Five coaches from Wales, Ireland and England came to Saugeen Shores, part of a week-long skills soccer camp.

Hub Staff

The travelling Challenger British Soccer Camp had a week-long program at Port Elgin’s J.H. Robertson Soccer Complex, formerly Pierson Fields, July 18 through 22, where two half-day soccer camps brought 176 players together to learn skills from coaches from across the pond.

Twin brothers Jonathan and Christian Marques, age 11, from London, Ontario have been playing soccer since they were 6 years old and returned to the camp after participating last year. “It’s awesome,” Jonathan said, while his brother Christian added, “its fun” and “we play games that help us get better.” The brothers both agreed that having coaches from the U.K. is neat because, as Christian said, “the U.K. has better soccer.”

Coach Kieran Brown from Oxford said they teach basic soccer skills and have World Cup scrimmages at the end of each camp. “We also try to teach social skills and try to introduce psychology skills such as leadership, honesty, integrity and communication.”

Brown has now taught in the Challenger camp two summers in a row and has been teaching soccer in Owen Sound since early spring. When asked why his players would be excited about learning from U.K. coaches he surmised that it could be the heritage. “English players have been playing consistently since they were about 3 years old. All the families know how to play so you can ask your mum, your sister, your gran for tips.”

Brown said that kids enjoy playing in the World Cup games that take place during camp. “They come up with their own countries. Sometimes they can can get really wacky but this week the countries they chose were quite straight and we encourage them to learn about the countries as well.” He added that they even have a flag day.

More information about the Challenger Soccer Camp can be found at www.challengersports.com/britishsoccercamps.aspx.

Brothers Christian (left) and Jonathan have played soccer in the Challenger British Soccer Camp for the two summers.