Enrolment for the third in the highly-successful series of English Premier League soccer camps has already begun in earnest.
Two top class professional coaches with international playing experience will again lead the local experts who will be teaching new skills and putting the kids through their paces during the week starting July 3.
Interest will be very high not just because of the previous success of the camps but this year’s event falls in the middle of the World Cup finals which will be getting blanket TV coverage round the world.
Ever since the EPL became involved there has been a resurgence in interest in the sport on the island both among youngsters and adults.
“We have seen big increases in attendances at training sessions and it has been great to see how kids’ skill levels have risen on the island over the last couple of years. This is a great trend which not only means more youngsters having a good time but it also increases their future opportunities,” said Mark Hardy, one of the organizers and a prominent youth coach on the island.
Parents have become more aware of the fact that proficiency in the sport offers a much better chance of a US college scholarship than other sports like basketball simply because fewer young US people play soccer. Colleges have to cast their recruitment nets very wide to fill quotas.
The EPL camp has proved attractive to parents because it offers five full days of activities, including swimming as well as the actual soccer, and includes lunch each day as well as fruit during mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks. All those taking part get authentic, new soccer uniforms to wear during the week. It is the best summer camp bargain on the island.
Last year a group of youngsters from Abaco attended for the first time and this year it is likely there will some attendees from Nassau.
Parents who wish their child or children to be one of the 200 participants can pick up forms from the following venues: Freeport Rugby Football Club, Animale at Port Lucaya, Esquire Menswear in Downtown and Town and Country on Yellow Pine Street.