Staff Writer
Educational culture shock waited both on and off the soccer pitch for members of the Dutch Soccer Academy taking part in the 2008 European Tour during April Vacation. Student-athletes from Aroostook County and New England sojourned to Holland, Belgium and Germany for a seven-day experience of a different style “football” and European life.
Contributed photo/Dave Allen GraphicsCaribou High School athlete Brittany Doak makes a save during the DSA game against Holland.
Robbie and Tammy Krul founded the DSA in 1997 to promote the game of soccer in youth of all ages, and improve the individual skills of athletes of varying abilities. The DSA began offering day and overnight camps around New England and indoor soccer, and expanded to the tour five years ago. “About five years ago, we decided it was time to do something like this,” explained Krul. The ’08 tour marked the DSA’s fifth trip overseas with previous trips to England, Italy and Spain.
Presque Isle senior Carmen Allen started playing soccer at the age of 5 and joined the DSA after her brother, Josh Allen, attended the summer camps. Both Carmen and Josh played during the ’08 tour. “I really like the competition,” explained Carmen about her love of soccer. “It’s so dynamic and such a deep, dense game.”
The positive feedback from everyone involved in the tour remained twofold this year as the players expanded their cultural experience and knowledge of “the beautiful game.” Krul organized the tour himself this year. “We did half and half with a lot of soccer and at least one big attraction a day,” said Krul. “The whole point of traveling all that distance is to taste Europe.”
The tour began with a visit to Amsterdam and Delft, ending the day with a training session with licensed KNVB (Royal Dutch Soccer Association) coaches.
Lydia Kieffer, a freshman at Caribou High School, gained a lot from these lessons. “During practice sessions we did a lot of different things,” explained Kieffer. “We learned different ways to communicate without speaking to get the ball.”
On April 19, the DSA troop trekked to Gelsenkirchen, Germany for more sightseeing including Castle SchloBhorst and a German Premier Football Stadium before their first match. The DSA girls tied their German opponents SV Gelsenkirchen-Hessler 06 1-1 with a goal by Allen. The boys’ team fell in their match 5-0.
The following day DSA visited Rotterdam to watch a Premiership Football Game Feyenoord vs. Roda JC. “The fans really get into it,” said Kieffer about the match. “They were screaming for both teams a lot louder than our spectators.”
Upon returning to Amsterdam, the group visited the Anne Frank Museum and the Zaanse Schans, a museum exhibiting traditional Dutch living, for a small history lesson. In the afternoon, the DSA faced KFC in their second game.
On April 22, the group toured Antwerp, Belgium, and returned to Delft the following day to walk amongst the flowers of the Keukenhof (a world famous flower park). The participants had another opportunity to train with KNVB coaches before the DSA boys played the final game against DHC (U-16).
Many of the players and coaches of the opposing teams had taken part in DSA summer camps, and welcomed the chance to host the DSA and return their hospitality. Krul took the opportunity to introduce the new DSA director of coaching Jan Reurings during the training before returning to the states.
“The soccer game over there is very different,” said Allen about her experience. “They play more zone than man-to-man. I learned how to be more dynamic and play in different styles.”
Caribou freshman Nate Rossignol also believed that the training improved his game. “They taught us how to stay connected as a unit, and how it’s more effective that way.”
The DSA will be offering both day and overnight camps this summer. The Caribou day camp will be held June 29 to July 3 and the Presque Isle camp from July 21 to 25.
Overnight camps will be held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle from July 6 to 11 and July 13 to 18. For more information or to register for a camp, visit www.dutchsocceracademy.com.
