Kids learn soccer, British-style

Sporting brightly colored cleats, shin guards and wide smiles, fifty-three Sisters youngsters honed their soccer skills last week under some expert coaches who talked kind of funny.

United Kingdom International Soccer Camps paid a week-long visit to Sisters for the eighth year in a row, by invitation of the Sisters Soccer Club.

They brought high-level coaching, British accents and the fun factor to eager players ranging in age from four to 14.

On a sunny Thursday behind Sisters Elementary School, soccer mom and SCC board member Molly Mayes watched as daughter Ellie, 5, bounced along the grassy field with one eye on the soccer ball and the other constantly making sure her mom was looking.

It's the fourth summer Mayes, a coach herself, has brought her kids to the camp and the first time all three were of age to participate.

"They have incredible coaches every year," she said. "They're different every year, consistently excellent, very knowledgeable. They're excellent with kids."

All four members of this year's coaching staff boasted Level 2 coaching licenses and at least two years of training. They all play semi-pro soccer themselves in England.

When these young coaches sign on for a three- or six-month contract with UKISC, they commit to an unpredictable lifestyle. Sure, it's a paid opportunity to travel, but it's also full of

surprises.

Coaches typically don't know where in the United States they will land from one week to the next.

"It's nuts," said UKISC Camp Director Dan Thomas, who hails from the Kingston region of London.

Thomas was informed while coaching in Idaho Falls, that his next assignment would be in a small Oregon town called Sisters. That was on the Friday before the Sisters camp was scheduled to start.

And so a typical camp week began for the four coaches, who arrived on Sunday to meet their host families and to prepare for the week ahead.

From Monday to Friday they got to know the kids, who were broken into age groups, while teaching skills and leading games and scrimmages.

Coach Thomas likes coaching the 4- to 6-year-olds.

"They have so much energy," he said. "They keep me on my toes. I have a couple, it's their first experience with soccer. I get to make an impact on whether they keep playing."

Josh Baker, who coached the oldest group, was asked what he likes about his job. Baker replied, "Everything. I love America, love the weather, love the children. The kids' enjoyment factor is probably my favorite thing. American children are more appreciative

learners."

Coach Thomas agreed.

"In England kids start playin' as soon as they start walkin'. I'm privileged to coach here ... American kids are good learners," he said.

Laughing, he added, "Maybe it's 'cuz of the accent, they listen straight-away."

Thomas was treated to a different sort of privilege during his stay in Sisters when he met up with a rattlesnake on the Camp Polk Cemetery grounds.

"I'd just walked past the sign that says cougars and rattlesnakes have been sighted. I just shook it off, carried on walkin'," said Thomas.

The snake, which Thomas described with hand motions as about two feet long, rattled its tail. "I'm lucky it didn't coil up. Guess it was just givin' us a bit of a

warnin'."

Nevertheless, he thought Sisters was extremely friendly. "In a small town, more people come down to watch. They're nicer," he said.

Fourteen-year-old Jenny O'Connor, the oldest student on the field, explained why she came to camp.

"I play a lot," she said. "I did it last year and had a really good time."

O'Connor was also hoping to improve her shooting skills.

Seventh grader Colton Mannhalter listed his favorite things about the camp: "The games are all fun, the coaches are all fun and you get to see your friends more often in the summer."

When asked what skills he's been working on throughout week, Mannhalter quickly answered: "Better relationships with my friends. We've been competitive and had problems. Now we're working together and having fun together as teammates."

The week finished on Friday with the World Cup, in which teams with names such as the Funky Alligators competed for bragging rights.

An optional clinic held on Saturday taught more advanced striker and goalie skills.

Awards were handed out each day of camp, affirming players for various accomplishments such as "Best Hustle," and "Player of the Day."

On Thursday, a few kids who did their homework were recognized for sharing their Most Interesting British Fact of the Day. Four-year-old Isabelle Schiller won in her age bracket with this fun fact: There are more chickens than people in

England.

While busily pinning on her prize - a button of the UK flag - Isabelle took a moment to ring in on her favorite thing about soccer camp: "When we get to have snack."