Youth served at IU Soccer Day Camp

The first session of the IU Soccer Day Camp began this week at the Karst Soccer Complex. The camp is directed toward children who are not old enough to attend the residential camp held later in the summer. The day camp is a tradition started several years ago by an IU men's soccer team assistant coach.\nThis year IU assistant coach Todd Yeagley, son of legendary coach Jerry Yeagley, is in charge of teaching the youngsters the basics of soccer. \n"Through the years this camp has become the first step towards the residential camp," Yeagley said. "Kids start coming to this camp since they are 4 years of age and they stay here until they are old enough to join the other camp."\nThe camp began with a total of 60 kids for the summer. This year the camp has a total of 250 youths enrolled. The growth of the camp has been significant throughout the years.\nYeagley said the camp is able to guide the children through the basics of soccer at a young age. The aim of the camp is to motivate the attendees to return home and practice what they have learned.\nJerry Yeagley, who recently retired as IU's soccer coach, also takes time to visit the camp and talk to the children about the increasingly popular sport. \n"He loves to see these kids play," Todd Yeagley said. "When he moved for the first time to the city of Bloomington, he could not find a soccer ball in any store. This camp reflects all the hard work and determination he has put to the game."\nThe camp's staff is composed of former professional soccer players and other skilled players and instructors. \nThe camp lasts one week and is composed of two sessions. The first session concluded Friday with the second session beginning July 26 and will finish July 30. Open spots are still available for the second session. \nFor more information, visit the Monroe County Youth Soccer Web site at www.mcysoccer.org, or call the office of Monroe County Parks and Recreation Office at 349-2800. \n-- Contact staff writer Javier Moreno at jmoreno@indiana.edu.