GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas -- The highly-infectious soccer fever which is sweeping the world spreads to Grand Bahama next week.
Youngsters who signed up for the 10th Annual Premier League Soccer Camp, which starts on Monday, will find it has a very strong World Cup flavor, with games every day and giveaway replica balls at the end of the week-long event.
The visiting professional coaches, who will lead a big team of local assistant coaches, have dreamed up a range of activities which capture the spirit of the World Cup Finals being played in Brazil. The soccer event of the year, being watched by large numbers of Grand Bahamians, is being played between 32 national sides and is also the television event of the year, with more than 3.2 billion people worldwide expected to watch it. Even in the United States, it has attracted almost as many viewers as the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.
Its international nature is mirrored by the Sir Jack Hayward Camp, a feature of which ever since its first year, has been the number of countries represented among the youngsters who enjoy the five days of coaching and play. Though Bahamians tend to be the largest group, children from up to 20 other countries have taken part.
"That is just one of the factors which make this such an attractive camp and a must-attend sporting event. The kids don't just get world-class coaching, they get the chance to mix with new people and make new friends, and then of course there are the other goodies, like two complete sets of uniform plus lunch every day," said organizer Richard Malcolm.
"Obviously we, like millions of people around the globe, have been looking forward to the World Cup finals and right from the start we wanted to give the camp a flavor of what is happening in Brazil and captivated the world. The three coaches from the UK have input their thoughts, and the afternoon sessions each day, particularly, will mirror the big event. What is particularly good is that the kids will be put through their paces during the day, and then have the chance to go home and see how the top stars use the same skills to play the game at the highest level."
The camp starts at 8.45 a.m. on Monday at Freeport Rugby and Football Club's fields at East Settlers Way and runs to 3 p.m. every day with an hour's break for lunch. Registration and distribution of uniforms is from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday and again on Sunday. Those wishing to sign up earlier can do so at Town and Country, Yellow Pine Street; Animale, Port Lucaya Marketplace; downtown at Grand Bahama Trading Post; or at the rugby club for the next couple of evenings.
The visiting coaches, Abbie Sadler, Jenna Martin and Robbie Pringle, arrive on Friday and, after a day or two to acclimatize, run a session with the local coaches on Sunday afternoon. The trio are full-time coaches working for The Football Association, the sport's governing body in the United Kingdom, and are taking vacation to lead the camp. They bring with them a whole new range of drills and teaching methods.
"It is not just the young players who benefit from the week. The local coaches who work with the kids through the rest of the year also get a chance to learn new things," said Malcolm.
A number of Bahamians and visitors are expected to take part in the camp.

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