Young soccer enthusiasts are learning more than they realize through the Challenger British Soccer Camp in Creighton this week.
Roughly 50 soccer players ranging in age from four to 16 are taking in top-notch instruction as European coaches host the camp for the Phantom Lake Soccer Club.
“It’s a chance for the kids in the area to be [instructed] from real British coaches,” said lead instructor Lee Bradley, a coach from Glasgow, Scotland.
While the camp promotes soccer skills, drills and techniques, it teaches far more.
Thick accents and world experience draw the attention of the young soccer players as Bradley quiets the group by simply saying “respect.”
The children wait for further instruction, but the lesson has already been taught.
“We try to teach respect,” he said following the morning session on Monday.
“That’s a huge one,” he added, noting that listening to coaches is a key rule during the camp.
Alongside respect, the coaches preach the importance of the Challenger Way, which, as Bradley pointed out, consists of responsibility, leadership, integrity, respect and sportsmanship.
The important lessons are the ones that will stick with the players the longest, though they may not realize it until the next day, week, month or even years down the line.
“They are little life lessons, but we don’t tell them – we just sneak them in,” said Bradley with a laugh.
As they learn proper ball control, patience, teamwork and various techniques, Bradley observes a lot of improvement in kids between the start and end of camp.
“You can see [which lessons] they have really taken in,” he said, “and what techniques they have improved on.”
As a player on the sidelines showed off her new balance skills to her father, Bradley said the children remember what they are taught.
“We help get them to the next level,” he said.
Fundamental skill
Dribbling is a fundamental skill when it comes to soccer. Bradley says it’s also the area where soccer players improve the most over the course of the week.
“A lot of the kids at [the] start will just kick the ball ahead of them and run after it,” said the coach.
“After we’ve had them for even just two days, they start to take smaller touches to the ball and look up and not run into everyone.”
Once players have mastered dribbling, they are able to work on their ball control and other skills.
“If you can’t dribble the ball there isn’t much else you can do,” said Bradley.
“Dribbling the ball is the main key ingredient to a successful soccer player.”
Largest camp
Of the Challenger British Soccer Camps being held in Manitoba, the Phantom Lake Soccer Club has the largest, something that pleasantly surprised Bradley.
This week’s trip marked his first to Canada, let alone the Flin Flon area.
He wasn’t sure what to expect but was pleased to see such a large turnout of participants.
“Flin Flon is the most northern camp we have,” Bradley said. “The numbers surprised me for that reason.”
The British Soccer Camp will travel throughout parts of Manitoba for seven weeks with 12 instructors in various communities.
Manitoba is just one small section of the area covered by the camp as Bradley began his summer in the US at the end of May.
“We have a huge network throughout the USA and Canada,” he said.
Roughly 1,200 European coaches are traveling across North America to try and improve the quality of soccer being played as well as increase interest in the sport.
“Especially with the World Cup being on right now, we do try and push because soccer isn’t the number one sport in the USA or Canada,” Bradley said.
Big boost
The Flin Flon area received a big boost in the soccer season during the spring months as Scott Wilson spent five weeks in the area working with teams and individuals as part of the Challenger program.
“He’s seen a massive improvement and the numbers have increased,” said Bradley, after speaking with Wilson.
The British Soccer Camp was in the Flin Flon area last year, but with an increase in numbers it’s safe to say that Wilson’s time in the area encouraged more children to participate.
“It’s good to see that the large camps are in Canada as well and not just the one-coach camps,” said Bradley.
The British Soccer Camp continues until the end of the week with scrimmages, games and activities being held at the Creighton Community Soccer Field.
