Classic Soccer Academy kicked off this week at Plantation Commons with approximately 50 children lined up and eager to hone their skills around the net. Now in its fourth year at Reynolds Lake Oconee, this week’s group is nearly double the 28 kids that participated at the camp a year ago.
Started by Rob Mangino, teacher and coach at Dacula High School, Classic Soccer Academy began with a small group of kids in Dacula, Ga. 15 years ago. Since then, the program has grown to include four camps in the state of Georgia – two in Dacula, one in Jackson County and the other here at Reynolds Lake Oconee. Mike Burrell, head soccer coach at Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett and a CSA Staff coach, suggested the possibility of bringing the camp to Reynolds Lake Oconee.
“This year’s camp is our biggest camp at Reynolds Lake Oconee in the four years we have been here with 50 kids,” says Mangino. “The camps are mainly designed around technical aspects of the game, such as dribbling, one on ones, passing, finishing and scoring goals and possession. Basically in soccer, we’re training players to make good decisions. The game is too fast to walk kids through every decision they will make during a match.”
Mike Burrell and his wife, Jackie (a former member of the Georgia Southern University soccer team, herself) work with the younger kids, ages 4-8; while Mangino gets help from Jason Gizzardo, head coach at Dacula, with the older kids, ages 8 to 14. It was Burrell that first introduced Mangino to Reynolds Lake Oconee. Jackie’s parents, John and Marilyn Flock, have been members of the community for years and she and Mike felt that the camp could make a perfect fit. “Mike talked to the recreation team and the rest, as they say, is history,” says Mangino.
Mangino and team work together to define a set curriculum each year that focuses on technical training, and skills such as dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting and basic defending. Each session includes small-sided games to improve technical skills in match situations. The camp usually ends with a three vs three tournament and each kid walks away with a soccer ball and a T-shirt to commemorate the event.
“We started with a small group in Dacula and its really become a great summer program,” says Rob. “I love watching the young kids get better and that’s really what it’s all about.”
