The Bridgewater-Raritan High School girls’ soccer program put on a four-day soccer clinic for local youth girls’ soccer players during the week of August 11.
According to Sean Casey, the head coach of Bridgwater-Raritan, and John Kowalski, the program's JV coach, a nominal fee was collected to cover operating costs as the purpose of this clinic was not about making money, it was about giving back to the community.
In all, about 80 youth players sign up. They ranged in age from 3rd grade up to players getting ready to enter high school. The idea of putting on a clinic originated with last year’s girls' freshman team putting on a one-day clinic for the U7 & U8-aged players. This year it was expanded to include many more age groups and many more players and covered many more days. On any given day, there were 30-plus high school players donating their time to share their love of the game with the little soccer phenoms who will, someday, take their place at high school.
The purpose of the clinic was more than just about technical and tactical play. The youth players were reminded that loving the game you play was just as important as the skills you brought to the table. The youth players had interactions with many high school-level players, where bonds were formed. If you want to maximize what you get out of a player, it must start with forming a bond between coach and player. The cornerstones of this bond are respect and trust. Trust and respect were earned throughout the week, where high school players got to know their youth players and vice versa.
The week’s activities included a “move of the day” and “skill of the day”, exercises involving dribbling, passing, free play and then as appropriate, more challenges were introduced. Clinic shirts were given to all participants and then each player had the opportunity to have their shirts signed by their favorite high school players. If you were to ask these young players their goal in soccer, their answer would be to someday become a high school player.
Hayden Tormasi, one of the captains for the high school’s varsity team, reflected back on her youth soccer experience.
““If I could tell my younger self one thing about soccer, it would be to carry the passion and love of playing through every difficulty, because if you have confidence, every hard time will make you better.,” she said.
The highlight of the week was the soccer Olympics that took place during one of the week’s sessions.
Youth players were split into teams where each team picked a country to represent and a color to where. An opening ceremony had teams march into the center circle, where a torch was placed in the middle of the field. Fireworks were displayed as every player kicked their ball into the air and this marked the beginning of the competition. A total of 10 events marked the day where players show off their skills learned throughout the week.
The clinic was a huge success, loved by the players, parents, and high school players.