By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – With the sport of soccer rapidly growing across the United States, Pelham Parks & Recreation has announced a co-ed spring clinic in partnership with the soccer coaches and players of Pelham High School.

The clinic will be held at Pelham High School in Ned Bearden Stadium on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 5:30-7 p.m. The clinic costs $10 per child and is open to children ages five to 12.

Charlie Sanders, recreation coordinator with Pelham Parks and Rec, provided more insight on the clinic and its purpose.

“We hold two youth soccer clinics each year: one in the fall, and one at the beginning of the year before registration for the spring season ends,” Sanders said. “Hopefully, this gets more kids involved in the game and enhances their skills in preparation for the spring season.”

Sanders emphasized how integral the assistance from PHS staff and students is in the running of the event.

“Coach (Patrick) McDonald and the PHS Soccer program are a huge help teaching and working with our players during the clinic,” Sanders said. “Players and coaches from both the boys’ and girls’ high school teams will be leading stations on the day of the clinic. They focus on skills and teaching kids the rules of the game, then let them practice what they’ve learned while having fun.”

Sanders believes that the relationship between Pelham Parks & Rec and PHS is critical to each program’s success.

“All PHS sports programs value the community relationship with the city of Pelham, but more importantly they know the youth programs are full of their future players,” Sanders said. “They appreciate being involved in the development of the players from an early age and know our programs provide a foundation for them.”

While the clinic serves a wide age range, Sanders explained that the clinic will be split into smaller sections by age.

“There are times at the beginning and end of the clinic where the entire group is together to stretch, warm-up and listen to instruction, but most of the time is spent split up into smaller groups around the participants’ ages,” Sanders said. “They’ll go from station to station with their group, focusing on specific skills led by different players or coaches from the high school program… We try to keep the ages close and not cross too many older groups with younger groups.”

Sanders added that the clinic has a good blend of training styles to accommodate both novice and advanced players.

“These clinics have been rather successful at including players of all skill levels,” Sanders said. “We try to provide proper instruction for new players while still making sure skilled players get the development they need… Parents can be assured that we’ll have opportunities for their child no matter their skill level.”

Sanders took the time to lay out what children need to bring to the clinic to be set up for success.

“Soccer balls and other practice equipment are provided by the school and Parks and Rec,” Sanders said. “Players should arrive in cleats and shin guards, although shin guards are the only required piece of equipment for safety purposes. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own water, and dress according to the weather.”

Sanders believes the youth soccer clinic is unique due to its relationship with PHS.

“To my knowledge, other communities in the surrounding area do not offer clinics with their school program at such a consistent rate,” Sanders said. “Surrounding cities offer other types of clinics such as private lessons, camps at training facilities and instruction from former high school and college athletes, but they don’t offer a consistent well-rounded program that includes all sports from the high school level.”

To register for the youth soccer clinic, visit Pelham Parks and Rec’s RecDesk program registration page at Pelhamrec.recdesk.com.