MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The youth soccer season kicked into gear Saturday with an opening ceremony at Penny Lake fields here.
Twenty-seven soccer teams and two cheerleading squads gathered at Penny Lake to begin the seven-week season scheduled to end Nov. 6.
After the ceremony, six teams played their first games.
“I teach the kids fun through teamwork,” said Keon Beccles, coach for the 10- to 12-year-old Yellow Jackets.
Beccles has been coaching for two years, but this is his first year coaching the 10- to 12-year-old age group. There are currently 438 participants, including 86 Japanese participants.
At the end of the season, an all-star team will be formed with the best players to play against a Japanese team.
The 3- to 4-year-old, 5- to 6-year-old, and 7- to 9-year-old age groups do not keep score, so they focus on the basic fundamentals of soccer and sportsmanship.
“I really enjoy coaching the kids,” said Paul C. Egington, coach for the 5- to 6-year-old Silver Backs. “Teaching and watching them learn something from me is really rewarding.”
The 10- to 12-year-old age division is the first of the youth soccer divisions to play competitively, but the children enjoy playing as much as they enjoy scoring.
Beccles considers his coaching style basic, focusing on the fundamentals and formations.
“I start from the ground up,” said Beccles. “I begin with teaching the kids passing techniques and move my way up to keeping the kids in the correct formations while they play on the field.”
Parents always have a good turnout at the games. Parents are part of the team; they’re there for encouragement, said Beccles. Soccer is not just on the field but it is off the field too, and the participation of the parents is important. Parents and coaches work together to teach the kids good sportsmanship and proper soccer techniques.
When a player gets injured, all the players go down on one knee and wait for a coach to check out the injury before resuming the game, said Beccles. It helps so the injured player can be quickly identified and given the proper medical attention.
Youth soccer is meant to be fun, but with all the practice and experience the children are gaining more than fun. For more information on game times and schedules, contact the Youth Sports Coordinator at 253-5777.