Soccer camp wet, but fun
by Kevin Cassidy
Islander Correspondent
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| Hailey Grace volleys a soccer ball tossed by Eliza Faillace during the Youth Sports Training soccer camp at the Anna Maria Island Community Center. |
The Youth Sports Training Soccer Camp held at the Anna Maria Island Community Center June 29-July 3 battled rainy weather, but the 15-20 kids in attendance each day had a great time and improved their soccer skills.
The camp, which boasted an impressive 4:1 coach-to-player ratio, focused on the basic skills needed to be a successful soccer player, while also providing some speed and agility training for the participants.
Skill development was done through several different games and drills that are fun for the kids while focusing on a specific target area of expertise. One of the more popular drills among the campers was soccer dodge ball, where players race from one end of a rectangular area to the other while avoiding balls that are passed from the sideline. Get hit with the ball, and the running player then moves to the sidelines to throw and try to hit a runner with their pass. Last person in the firing range wins the game.
The campers also played some popular shooting games, like power and finesse and world cup among others. Power and finesse is a shooting game where players have two chances to score. If they score, they stay in the game. A failure to score eliminates that player. The first shot is a longer shot that requires a strong kick. The player then runs onto a short ball that they have to deftly place in the corner of the goal. If a player scores on both shots, they can challenge another player to match their feat. If the player fails, they’re knocked out of the game.
World cup is a partners game where balls are tossed in front of the goal and the teams try to win the ball and deposit it in the goal. For the goal to count, the team must yell the name of their team as the shot is going into the goal. Teams that don’t score are eliminated and the game continues.
After participating in the many varied drills, the players are always up for a scrimmage to practice what they’ve learned, either outside on the field or indoor soccer in the gym.
Session one of the camp came to a close on a very warm Friday with some watery slip-and-slide action that cooled everyone off. In addition, all campers received soccer balls and a camp T-shirt for their efforts.
Youth Sports Training founder Rich Bell was pleased with session 1 of his camp. “It went well and the kids had fun,” Bell said.
He thanked Ryan Duncan for sponsoring the camp shirts and Fran Maxon Realty and Dicks Sporting Goods for pitching in on the soccer balls. “The kids really appreciate it.”
Session 2 started up this week and runs through Friday, July 10, also at the Center.
Key Royale golf news
The women of the Key Royale Club played a nine-hole, individual-low-net-tournament on June 30. Sue Hookem birdied the eighth hole on the way to an even par 32 to win first place in flight 1 by a single shot. Penny Williams took second with her 33, while Diane Miller carded a 35 to finish third.
Flight 2 winner was Marcie Ksazek with a 1-over-par 33. Joyce Reith, who chipped in on number seven, was one shot back in second place with a 34 while Nancy Grimme finished in third place with a 36.
The Key Royale Club men played a nine-hole, best-ball-of-partners game on June 29. The team of Dave Schroer and Danny Hayes carded a 6-under-par 26 to take home first-place honors. One shot back in second place was the team of Al Morgan and Jim Dunne.
Horseshoe news
Wednesday last week was a washout for the horseshoe pits at Anna Maria City Hall with heavy rain all day, even though three diehards showed up to play. Then on Saturday, July 4, trying to beat the parade to avoid traffic, only two teams qualified for the playoffs and Jeff Moore and Tom Skoloda defeated the exhausted walker Steve Grossman, by a score of 22 to 11. Grossman joked that his partner let him down
Play gets under way each Wednesday and Saturday at 9 a.m. in the pits at city hall. All are welcome. |
