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    Military youth end summer with a ball

    Military youth end summer with a ball

    Photo By Cpl. Crystal Druery | Children participating in a Marine Corps Community Services mini soccer camp face off...... read more read more

    SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

    07.25.2011

    Story by Lance Cpl. Crystal Druery 

    Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego   

    SAN DIEGO - Marine Corps Community Services teamed up with San Diego Hall of Champions to host a mini soccer camp for military children aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, July 25-28.

    Children between the ages of four and 13 came out to the recreation center’s field on MCRD to play soccer and increase their skills with help from Kraig Chiles and Mike Mercurial, semi-professional soccer players with the San Diego Sockers.

    To help introduce soccer to the children, the semi-professionals did basic drills and scrimmages with the kids.

    “The camp is about skill-building and teaching kids fundamentals of soccer through scrimmages and drills,” said Gina Woolgar, military youth coordinator, San Diego Hall of Champions.

    San Diego Hall of Champions is an organization that strives to enhance San Diegans through sports. They offer mini sports camps throughout the year for children to stay active.

    Woolgar explains they’re more cost-efficient than those found off base for military families.

    “Out in town something like this is about double or triple the price,” said Woolgar.

    Along with the opportunity to learn new skills and getting the positive influence of semi-professional athletes, children get a chance to explore different activities that are available to them.

    “This is a good way to introduce sports to your children,” said Woolgar. “You don’t know if your four or five-year-old [child] can hack it, so this gives them a good sample of the game and gives the kids an opportunity to see what they can grow up to be.”

    San Diego Hall of Champions recruits athletes who can be a positive influence and volunteer to spend time with the children. This mini soccer camp coincides with the start of a fall soccer camp they hold, giving the kids a chance to see if they want to play a full season.

    “Only about half of the kids come back each season due to the constant moving of military families, but when they do come back, it’s nice to see their improvement,” said Brian Quinn, sports director, Community Supported Agriculture, San Diego Hall of Champions affiliate. “The kids will take these skills with them as they get older.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.25.2011
    Date Posted: 08.05.2011 17:50
    Story ID: 74924
    Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US

    Web Views: 36
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN