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While the Bluefield College men's soccer team spent the final weeks of summer vacation preparing for a challenging fall 2011 season, the Rams also took time out to partner with Virginia Baptists to serve the community with two free kids' soccer camps in eastern Virginia.

Sports Information Department BC

September 23, 2011

While the Bluefield College men's soccer team spent the final weeks of summer vacation preparing for a challenging fall 2011 season, the Rams also took time out to partner with Virginia Baptists to serve the community with two free kids' soccer camps in eastern Virginia.

While completing final pre-season training on retreat at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, a professional level training facility that is home to the Virginia Beach Pirhanas men's and women's PRO/AM soccer teams, the BC players took a break from training themselves to train kids who might not otherwise have had the chance for such instruction.

"Not only was this a great opportunity to work with our players and to improve our team in a state-of-the art training facility," said head soccer coach Pete Dryer, "but it was also a great opportunity for us to serve others and to give back by working with these kids."

For a week, the BC players partnered with a Brazilian soccer ministry team to conduct a morning soccer clinic for children of all ages at Centerville Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. Bluefield College alumnus Ann Shelton Lovingood helped organize the Centerville camp.

In the evenings, the team hosted a second kids' soccer camp at St. John's Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. BC trustee and St. John's member, Pearl Moyers Dean, helped arrange the weeklong evening clinic.

More than 100 kids participated in the two camps, which featured drills and instructions designed to improve tactical awareness and technical skills, including dribbling, passing, receiving, finishing, and defending. The camp also focused on important values instilled in Bluefield College athletes, including faith, respect and teamwork.

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