Louisburg coach Ben York slides in front of a camper to steal the ball during a drill at Thursday’s Louisburg High School soccer camp. (Photo by Andy Brown / andybrown@miconews.com)
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Soccer camp kicks off new campaign
York ready to start over after last season’s success
By Andy Brown, andybrown@miconews.com
Coming off the program’s best finish in its six-year history, Louisburg soccer coach Ben York has a reason to be optimistic with the direction of his program.
That doesn’t mean he is going to rest on his laurels.
York conducted his summer soccer camp last week on the team’s new practice field across the street from the high school, and 40 students signed up for the week-long session. Even though the Wildcats had a season to remember last year, it is all about starting from the beginning for York.
“Every year we always start with the same thing,” York said. “Ever since I was a little kid, and I have been coached by a lot of good coaches, what I have found is when you come together as a new team you have to start over from beginning every time. You start with fundamentals. You start with passing, movement and talking, and we have always done it that way, whether I think the class is beyond that or not.”
During the camp, York, along with assistant coach Anthony Juarez, conducted a morning and evening session to make sure everyone had a chance to attend at least one. York wants Louisburg soccer to succeed, and he proved that when he was 13 years old.
York, along with other members of the class, petitioned the school board to add the sport. Even though it took awhile for his plan to come to fruition, he sees the excitement for the sport growing.
“This is always going to be a football-oriented town,” York said. ”That is good, and I like that. It gives our school an identity and gives these kids things to do. At the same time, it is not one-sided. Now it is football guys coming out and tailgating for the soccer team. That to me is a huge sign of acceptance.
“You have 100 kids out for football and 40 kids out for soccer and what more can you ask of a small town like this. You have kids to pick from, and they are good kids.”
York hopes to use the camp as a head start to work with his future players and he is going to need it. The Wildcats will have to replace 10 seniors off last season’s team, but at the same time, has eight returning key pieces from last year.
Despite the turnover, York senses an excitement from his players, especially after their success from last year. But realizes the expectations for his team won’t be as high.
“There is somewhat of an attitude of we have to start all over and that is natural,” York said. “On the other side of it, I think there will be more interest in the community and a lot more people coming out to games. We are blessed with a ton of great people in this community that will come out and support no matter what team it is. The kids will always feel that, but this a new start for us. The kids will have to make it their own.”
printable version
e-mail this story
That doesn’t mean he is going to rest on his laurels.
York conducted his summer soccer camp last week on the team’s new practice field across the street from the high school, and 40 students signed up for the week-long session. Even though the Wildcats had a season to remember last year, it is all about starting from the beginning for York.
“Every year we always start with the same thing,” York said. “Ever since I was a little kid, and I have been coached by a lot of good coaches, what I have found is when you come together as a new team you have to start over from beginning every time. You start with fundamentals. You start with passing, movement and talking, and we have always done it that way, whether I think the class is beyond that or not.”
During the camp, York, along with assistant coach Anthony Juarez, conducted a morning and evening session to make sure everyone had a chance to attend at least one. York wants Louisburg soccer to succeed, and he proved that when he was 13 years old.
York, along with other members of the class, petitioned the school board to add the sport. Even though it took awhile for his plan to come to fruition, he sees the excitement for the sport growing.
“This is always going to be a football-oriented town,” York said. ”That is good, and I like that. It gives our school an identity and gives these kids things to do. At the same time, it is not one-sided. Now it is football guys coming out and tailgating for the soccer team. That to me is a huge sign of acceptance.
“You have 100 kids out for football and 40 kids out for soccer and what more can you ask of a small town like this. You have kids to pick from, and they are good kids.”
York hopes to use the camp as a head start to work with his future players and he is going to need it. The Wildcats will have to replace 10 seniors off last season’s team, but at the same time, has eight returning key pieces from last year.
Despite the turnover, York senses an excitement from his players, especially after their success from last year. But realizes the expectations for his team won’t be as high.
“There is somewhat of an attitude of we have to start all over and that is natural,” York said. “On the other side of it, I think there will be more interest in the community and a lot more people coming out to games. We are blessed with a ton of great people in this community that will come out and support no matter what team it is. The kids will always feel that, but this a new start for us. The kids will have to make it their own.”