nine years ago have become the coaches to these kids,” stated Central Spartans girls’ varsity head coach Ramon Lopez on the history of soccer camp.
Hosted by the Central Union High School girls’ varsity soccer team, the ninth annual Kids’ Soccer Camp began Monday and ends with a final session from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at Central Union High School. The camp is open to children ages 3 to 12 and has a $25 registration fee per child.
“I think the camp can really help people who don’t know a lot about soccer or with things they struggle with,” stated Brianna Gonzalez, a Central Union High girls’ varsity soccer player and coach at the camp. Gonzalez also stated the camp is very informational and focuses on showing the younger players how fun the sport can be and showing the older players how to improve their skills.
The varsity team acts as the main coaches of the camp while being supervised by Lopez throughout its three-day duration. All drills ran during the camp were created by the team. Split into basic and advanced age groups, the camp ranges from teaching proper warm-up techniques to shooting drills.
Gonzalez stated although some kids may find the drills boring, a scrimmage at the end of each session always gets the young players excited.
“It’s fun because they have fun with it too,” stated Gonzalez on the soccer camp.
Lopez stated he enjoys that the young players who participate in the camp look up to his varsity players.
“It’s a really good feeling to see that,” stated Lopez on the young players looking up to their coaches during the camp.
Along with being a way to give back to the community, the camp also acts as a fundraiser for the girls’ varsity soccer team in which they use the funds generated to purchase T-shirts or sweaters for their upcoming season.
Young players who participated in the camp received a T-shirt to accompany their newly learned skills.