The final day of Challenger Soccer Camp was this past Friday, June 10 at the Riverbank Sports Complex where several youngsters participated in a week filled with learning techniques, improving skills, and having fun while mastering the game of soccer. This week long camp was hosted by the City of Riverbank’s Parks and Recreation Department, which enlisted the coaching assistance of the Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp. Instructor Ryan Charalambous enjoyed his first week of camp in Riverbank and plans to experience more of North America where he will participate in more camps.

Soccer Coach Charalambous made his way to North America from England to coach interested youth, teaching them skills like how to spot kick, scissor kick, mark, along with ball handling and passing.

There were a few classes being offered throughout the week like “first kicks” for ages three to five, a half-day camp for ages 5 to 14, and the “golden goal” in the afternoon.

According to the Challenger website (www.challengersports.com), Challenger Sports began running summer soccer camp in 1985, as British Soccer Camps, a division of All American Indoor Sports, Inc. All American operated a number of multi-purpose indoor soccer facilities and was owned by Ron Matsch and Jim Jorgensen. The two also founded Discovery Zone Inc., an indoor playground and fun center for children that went on to achieve international success.

The British Soccer Camp program quickly grew throughout the Midwest, expanding into Oklahoma, Tennessee and Georgia, and establishing a reputation of delivering quality coaching with a unique British cultural twist.

Challenger now finds itself with a nationwide network of clubs, coaches, players and parents, and a broad base of soccer products and services that just about covers anything that you could wish to find in the soccer world.

Challenger Sports offers a complete range of summer camps providing separate British, Brazilian and American-themed camp programs with instruction for all ages and abilities. Approximately 1,200 British, 100 Brazilian and 50 US coaches are carefully selected by Challenger from over 2000 potential candidates. They are all committed and talented coaches, but more importantly they understand how to teach new skills, build confidence and have fun, all at the same time.

For more camps that the City of Riverbank offers visit www.riverbank.org and select Recreational Classes then select Camps or call 209-863-7150.