MONROE - Hoping to help foster a greater appreciation of their most beloved sport, four native Brazilians spent a week at the Green County Family YMCA in Monroe teaching 7- to 16-year-olds about the many nuances of soccer.
The summer soccer camp, brought to the area by the Monroe Area Rebel Soccer Club in partnership with the Green County Family YMCA, was facilitated by Brazilian soccer coaches from TetraBrazil Soccer Academy. More than 90 kids signed up for the camp, which began Monday and concluded Friday.
MARSC coordinator Jim Lees, whose son also coached this week, said he saw that some of the more "affluent" towns like Verona and Oregon had a program that utilized international coaches, and Lees said to himself, why not Monroe?
"I thought with the World Cup being in Brazil, this would be a huge draw," Lees said.
Lees was right. The club signed up many more participants than anticipated. Lees had initially thought the four young Brazilians would each be paired up with about 15 kids, but so many children signed up that he called for extra help from his son and his son's friend.
Two women and two men from Brazil came to coach in Monroe for the last week of July, and they have been all around the Midwest this summer. Lucas Oliveira said he got started in the TetraBrazil program in college through a friend and said it has been a great opportunity to teach kids, travel and polish up his English.
"It's been great, our host families are really nice and the kids are really fun," Oliveira said.
The camp was $35 for MARS and YMCA members, and $70 for all others. The program is not-for-profit, and Lees said he acquired about $4,500 from area donors to bring the Brazilians to Monroe.
"It's just 70 bucks; that's cheaper than most childcare, and they learn something," Lees said.
Lees knew he made the right decision when one of the coaches stepped out of their van, popped up a ball while wearing sandals and caught the ball with the back of his neck.
"I was like, "Yup, this was worth it,'" Lees said.
The coaches said the kids have been really responsive. Oliveira gave evidence to the kids' enthusiasm Tuesday when he had them circle around him and yell for Vanessa Soly, a fellow Brazilian coach.
"OK - say, "Vanessa come over,'" Oliveira said. The kids gave a yell in unison, "Vanessa come over!"
"That was good, but a little louder," Oliveira said. The kids screamed even louder, beckoning Vanessa over.
Oliveira said the kids have shown real progress.
"At first they came out in baseball cleats or tennis shoes; now they all have soccer cleats," he said.
He chalked up some of the enthusiasm to the U.S. men's team performance during the World Cup in Brazil. He said the kids used to not know the names of any soccer players. Now U.S. men's team goalkeeper Tim Howard is a household name with the kids.
Oliveira said he hopes kids in Monroe keep up with soccer and continue to grow the sport.
"It's a very simple game and it's cheap - all you need is some cleats," he said.
The summer soccer camp, brought to the area by the Monroe Area Rebel Soccer Club in partnership with the Green County Family YMCA, was facilitated by Brazilian soccer coaches from TetraBrazil Soccer Academy. More than 90 kids signed up for the camp, which began Monday and concluded Friday.
MARSC coordinator Jim Lees, whose son also coached this week, said he saw that some of the more "affluent" towns like Verona and Oregon had a program that utilized international coaches, and Lees said to himself, why not Monroe?
"I thought with the World Cup being in Brazil, this would be a huge draw," Lees said.
Lees was right. The club signed up many more participants than anticipated. Lees had initially thought the four young Brazilians would each be paired up with about 15 kids, but so many children signed up that he called for extra help from his son and his son's friend.
Two women and two men from Brazil came to coach in Monroe for the last week of July, and they have been all around the Midwest this summer. Lucas Oliveira said he got started in the TetraBrazil program in college through a friend and said it has been a great opportunity to teach kids, travel and polish up his English.
"It's been great, our host families are really nice and the kids are really fun," Oliveira said.
The camp was $35 for MARS and YMCA members, and $70 for all others. The program is not-for-profit, and Lees said he acquired about $4,500 from area donors to bring the Brazilians to Monroe.
"It's just 70 bucks; that's cheaper than most childcare, and they learn something," Lees said.
Lees knew he made the right decision when one of the coaches stepped out of their van, popped up a ball while wearing sandals and caught the ball with the back of his neck.
"I was like, "Yup, this was worth it,'" Lees said.
The coaches said the kids have been really responsive. Oliveira gave evidence to the kids' enthusiasm Tuesday when he had them circle around him and yell for Vanessa Soly, a fellow Brazilian coach.
"OK - say, "Vanessa come over,'" Oliveira said. The kids gave a yell in unison, "Vanessa come over!"
"That was good, but a little louder," Oliveira said. The kids screamed even louder, beckoning Vanessa over.
Oliveira said the kids have shown real progress.
"At first they came out in baseball cleats or tennis shoes; now they all have soccer cleats," he said.
He chalked up some of the enthusiasm to the U.S. men's team performance during the World Cup in Brazil. He said the kids used to not know the names of any soccer players. Now U.S. men's team goalkeeper Tim Howard is a household name with the kids.
Oliveira said he hopes kids in Monroe keep up with soccer and continue to grow the sport.
"It's a very simple game and it's cheap - all you need is some cleats," he said.
