Youngsters learn soccer fundamentals during camp

BY GEORGE LEROY HUNTER
BYRAM — The 2014 Annual Lenape Valley Soccer Camp took place this summer at CO Johnson Park in Byram.

From July 21 to 25, area athletes from grades Kindergarten to the ninth grade sharpened their soccer skills through drills, practices and games.

Lenape Valley Regional High School soccer head coach Eric Schuman along with high school soccer players helped teach various drills.

The soccer camp has been going on for almost a decade. Many of the high school soccer players participated in the camp when they were in elementary school and now mentor their younger counterparts as counselors.

From 9 am to 3 p.m., camp participants were put through the paces.

Schuman, along with the girls varsity coach Lindsay Steingall taught all aspects of soccer, or futbol as the sport is known in other parts of the world.

Male and female athletes are broken up into teams which can be the same gender while other times are co-ed. Instruction is focused not only on players performing as a team or unit but also as individuals. Numerous movements associated with soccer such as the step-over, the roulette, the elastico and others were on display during camp time scrimmages.

"In our program are kids who want to improve their skills and love being with their friends playing soccer," Schuman said. "Having fun is the basis of what we do with the idea of teaching them proper skills and getting them to perform well in a game situation."

Schuman and Steingall were also assisted by special guest trainer John Harrington, a former professional soccer player and Huntington, Long Island HBC Soccer Club coach. All camp participants received a certificate of participation at the conclusion of the camp.

Photos by george leroy hunter