For Young Soccer Players, World Cup Inspires More Practice

ABC News on Campus reporter Tia Castaneda blogs: This year's tournament marks the second World Cup for 17-year-old Sheridan Myers. And for her, watching the professional players was motivation to get back on the field. Above: Sheridan Myers watches intently during the U.S.-England match on Saturday. “We saw a bad goal go in [during the U.S. - England match], so all of us goalkeepers are out here practicing,” Myers said.
Myers, from Mesa, Ariz., has been playing at the Keeper/Striker Soccer Camp at Arizona State University this weekend. After watching the U.S. tie England in yesterday’s match, the 40 aspiring soccer players (all between 8  and 18 years old) returned to practice with a sharpened focus. Assistant coach at the Keeper/Striker camp, Blair Quinn, encouraged his team to watch the World Cup games this weekend since they don't ordinarily watch soccer matches on TV. “These kids are playing two to three games a weekend, but they just aren’t watching any games … it’s a great teaching opportunity to have the World Cup on while the kids are at this camp,” he said.  “I hope they understand the level of play and how technically sound the players are.  They have to see it in order to replicate it." The kids in the Keeper/Striker camp are expected to know who is playing in the matches every day. “We’ve already told them when the next U.S. games are.  We want them to watch at least one of the three games everyday,” said Quinn.
Pedro Ortiz, father of Jarod Ortiz, a 10-year-old soccer player in the Keeper/Striker camp, was happy to see his son participate in World Cup fever. “I think he really enjoyed watching the game.  It gets them excited and I think it helps them picture themselves out there someday,” said Ortiz. At right: The Keeper/Striker camp watches the U.S.-England World Cup match.
Even though the Keeper/Striker camp will be over when U.S. plays Slovenia on June 18, Quinn hopes many of his players will continue watching the matches. When asked if she would be watching the next U.S. game, Myers said, “I definitely don’t think it will be as big as the USA versus England game, but I hope that more people will be supporting the United States …  it’s a world sport, and it really needs to grow [in popularity] in the U.S.”