Having a ball with your feet
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
It’s not that soccer is a new sport in the United States, but it seems that way when compared to most other countries where it is unrivaled in popularity. Whereas European kids might live with a soccer ball, American kids seem to have a wider variety of sports interests, which can put them at a disadvantage when facing a slick ball handler.
For the fifth consecutive year, the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) presented a soccer clinic in Goldendale, focusing on many of the basic skills required to be competitive in soccer.
The clinic, taught by instructors with United Kingdom International grouped participants into three age and skill divisions. Ages four to six were in a group that learned the very basic fundamentals of the sport. Seven to 10 year-olds were taught technical development and skill building. The over 11 group worked on game-related situations and tactical knowledge.
Instructors for the clinic were three young men from England, Matt Bowden (Plymouth), Dan Quinn (Nottingham), and Rhys Burton (Skipton). Bowden also worked with the Goldendale High School soccer teams. Bowden noted the need for the team players to work on ball control and passing, which comes more naturally if you grow up with a soccer ball.
The main clinic ran weekday mornings with the high school clinic conducted in the evening. Thursday night was reserved for a coaching clinic, working with coaches who will lead teams during the upcoming AYSO team play.
The high school girls begin official practice on Aug. 25. This will be the second season of varsity soccer for the school. Both boys and girls teams struggled in their inaugural year with lack of depth contributing to the problem of inexperience. The Goldendale District 404 school board set a minimum of 14 players for the teams to compete in the coming year.
According to Superintendent, Mark Heid, “we don’t play basketball with four players. We need to be able to field a representative team,” a reference to games in which the girls were short-handed last year.
Dilution of talent is always a factor at not-so-small schools where rules prohibit participation in multiple, simultaneous sports, such as is allowed in class B, yet the demand for more sports is constant.
Rebecca Eames, with AYSO, sees the AYSO leagues as a good feeder to the high school program, although there is no connection between the two. The clinics generate new players to AYSO “to some degree,” says Eames. Most of the kids in the clinic already play AYSO, but some use the clinic to see if they want to play the game.”
As for the English coaches, they headed across the river to Pendleton, seeing more of the U.S. and trying to infuse more talent into American soccer.
Wandersheids compete in WJGA Championship
ANDREW CHRISTIANSEN
Reporter
Zach and Bree Wandersheid hit the links in Spokane this week, looking to improve on great finishes in last year’s Washington Junior Golf Association championship tournament. Zach competes in the 14-15 year old division for boys and Bree moved up to the 12-13 year old girls division.
Last year, Bree finished third and will be stepping up to tough competition. Shooting in the 80s, she is competitive at any age.
Consistency has been the hallmark of Zach’s game. He was 11th last year and could break into the top 10, just as he did in this year’s high school state tournament.
The first round was played on Wednesday and final round for those who make the cut will be Friday.
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