JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Boys and girls sporting colorful hairdos and mismatched socks typified “Wacky Wednesday” July 13 at one of Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Youth Programs’ most popular summer specialty camps.
But far from being distracting, the fun atmosphere at the week-long camp enabled participants to fully enjoy learning the basic skills associated with a sport often called “the beautiful game.”
Three young coaches from England and Ireland brought their expertise and communication skills to Challenger Sports’ British Soccer Camp, which attracted more than 30 boys and girls ranging in age from 6 to 14 to Ebbets Field, one of the youth baseball diamonds on 5th Street East.
“This is the third time for the Challenger camp,” said Amanda Fite, Youth Programs sports director. “It gets filled up every year. The instructors use fun games to teach the fundamentals; the kids really enjoy it.”
Austin-based Challenger Sports is dedicated to soccer, offering tournaments and operating summer camps throughout the United States and Canada, as well as year-round soccer academies and soccer tours to Great Britain, Europe, Brazil and the United States.
Hailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Jamie Best, a 20-year-old at the University of Leeds who was one of the coaches at the camp, said the fun and games – including joke-telling sessions – have a purpose.
“For the younger ones, it is about having fun,” he said. “It entices them to the sport.”
Mason Pentreath of Birmingham, England, a 22-year-old student at the University of Southampton, England, used games such as “Dora the Explorer” and “What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?” – a form of tag played in the United Kingdom and other countries – to maintain the interest of the youngest group of camp participants, who can be distracted by the trainer jets roaring overhead.
“I’m a big kid at heart,” he said. “I teach techniques through these games. That way it will click in their heads and the better they will become.”
Best said the fun continues for the older children, evidenced by the song they sang while waiting for one of their drills, but they also learn more advanced soccer skills and are taught the importance of conditioning, leadership and communicating with teammates.
“We teach them all the skills – dribbling, passing, shooting, defending and attacking – and get them to understand the game,” he said.
The camp also featured a World Cup tournament every day, with the participants assigned to teams representing some of the world’s soccer powers. They wore the colors of their countries, made up their own cheers and created their countries’ flags.
Best enjoys coaching the camp participants.
“I get a good kick out of conveying to these kids what I’m taught by my coaches, but I also learn my own ways,” he said.
Fite said the camp enhances the skills of the participants who already have soccer experience, and provides a great introduction to others.
“Some of the kids are new to soccer,” she said. “It’s a good way to see if they like the sport and want to play it in the future.”
Soccer novices may actually get more out of the camp, Best said.
“Those who are new to the sport are more enthusiastic, so they can learn more,” he said.
Eoin Hackett of Dublin, Ireland, a 20-year-old student at University College Dublin who coached 8- and 9-year-olds during the camp, agreed.
“Some of these kids are playing for the first time,” he said. “It’s great to give them that first experience. They’re very involved – and enthusiastic.”
Hackett said it is gratifying to see the children’s progress.
“On the first day, they’re nervous,” he said. “Then they get out of their shells, and you see them get more involved. Skill-wise, you see them pick up little things as the week goes on.”
Isaiah Griffin, a 13-year-old student at Randolph Middle School who plays club soccer, said the camp has helped him improve his skills.
“I’m fast, but I can’t control the ball at full speed,” he said. “I’m trying to get better at ball control.”
It has also benefited Isaiah in other ways.
“I’ve learned how to communicate better with my teammates and get to know them better,” he said. “It’s also helped me to be more responsible and coachable.”