Upcoming World Cup brings a different buzz to local youth soccer camps

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri is in the midst of the most soccer-crazed summer in the state's history, as the first World Cup game in Kansas City is just under two weeks away. As those match ups quickly approach, the excitement spans all the way from adults to kids, who are just getting interested in the game.

This week, the Sporting KC Youth Soccer coaches - affiliated with the professional soccer team in Kansas City - made the trip down I-70 to host a four-day youth camp for kids from ages five to 14. As members of Sporting look to pass down the game to the next generation of players, they put a focus on improving their game tactics and making memories. Over the course of those four days, Mid-Missouri kids were challenged in skill development, form and technique and in-game decision making.

"We do probably 20 camps around in the summer. We do it all over the Kansas City metro and then we hit all of our affiliate markets, so Columbia, Omaha, Lincoln and Des Moines," Heath George, one of Sporting KC's coordinators for youth programs, said. "We try to give them as memorable and as fun of an experience as we can. Obviously, some have been here before, so trying to find something that's different and adding something new every single year. But, it's just passing the game on to the next generation and trying to involve the World Cup as much as we can."

George, as well as his fellow coordinator of youth programs Mason Visconti, said that over the course of these past few days, plenty of their campers have been asking about the World Cup. In fact, some are even planning on going to some of the games out in Kansas City.

While the eyes of the world will turn to not just the United States, but to Kansas City as well, Sporting KC said this is a unique opportunity for kids who are just getting into the game of soccer to watch some of the best players in the world on TV.

"It's a very beautiful game. I'm glad it gets a little bit more attention," George said. "It's fun to see the greats, like Lionel Messi and then being able to see people from the MLS be represented at the World Cup and seeing that the league has grown a lot. Not just growing in America, but also all over the world."

Of course, the World Cup will bring the best from around the entire world to the United States, but both George and Visconti said the talent in Missouri over the years has been impressive, as well.

"I grew up in Missouri and started playing soccer for Sporting KC Academy and there's a lot of talent here," Visconti said. "I would say more talent than one would think, even with the smaller population compared to like California, Texas and those kinds of states. There's a lot of good players that come out of Missouri."

Over the years, soccer has been booming in the state of Missouri. There are more club teams, semi-pro squads and even professional teams than ever. With that growing interest, it makes camps like the ones that Sporting KC holds all the more important.

"It's nice to see kids from all over Missouri get an opportunity to try and chase their dreams of being a professional soccer player," George said.