WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – The Lake Placid Day Soccer Camp is setting up shop at Immaculate Heart Central in Watertown this week, bringing together some would-be soccer stars with some talented coaches for this week-long camp.
“It’s been great. Thank God the heat broke today. It’s been really warm, but the kids are doing a great job, working really hard,” said Kurt Robbins, the Athletic Director at IHC.
Kids as young as 4 years old are going through the paces in a camp that lasts 6 hours each day for all groups except the mighty mites, who spend a half day honing their skills.
Pat Kelleher, one of the directors of the Lake Placid Soccer Center, says the main focus of the camp centers around ball mastery.
“We’ve come around to the feeling that if you can control the ball, you’re a better player. If you’re a better player, you’re better for your team. If your team does better, and so on and so forth as that goes. So, we do a lot of foot skills, we do technical training as well. You should be here, move this way, move that way. Exploit outsides, look for passing lanes and things like that,” said Kelleher.
The campers on hand are getting a chance to learn from some international coaches from Croatia who have played at high levels in professional leagues.
Kelleher says the coaches from the Lake Placid Soccer Center come from all around the world in what amounts to an exchange program.
“So our coaches are volunteers who come and participate. We’ve had Japanese coaches. Our coaches this year are from Croatia. We’ve also had coaches from Australia, various European countries, England. They’ll come over and give us a week of soccer so they can see how American kids are progressing and what we’re doing here to promote our game of soccer,” said Kelleher.
This week, the Lake Placid Soccer Center is promoting the game of soccer in Watertown, something the organizers hope can happen again in the future.
Congratulations to the Lowville American Legion Junior Baseball Team. Coach Erik Gronowski’s team captured the 5th District American Legion Junior Baseball Championship.
The District covers 6 counties featuring some outstanding teams., Lowville American Legion Commander Jim Henry is receiving the Traveling Trophy from Coach Erik Gronowski.
The boys will now compete in the State Championship elimination process.
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