“Austin Powers are you ready?” yelled one of the British soccer coaches. In response, 13 parents put their hands on their hips and yelled back, “Groovy Baby,” just before they ran a gauntlet of soccer balls launched by 30 or so happy children. This was the last game on the last day of a weeklong kids’ soccer camp hosted by three young energetic coaches from Challenger Sports British Soccer Camps.
“They bring a bit of excitement,” said one parent.
During the week, local kids ages 3 to 14 learned soccer skills and rules while playing games. “It has been really fun. (The coaches) have been so enthusiastic,” said parent Sheri Patton. With endless energy and many skill building games, coaches Dan Deaken, Aaron Thomas and Sean Ferguson kept more than 30 kids moving, yelling and having fun for several hours each day.
Deaken said camp is about much more than just developing skills on the field; it’s about life. They call it the Challenger Way. For homework each day, the kids learned the definition to one of the five Challenger words: responsibility, respect, integrity, sportsmanship and leadership. Coaches used situations during camp to apply these concepts. For example, when a coach calls out “respect” the group knows it’s time to be silent and listen.
On the last day kids came prepared to dress up the coaches with dresses, hats, a wig and a pair of fairy wings. The older group (ages 6 to 14) was divided into World Cup teams and competed in a tournament on Friday, with Mexico winning the “World Cup.” Younger kids played games called “sharks and minnows” and “British bulldogs.”
Coaches were from England and stayed with a host family during camp. Parent Triscia Bravo said, “It’s been an awesome experience. They’ve been teaching us about their culture.”
Deaken said that coaches are certified to level one with the British Football Association. He said there are 900 coaches this year that travel. Fifteen years ago there were 15.
Heidi Barlow, soccer camp coordinator for the Siskiyou soccer board, said Challenger Sports will be back in Mount Shasta next year. For more information call her at 925-0788.
