HODGDON, Maine — Coaches from the University of Maine at Fort Kent spent the week in Hodgdon, Aug. 12-16, teaching soccer skills to members of the Hodgdon program.
According to Jason Little, varsity boys soccer coach at Hodgdon, officials from the University of Maine at Fort Kent reached out to the school to see if there was interest in hosting the camp this past spring.
The clinic was paid for, in part, by the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach award that Hodgdon received, as well as funds from the sports booster’s club.
Staff photos/Joseph Cyr
“There was a lot of conditioning earlier in the week, and then they switched to more skills-based things that were taken to a whole other level,” Little said. “Plus the players are learning an entirely different style of play. It’s not just kick the ball and run after it. It’s about making the pass in space and using the whole field. It will definitely help us in the long run.”
Hodgdon varsity girls coach Amanda Stubbs said the week-long camp proved beneficial to her players.
“We have had five great days with coaches, going over every aspect of the game,” Stubbs said. “The coaches are very knowledgeable and it has been a huge benefit for us to be able to learn from them.”
Stubbs said even though the clinics were hard work, the players seemed to enjoy the higher intensity practices.
“Plus, the kids can see how their hard work can benefit them this upcoming season,” she added.
“The drills were really tough, but I think it will benefit us this season,” said Hodgdon senior Lauren McGillicuddy. “We focused a lot on ball control, learning little tricks that can help us with passing and how to shoot right and even how to breath. It’s been hard, but it’s all been worth it.”
For Hodgdon senior Josh Foster the camp provided him with some useful tools that he hopes will carry over into the regular season. “They helped me work on things that I have been doing wrong, like dribbling the ball with the outside of my foot instead of the toe,” he said. “The conditioning drills added a whole other level to it.”
