SEARCY — The excitement of the World Cup has come and gone, but White County soccer enthusiasts still have plenty to anticipate. The Searcy Youth Soccer Association will host a UK International Soccer Day Camp on Aug. 4-8. Ben Balogh, competition coordinator for the association, said the event is an excellent opportunity for young soccer players in the area to get some expert instruction in the game they love.
“As an organization, we are excited to provide this opportunity to the youth of the area,” Balogh said. “The Searcy Youth Soccer Association views this as the first step to meet the growing interest in the sport of soccer for Searcy and all of White County.”
This marks the second year the Searcy association has hosted the UK camp. Last year, approximately 63 players participated in the event, Balogh said. Instruction for the UK camps is provided by British coaches who travel to events throughout the United States to work with participants.
UK International will send three coaches to Searcy this year. Balogh said that in addition to the summer event, Searcy has enlisted the services of one of the British coaches to be on hand to help with training U7 through U10 soccer players for the fall-recreational-league season that will begin in September. If all goes as planned, association officials hope to retain a British coach for the spring season as well, Balogh said.
The UK International Soccer Camp strives to assist in the development of whole players, both as athletes and people, and provide guidance to help them reach their goals on and off the soccer field, according to the organization’s website.
UK International provides a variety of camps throughout the U.S. that offer a wide range of instruction, from basic skills to specialized training.
The Searcy event will be a “classic camp,” designed for the recreational player with a focus on age-appropriate skill building, technical development and tactical training. When registering for the event, participants will be given a choice of morning or evening sessions, with slots from 9.am. to noon and from 5-9 p.m. The cost of the camp is $119 per player.
To register for the UK camp, visit the UK International website. A link to the organization’s website is also available at searcysoccer.com.
In addition to the upcoming day camp, registration is open for the Searcy Youth Soccer fall and spring league seasons. Forms are available online at searcysoccer.com. For more information on the UK International event and league registration, email searcysoccer@gmail.com.
“The Searcy Youth Soccer Association is one of the largest recreational soccer leagues in the state. We want to serve our community even more by increasing participation, as well as improving our facilities,” said Cathie Threlkeld, public-relations adviser for the group. “With the high interest in the World Cup this year, we hope to see an increase in first-time soccer players. Our goal is to make soccer an exciting, fun experience for everyone, while encouraging players in developing their soccer skills and team sportsmanship.”
The cost for registration in the Searcy league is $75 for U4 through U6, which includes ages 3 to 5, and $95 for U7 and up, which includes ages 6 to 17. The fee includes both fall and spring sessions and the cost of a uniform. Online registration will continue through Aug. 20. However, there will be an in-person registration from 5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Carmichael Center in Searcy.