British Soccer Camp coaches show Combat Center children skills, sportsmanship

Photo By Cpl. Monica Erickson | Kevin McCrann, a coach with the British Challenger Soccer Camp, shows the children in his group how to place their feet properly while kicking the ball during practice at Felix Field on June 16.  

UNITED STATES

06.19.2009

Story by Cpl. Monica Erickson 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

The Combat Center's Youth Sports program sponsored the British Challenger Soccer Camp 2009, and invited eight coaches from Great Britain to visit the Combat Center to coach children in their beloved sport from June 15 to June 19.

While visiting, the coaches were challenged by the Combat Center's Marine soccer team to a friendly match to give each other an opportunity to play with and defend against different soccer styles.

The camp accommodated 88 children who were separated into groups depending on their age.

Challenger, like its sponsor Marine Corps Community Services Youth Sports, places emphasis on teaching fundamentals, athleticism and sportsmanship, and continues to be an enormously popular summer program, said Joe Rosselli, the manager of Youth Sports.

"Youth Sports started inviting Challenger coaches out here in 1991," Rosselli said. "Back then, we only had 24 children sign up. Now look at us, we have 88 children participating."

Nick Howitt, the head coach for the British team visiting the Combat Center, said their main focus was to teach the children how to have fun while playing soccer.

"It is a great feeling being able to come to America and give our knowledge back to the children," said Howitt, a 21-year-old native of London. "Working with these children at such a young age is the best time to teach them the skills they need."

Jami Lewis, an 11-year-old participant, said she was enjoying the camp a lot, and has learned a lot since it began.

"They're a lot of help when you're learning something new," Lewis said. "They have taught us a bunch of new skills and showed us how to improve ourselves. It has been so much fun."

On June 16, the Challengers, along with a handful of volunteer players from the Combat Center, returned to Felix Field to compete against the Combat Center's Marine Soccer Team.

With 80 minutes on the board, both teams started with fresh legs and maintained a well-balanced game. The base team pulled ahead, scoring three goals, while the Challengers managed to sink one past their opponent.

Although they lost, the Challengers walked away with their heads held high, and congratulated their fellow teammates for a job well done.

"We did pretty well considering we have barely known each other for a week," Howitt said to his team after the game. "It was a great game, we all did good."

Coaches from the British Challenger Soccer Camp are scheduled to return to the Combat Center next summer.

• Date Taken: 06.19.2009
• Date Posted: 06.19.2009 13:14
• Story ID: 35359
• Location: US