This week the 33rd edition of the yearly Super Soccer School took place at C.E. Grose Park.
Just as in previous years, around 40 kids, aged six and up, had Councillor Carmen DeRose teach them how to excel on the soccer field.
“They’re learning all the technical skills: dribbling, passing, shooting, and ball control,” says Councillor DeRose, in an interview with ThoroldToday.
This year’s Super Soccer School was supposed to take place Monday to Wednesday but the rainy weather on Monday morning decided otherwise.
“It worked out good,” Councillor DeRose says. “The city was nice to enough to make the field rental from Tuesday to Thursday instead so it worked out.”
After 33 years the three-day soccer camp has become a Thorold institution. Councillor DeRose says that teaching the kids soccer is a rewarding experience.
“You get to see some of the kids come back and you see their improvement,” he says. “If they do all the stuff that I show them on their own they’ll improve weekly.”
Some of the kids that attended the Super Soccer School in the past 33 years have turned into renowned athletes.
“Some of them made pro soccer but it’s kind of funny, I had more kids make the NHL,” says Councillor DeRose. “It’s a good thing to do when you’re this age and you’re athletic. The thing to do is to come to this camp and have some fun.”
The summer camp figures into Councillor DeRose’s ethos of trying to be of service to the local community.
"Just giving back to the community, same thing why I am on council—I do it to help,“ he says. "I grew up on this field playing soccer. It allowed me to get a scholarship in the States. It’s all about Thorold and community and helping.”
