By Melanie Jacob
Journal Editor
For just a few days, the Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp gave kids in Humboldt the chance to experience what it's like to be an athlete in the World Cup.
From Aug. 18-22, the kids spent their days learning various soccer techniques such as passing, shooting, heading and volleying. They were divided into four teams: France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, and the end of the week concluded in a World Cup between the teams. They were assessed by two English coaches: 23-year-old Ben Richardson and Matt Noble.
"The main purpose of the camp is to have fun and improve their soccer skills through having fun," said Richardson, the camp's director. "A lot of the drills we do are game-based, so we try to teach them through games and the five pillars of Challenger."
The five pillars Richardson was referring to are responsibility, respect, sportsmanship, honesty and integrity. The camp has a system that awards points for demonstrating these traits, as well as for doing well in other areas.
"So they're all in their four teams and in their drills in the mornings they can get points for doing well in their drills or showing good leadership," said Richardson.
Each day had a theme that focused on a different soccer skill. By Thursday and Friday, these skills coalesced during the World Cup. Additionally, certain kids were also recognized as most valued player, player of the day, and awarded for goal of the day.
All of those awards, including good plays during the drills, acquired points for each player's respective teams.
"It's good motivation to keep them on task and it just adds a bit of fun as well," said Richardson. "It's not one of those strict camps where you get them to run laps."
The afternoons were spent doing fun soccer activities that engaged the kids in learning the game without realizing they were learning. The focus was on them having fun.
Following the World Cup on Friday, the budding athletes were given Challenger t-shirts, comments on their athletic performance, and a technical assessment. Then it was time
for the coaches to move to their next location.
The coaches who assess the kids don't just stay in one location either. They come straight from England and travel around their assigned regions for anywhere from seven to 12 weeks beginning in May and ending in August. The camps usually last for a week, but can go for as long as two weeks.
Humboldt specifically is on the east side of its particular region, which stretches as far west as Vancouver.
"We have a training weekend at the University of Warwick and we're there for three days," said Richardson. "We get to meet all the other coaches in our region and we have regional directors who are in charge of the region. They talk us through the structure of the day, the structure of the real World Cup, and that's where we get all our training."
All coaches have to have a minimum requirement of a level one soccer license before they can coach in the Challenger program, but many have further levels of education or are in the midst of completing degrees. Richardson recently completed his degree in teaching.
Beyond their level one soccer licenses, coaches can come out and add their own personal touches to the bare-boned structure of the program. Those who enjoyed a particular region in a previous year can elect to return to the same region.
"Some lads come out five or six years in a row because they meet families and want to come back and see the kids," said Richardson. "They can also do something called academy training, where you can come out in the spring and fall and coach for a local club."
So basically, if the coaches had nothing to do and were finished school, they could come out as early as April and stay as late as November training and coaching soccer.
"We stay with families that have kids in the camp that's part of the experience as well," said Richard.
Richardson ended up staying this year with Elan Buan and her family, which included her two twin boys who were in the soccer camp. It was first year she was able to do it and she has no regrets.
"It was good; nice and easy," she said. "I always find the coaches are nice, young, police, and respectful people. We've met them in past years too."
Buan was only required to put a roof over Richardson's head and provide food for him, but they went above and beyond by taking him geocaching as well.
Despite it being her first time playing host to a coach, Buan's her boys had been in the Challenger program for the past four years since it started in Humboldt. Overall, she said it was great experience and one her boys also enjoyed.
"I think they're kind of nice young role models and they're fun," she said. "I think it helps them develop their skills. They get more ball touches and I think they've got skilled soccer people teaching them soccer. We probably don't have as many skilled soccer people in Canada, whereas in Britain lots of them do and come with a soccer history."
This year marks the fourth year in a row that the Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp was held in Humboldt. Considering its popularity, there's a good chance this town will be welcoming back the British visitors next year.
