YST soccer training improves outlook, skills
by Kevin Cassidy
Islander Correspondent
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| Keiran Grumley and Conal Casssidy pull with all of their might as they work on improving their speed with resistance training at the Youth Sports Training-sponsored soccer camp at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. Islander Photos: Kevin Cassidy |
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| Sydney Cornell negotiates a speed ladder during YST soccer camp at the Center. |
Session 2 of the soccer camp put on at the Anna Maria Island Community Center by Youth Sports Training and leader Richie Bell July 6-10 was a rousing success for the 20 or so participants.
The second session saw a larger number of older players again using a variety of drills to develop the basic skills needed to be a successful soccer player.
Popular games like world cup, power and finesse and keep away were regular parts of the camp. But an hour of each day was devoted to conditioning, speed and agility training.
Monday through Thursday this was accomplished with speed ladders, cones and resistance chutes. With the speed ladders, campers took different steps to go through the ladder to help improve foot speed and lateral quickness. Players also ran an agility course to develop the same skills, while also improving their overall fitness level.
Coaches also addressed the player’s overall speed with resistance training. Players donned parachutes that added 35-40 pounds of resistance and did a series of wind sprints — and that really put the players through a workout.
After all that hard work in the searing heat, players were happy to go through soccer drills.
Friday’s final session saw the campers off to the beach. While the younger players engaged in sand soccer, the older camp participants used what mother nature had to offer to work on speed and conditioning.
They started off with a mile run in the soft sand before some wind sprints in waste-deep water. If that wasn’t enough, the players then played keep-away in the water with a soccer ball, sort of like water polo without the goals. After an hour or so, the players appeared to be totally gassed.
But following some recharging and relaxing in the waves, they also played a few sand soccer games. The camp came to a close with Bell rewarding campers with T-shirts and soccer balls.
More on soccer camp
For those participants in the Youth Sports Training soccer camp who didn’t get their fill of soccer, the British Soccer Camps strike up some competitive fun and skill enhancement Aug. 3-7 at the AMICC soccer fields.
The program will include a two-hour mini camp for ages 4-5, a half-day morning camp for ages 6-9, and BSC for players ages 8-16 will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Registration is under way until Aug. 1 online at www.challengersports.com.
Key Royale golf news
The women of the Key Royale Club played a nine-hole, individual-low-net golf game on July 7. Flight A saw Joyce Brown and Penny Williams both card 2-over-par 34 to finish in a tie for first place. Lois Biel finished two shots back in second.
Flight B also saw a tie as Dorothy McKinna and Joyce Reith both negotiated the par-32 course with 2-over-par 34.
Horseshoe news
Only two teams emerged from pool play during July 11 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. The team of Hank Huyghe and Jeff Moore jumped out to a commanding13-1 lead, only to watch as Steve Doyle and Sam Samuels staged a comeback. Doyle and Samuels outscored Huyghe and Moore the rest of the way to win bragging rights for the day with a 23-14 final score.
The July 8 horseshoe games also saw only two teams qualify for the playoffs. Steve Grossman and Jay Disbrow defeated the team of John Johnson and Nol Sanchez 21-13.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at Anna Maria City Hall. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome. |
