Bainbridge High School Lady Cats and Bearcats soccer coaches Chip Ariail and Jamie Ard got the opportunity to teach the fundamentals of the game to an enthusiastic group of 13-year-old and under soccer campers this week at the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA.

Ariail, whose Lady Cats had an outstanding 9-4 2010 season, and Ard, whose Bearcats had an outstanding 10-5 2010 season, know that camps like the one at the YMCA helped build youngsters love and enthusiasm for the game.

“During the camp, which began Monday and concludes Friday, we are teaching the youngsters the fundamentals of the game, but we are also letting them have some fun,” Ariail said.

The fundamentals referred to by Ariail are ball control, passing, dribbling, heading, defense and shooting

“We know that if they gain a passion for the game at an early age they might continue to pursue it when they get to high school,” Ariail said. “We appreciate the YMCA giving us a chance to have the camp on their field.”

Ard, like Ariail, knows that camps similar to the one they are conducting this week at the YMCA, are important in building a youth soccer foundation.

One area he was specifically working with the youngsters on was ball control.

He taught them how to maintain ball control and change direction by shifting their feet both at a slow and fast pace.

“Your ball control can determine the pace of the game,” Ard told the young campers. “You just have to be patient and move the ball up the field.”