The British are coming — to teach soccer
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
BENTONVILLE - Challenger Sports, a youth soccer company based in the U. S., has again been invited to hold one of its nationwide British Soccer training camps here.
The weeklong camp will be in town Monday through Friday, July 7-11, at the soccer fields adjacent to Memorial Park. Sessions will be available for youth ages 3-18 years.
Each child will be coached by a member of Challenger's British coaching staff, which will be flown to the U. S. exclusively to work on these programs. Bentonville's camp is just one of 1, 900 that Challenger Sports is running throughout the U. S. and Canada for a record-breaking 91, 000 boys and girls.
Challenger has become the largest soccer camp provider in North America by combining age-specific soccer instruction with equally important elements of character, cultural and nutritional education, according to a press release from the company.
Each day, the children will practice and master new individual skills and understand small-group and team tactics through Challenger's camp curriculum. Campers will also scrimmage each day in the always popular Camp World Cup.
Teaching soccer skills is only a part of the process. The coaches will also take time out of the busy schedule to teach lessons on respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and leadership, and discuss how these core values relate to soccer, family and school.
Challenger has teamed up with national restaurant chain Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pastas to introduce a new element on health and nutrition. Challenger has created a fun and interactive way to help the campers learn how important it is to eat a balanced diet.
The most popular part of each camp is the Camp World Cup. Coaches use this daily tournament to teach the players about life, customs and traditions in other countries. Campers are asked to make up cheers, bring flags, dress up and learn as much as they can about the country they represent.
Each camper will receive a free T-shirt, soccer ball, player evaluation and end-of-camp gift. In addition, any child who signs up online at least 45 days prior to camp will receive a genuine British Soccer replica jersey valued at $ 30.
To sign up for the Bentonville camp, visit www. challengersports. com, or contact John McCallum at (800 ) 878-2167 ext. 224 or via e-mail to Jmac @ challengersports. com.
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