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Community Corner

Net Gains Are the Goal at Andrew Youth Soccer Camp

Andrew coaches, players stress fundamentals of the game at youth soccer camp.

In their second week of hosting a boys 8-13 year-old soccer camp, players scattered across the Andrew High School athletic fields again were brimming with high spirits and competitive drive on Monday.

With five years of experience as working as the T-Bolts' girls varsity head coach and as a boys assistant coach in the Andrew soccer program, Loren Zolk used his wealth of understanding the sport to direct the on-field action.

“We use this camp as an opportunity to allow the kids from the community to come out and work with us and have a chance to get familiar with the school,” Zolk said.  “We want to win them over at an early age and keep them playing and interested in soccer and the program.”

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While the high school students will have their camp later in the summer to prepare for the season, this type of camp featuring younger kids focuses on player development more than match tactics. 

“The basic idea is to get these young guys at a camp like this and teach them the fundamentals, how to practice and master the individual skills," Zolk said. "Things like trapping, passing, juggling, all things that the individual player needs to improve."

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But Zolk wasn’t the only teacher on the field. Members of the T-Bolt varsity and sophomore soccer teams also were spewing knowledge to the blossoming young players. Working as unpaid coaches, the prep players volunteer to earn community service hours through their school. 

Junior to be Colin McLaughlin was one of those helping instruct. Although he didn’t attend the camp as a youngster, he has enjoyed helping out.

“We just want to help develop the younger kids so they can turn into great soccer players,” he said.

Zolk has been pleased with the student-athlete volunteers from both the Andrew boys and girls soccer programs.

“It’s a good way for them to learn the game a different way, through instructing," he said. "It’s a good experience for them, and we encourage the high school kids to get out and help the younger kids.”

Zolk believes the program and the popularity of soccer has increased every year.

“We just want to get these kids from the community out, and hook them on soccer, and hopefully hook them onto playing for Andrew soccer.”

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