Alexandra Koch
Staff Writer
In an effort to give back to the community and raise money for their next season, the girls soccer team is planning to hold its annual children’s summer camp for girls ages 12 and under.
This summer, Costa’s girls soccer players will run the camp during the week of July 14 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Marine field in Manhattan Beach.
“We did a lot of advertising by passing out flyers at American Youth Soccer Organization spring games and emailing parents who signed their kids up last year,” junior Nonie Frishette said. “The camp helps pay for everything our program needs during the season.”
The girls team participates in other fundraisers throughout the year as well, such as the colored hair spray booth at the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair and selling flowers for Mothers’ Day at the Goodrich Soccer Tournament. While these events help add to the funds, the summer camp contributes the most money.
“The camp is extremely important to the girls soccer program,” junior Reilly Edmonds said. “It provides the players a chance to give back and help the future Costa soccer girls in the community.”
Every year, about 90 players sign up for the camp. Then the players are split up between 20 student volunteer counselors.
“I’m looking forward to teaching little girls soccer this summer because not too long ago that was me,” freshman Bergan O’Connell said. “I’m most excited to see the smiles on the kids faces.”
The camp costs $195 per player, and each counselor has the freedom to create its own drills and schedule for its group.
“We design drills depending on the group of kids,” junior Lauren Irwin said. “The main goal is to teach the girls in a fun, productive way.”
The counselors usually begin with skill work and then move onto a scrimmage. The practice ends with group activities such as relay races and parachutes.
“Some of my girls team went last year and said they had a great experience,” Girls Under 11 Sand and Surf coach Kyle Gouveia said. “I know the parents were happy, and I saw improvements in the kids as well.”
According to the players, some of their best memories in the soccer program came from running the summer camp.
“It was a great experience last year, and to see kids having fun really made me happy,” sophomore Jordan Martin said.
The team raised $11,000 last year and hopes to continue their success.
“I love to teach girls how awesome soccer is and being a role model for them,” Frishette said. “Even if they have never played before, it’s great to see a kid improve over the course of a week.”
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