The World Cup is over but summer soccer is just beginning for a group of young, aspiring athletes. Picture Day Photography had the privilege of attending an amazing soccer boot camp at Marshall Field this week. The boot camp runs from July 14-18th and has a military theme that separates each age group into a platoon.
In its first year the camp only had about 35 athletes and they’ve grown to an astounding 85 athletes for their second year. The athlete’s come from different soccer programs throughout Richland County but you would not be able to tell by how cohesive the platoons are.
The camp is run by Ontario Youth Sports and is supported by the surrounding communities. There are experienced coaches, high school athletes and volunteers who help make this camp great. The coaches and volunteers help improve the athlete’s overall soccer skills by having them rotate through different drill stations. They have drill stations that help improve foot skills, endurance, passing, juggling and defensive maneuvers. The coaches lend their expert skills to help the athletes become the best soccer players they can.
The camp isn’t all about hard work and drills though. Every platoon has a tent set up that they can make their own. The athletes are able to bond as a platoon and build a fort to make their “hang out” spot. They also enjoy activities that not only improve foot skills but also allow the players to relax and have fun. They have a dance off before lunch that allows them to wind down and cheer each other on.
The camp is not only an amazing place for soccer players to improve their skills but it’s also a great place for them to have fun. Every player seemed involved and excited about every activity. It is impressive to see how much the players are learning and how excited they’ve become about soccer.
