LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - An up-and-coming generation of potential soccer players got a deeper understanding of the sport last week during a new training event.

The Mackenzie Recreation Association hosted a soccer development camp in Fort Simpson from April 19 to 21 for students from kindergarten to Class 5. A full day camp was also held in Fort Liard for Grades 1 to 3 on April 23. Although the association runs a number of skill development events this was the first time a soccer camp has been held for students this young.

Mathew Cazon-Vital, 7, manoeuvres a ball between pylons during a soccer development camp in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"Communities identify where they need extra support," said Deborah Stipdonk, the association's executive director.

The camp was organized in response to comments from parents and community members who said although there are lots of soccer related opportunities for older students there are few for the younger grades, Stipdonk said. The association tries to provide instructors with skill sets that match communities' needs.

In this case, Chris Stipdonk and Amy Macdonald, who both have coaching and international soccer competition experience, ran the camps.

In Fort Simpson the classes rotated daily through the camp. The older classes worked on skill development including passing, shooting and dribbling, said Macdonald. The skills were incorporated into drills and finally into actual soccer games.

"The older students are doing better," Macdonald said.

"The young ones are enjoying it. They seem to be having fun coming out and playing."

For the younger grades the camp was modified by utilizing fun activities that included soccer balls and taught soccer skills.

On the last day of the camp each participant received an Olympic t-shirt or hat or a soccer ball courtesy of the Aboriginal Sport Circle of the NWT.

For Geoffrey Gargan-Lacasse, 9, the one hour of soccer a day was a lot of exercise.

"It was exhausting," he said.

Gargan-Lacasse said he picked up a number of new skills including how to dribble a soccer ball. Although he'd already played soccer before in school Gargan-Lacasse said the camp has made him like the sport more.

Sky Lennie, 10, described the camp as "fun."

"It was fun because I got to learn more skills," she said.

Lennie, who'd never been to a soccer camp before, said she learned how to dribble and pass the ball. Lennie said her soccer skills got better during the three days.