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Canton, Ohio —
Soccer enthusiasts from all around Stark County, including North Canton, Hartville, Louisville and Canton, participated in a free soccer clinic hosted by the Stark County Soccer Association (SCSA) on June 23.
The co-ed soccer league is for ages 5 to 12 years old. Organizers focused on teaching proper foot skills and techniques.
The group officially formed in February and is combining community and church through the game of soccer. The First Friends and the First Christian Church of Canton are partnering to bring clinics and organized leagues to those who want to play soccer.
“We want to teach the kids to play soccer using distinctive practices such as working with master teachers (clinicians) to ensure quality instruction versus relying on parents that may or may not have expertise in the game,” said SCSA leader Paul Johnson.
SCSA plans to work with smaller teams for both practices and games in three different age categories: 5 and 6-year-olds, 7 and 8-year-olds and 9 to 12-year-olds. Johnson said the SCSA will have game formats that fit the age and abilities of the participants.
“While we want to train young people in the skills of the game and we also want to teach moral, ethical and spiritual values as well,” he said.
There were 120 children at the first clinic, which was held on the soccer field next to the First Christian Church of Canton on Market Avenue North in North Canton. Participants were from both churches as well as the surrounding communities.
SCSA will be using experts in the game to train volunteer coaches for teams in the league. Rob Wagler is the director of coaching and heads the clinics offered by SCSA. He works with Ambassadors in Sport, a worldwide soccer ministry program.
“I grew up in Haiti and learned the game of soccer there,” Wagler said. “I spent 10 years coaching in England and 10 years coaching in northeast Ohio.”
Johnson said that Wagler has great expertise in the game along with a great heart for children and the game of soccer. A trademark of SCSA is FC2.
“SCSA is about fun, coaching and close competition, or FC2. That's the program we will be running,” Wagler said.
League play will be offered in 10-week programs with the first running from August through October. Practices will be held during the week with Saturdays reserved for games. SCSA also plans to hold foot skills clinics and camps throughout the year.
Sara Weirich, of Canton, was watching her daughter Jadah during her first practice at the SCSA clinic. Sara has played co-ed soccer herself, and her daughter wants to be like her mother and play the game too.
“Jadah is using my soccer ball today for her first practice,” Sara said.
“It's good to see the two churches working together with the community. We attend Faith Family Church and a friend of mine from First Friends Church told me about this clinic.”
Soccer enthusiasts from all around Stark County, including North Canton, Hartville, Louisville and Canton, participated in a free soccer clinic hosted by the Stark County Soccer Association (SCSA) on June 23.
The co-ed soccer league is for ages 5 to 12 years old. Organizers focused on teaching proper foot skills and techniques.
The group officially formed in February and is combining community and church through the game of soccer. The First Friends and the First Christian Church of Canton are partnering to bring clinics and organized leagues to those who want to play soccer.
“We want to teach the kids to play soccer using distinctive practices such as working with master teachers (clinicians) to ensure quality instruction versus relying on parents that may or may not have expertise in the game,” said SCSA leader Paul Johnson.
SCSA plans to work with smaller teams for both practices and games in three different age categories: 5 and 6-year-olds, 7 and 8-year-olds and 9 to 12-year-olds. Johnson said the SCSA will have game formats that fit the age and abilities of the participants.
“While we want to train young people in the skills of the game and we also want to teach moral, ethical and spiritual values as well,” he said.
There were 120 children at the first clinic, which was held on the soccer field next to the First Christian Church of Canton on Market Avenue North in North Canton. Participants were from both churches as well as the surrounding communities.
SCSA will be using experts in the game to train volunteer coaches for teams in the league. Rob Wagler is the director of coaching and heads the clinics offered by SCSA. He works with Ambassadors in Sport, a worldwide soccer ministry program.
“I grew up in Haiti and learned the game of soccer there,” Wagler said. “I spent 10 years coaching in England and 10 years coaching in northeast Ohio.”
Johnson said that Wagler has great expertise in the game along with a great heart for children and the game of soccer. A trademark of SCSA is FC2.
“SCSA is about fun, coaching and close competition, or FC2. That's the program we will be running,” Wagler said.
League play will be offered in 10-week programs with the first running from August through October. Practices will be held during the week with Saturdays reserved for games. SCSA also plans to hold foot skills clinics and camps throughout the year.
Sara Weirich, of Canton, was watching her daughter Jadah during her first practice at the SCSA clinic. Sara has played co-ed soccer herself, and her daughter wants to be like her mother and play the game too.
“Jadah is using my soccer ball today for her first practice,” Sara said.
“It's good to see the two churches working together with the community. We attend Faith Family Church and a friend of mine from First Friends Church told me about this clinic.”
