Archive: Sports

It's August, and that means Lansing Recreation Department's Soccer Camp is next week.  Monday is a milestone for the camp, starting it's 10th year.  "Every year it's grown," says camp director Adam Heck.  "We hit a plateau, but we are trying to accommodate even more kids.  So we're promoting it even more.  We've sent flyers out through our community, and to the local soccer clubs to try to get more kids."

The $90 fee includes five days of camp from 8:30 to 4:30 each day, plus a ball and T-shirt.  Offensive and defensive skills are taught, then put to use in games, and guest lecturers are scheduled from all levels of soccer, including male and female coaches and players.  The camp is for boys and girls entering grades 4 through 9.  Heck says those entering 3rd grade will be accepted if their parents think they are ready.  "If a parent thinks a 3rd grader can do it, we recommend it," he says.  "That's the parent's call, because it is a long day."

The synergy between the Town Recreation Department and Lansing Schools athletics pays off in a variety of ways.  With varsity coach Heck running the camp, he lays down the fundamentals of skills and philosophies that players will use as they grow.  Heck says young players look up to the high school and college players who coach at the camp, and this makes them more enthusiastic and receptive.  "We've really seen a reflection on the program from this soccer camp," Heck says.  "Some of the first guys that came are now in college, and they're coming back and coaching at camp.  They always keep that week off so they can come back to camp."

Heck notes that the male staff is more experienced, all graduates of high school, most from Lansing, and some playing soccer now in college.  The girl coaches are from the Lansing High School team.  "We've seen a steady increase in the boys' numbers, and the girls' numbers have stayed the same or gone down," Heck notes.  "So we're trying to get more girls to come out as well."


Heck teaches physical education at Lansing Middle School, and has coached the high school varsity soccer team for ten years.  He runs or works at various soccer and basketball camps in the northeast United States, and for his second year coached the Scholastic Central Boys Soccer team at the Empire State Games this summer.  But he has a special place in his heart for the soccer camp.  "I love running that camp," he says.  "It's the pride and joy of the summer, and we're always looking to get more kids for it.  I love seeing the kids grow from year to year.  We have kids who went to four or five years of camp and now they're actually coaching there.  I love seeing the progression they make."

He also says he loves that the camp now attracts kids from outside of Lansing, saying that it makes for healthy rivals later when the kids compete in high school.  "I think the reputation we have established as a program is one reason why kids come here to learn more about soccer," Heck says.  "They respect what we've done here, and the track record we have.  This will be my 11th year coaching at the varsity level, and hopefully that's a draw.  But the biggest thing is that they just love to play.  If they love soccer I recommend this camp."

Kids play in leagues based on their age groups, and the culminating event is a tournament at the end of the week.  Trophies are awarded, to add competition to the mix.  But Heck stresses that the point is to have fun.  To learn a little bit about soccer, to learn some new skills, and to enjoy going to camp.  "We're excited about it," he says.  "It should be a great, great week."

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