Soccer camp a hit with youth

Speed, agility and conditioning were just a few of the skills that 8 to 15-year-olds learned in College of the Mainland’s weeklong soccer camp.

Designed to get kids active in the summer and prepare for fall sports leagues, the camp helped students hone skills through group practice and personalized coaching.

Tige Cornelius, a licensed coach with the U.S. Soccer Federation, taught the camp.

“It was a skills development camp focusing on the technical skills soccer players need,” said Cornelius. “My assistants Devon Patterson and Santiago Guerrero interacted well with the kids. We broke them into age groups and the coaches worked with them. You could see progress from day to day.”

Mia Brown Garza, 11, joined the camp with her cousin to prepare for trying out for the soccer team at Blocker Middle School this fall.

“I’m very happy to learn these things. It feels good to do something that will help you later on in life,” said Mia. “I also felt like I needed to do something instead of sitting on the couch.”

While learning footwork, dribbling and how to communicate with teammates her favorite trick is the pullback, which she learned at the camp, and practicing defensive skills.

“I want the ball so my teammates can get the goal,” said Mia. “I like playing defense. You get a little taste of victory when you push them back.”

COM will offer another camp this summer. COM’s basketball camp, Aug. 4-8, 8:30-11:30 a.m., will develop 8 to 13-year-olds’ game and teamwork skills. The camp will focus on players’ shooting, ball handling, rebounding, conditioning, foot speed and agility.

The camp costs $65 for in-district students or $70 for out-of-district students. For more information, call 409-933-8422.