Tucker hosts goalkeeper camp

On Aug. 20, a keeper camp was held at the Grant County Park in Crittenden.

Submitted

Mackenzie Tucker, Jordan Kearns and Sierra Schmitt discuss goalkeeping skills to youth soccer players.

Grant County Lady Braves Mackenzie Tucker and her assistants, Sierra Schmitt and Braves Jordan Kearns facilitated the event.  

The event was free to anyone in the Grant County Youth Soccer League.  During the event, participants were divided into three age groups, U8, U10 and U13.  Each group rotated to stations that were set up by Tucker and crew.  

Schmitt’s station worked on jumping and diving, while Kearns demonstrated shuffling and controlling ground balls. Tucker prepared attendants by educating them on angles, corner kicks and crosses.  All stations were designed to show potential goalkeepers how to handle the many different scenarios they will face during the soccer season.  

Overall, 40 young aspiring goalies attended the event.  When asked how she thought the event went, Tucker stated, “I am extremely happy there were so many children who showed up.  At first when we were setting up, it seemed like there were only going to be a few but many more showed up and it made it a great camp.”  

Tucker, Schmitt and Kearns would also like to thank the parents for bringing their children and allowing them to work with them.  

As for any additional camps in the future?  

“I will be more than happy to present another camp next spring and we are going to try and set up some additional training camps for offense and defense players as well,” Tucker said.

 “I am very proud of the youth in this community and the players who are now playing for the high school teams.  Grant County Youth Soccer is where many of us started.  We want to encourage the younger players’ to work hard and strive to play at the next level,” Tucker said.

Tucker would like to challenge the community to come support the soccer teams and to encourage the young soccer players to work hard and strive to be successful in not just athletics but in all aspects of their lives.