Sky Blue inspires athletes on island

Photo By Lance Cpl. Mike Granahan | Brittany C. Bock, a member of the Sky Blue Football Club, a U.S. women’s professional soccer team, visited students at Lester Middle School March 23 to speak to them about soccer and succeeding in life. The team traveled to Okinawa to compete in an exhibition game against the Japanese national champions Inac Kobe.  

CAMP LESTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

03.23.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Erik Brooks 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - The Sky Blue Football Club, a U.S. women’s professional soccer team, visited service members and their families at Camps Foster and Courtney March 22-23.

The team, from Piscataway Township, N.J., traveled to Okinawa to compete in an exhibition game against the Japanese national champions Inac Kobe.

When Marine Corps Community Services found out Sky Blue FC was coming to Okinawa, it developed a plan for the team to visit with children ages 9 to 15 on the camps, said Eric Isley, a youth sports coordinator at the Camp Courtney Ironworks Fitness Center.
MCCS organized multiple events March 22 for the children on Camps Foster and Courtney to learn from the professional players, said Isley.

The team divided between the two bases to conduct soccer clinics for the children, said Emma Hayes, the assistant coach for Sky Blue FC.

“We taught the [children] the fundamentals of the game to help them develop skills that will excel them in their game,” said Hayes.
During the clinics, Sky Blue players taught the children skills such as dribbling and shooting.

“The girls were always on the move,” said Hayes. “This helped them condition while still practicing the fundamentals.”

The main goal of the training was to teach the children new skills and help them polish their fundamentals, said Hayes.

“The best part of the practice was playing against professional players,” said Rayvan J. Mitchell, a 9-year-old participant.

The second day, the Sky Blue FC took a trip to Camp Lester Middle School to speak to students about soccer and succeeding in life.
“Team members wanted to convey to the students that they achieved their success through hard work and perseverance,” said Carolyn M. Blank, a member of the team.

Sky Blue FC athletes held a question and answer session at the gym before showing the student body their soccer skills.
The players performed soccer tricks and invited the students to showcase their talents as well. At the end of the show, the players signed autographs for the children.

“We were looking up to professionals when we were younger, and so we know how important it is and how much of an impact we can make,” said Brittany C. Bock, a member of the club. “So, to be able to come out here and do that same thing, it’s really inspirational for us and for them.”

• Date Taken: 03.23.2012
• Date Posted: 03.29.2012 22:26
• Story ID: 85987
• Location: CAMP LESTER, OKINAWA, JP