Salvation Army offers free soccer classes

Kids who want to learn the game of soccer can score with two new classes that are being offered for free.

The Salvation Army's Tri Cities Corps in St. Charles is offering the soccer classes every Tuesday night in its gymnasium. The ongoing classes began in May and are open to kids between 5 and 12 years old.

"(This) gives kids a chance to learn soccer skills and a chance to play," said Cathy Winters, the health and education coordinator at the St. Charles Corps. "The kids have a great time and the parents enjoy watching."

Winters said parents with interested kids just have to show up on a Tuesday night, sign a release form and the kids can play. No registration is required and the classes are open to all levels.

Edwin Fontanez, 37, of St. Charles, coaches the soccer classes. He is an operations manager at an Elgin home improvement store who has played soccer all his life.

He wants to make sure kids whose parents cannot afford the fees to compete in soccer leagues can still enjoy the sport. He volunteers his time because of his love of the game. He started similar soccer classes for youth in Aurora after seeing kids playing in the streets before he moved to St. Charles.

The classes consist of basic soccer drills and games amongst each other, however they won't play against other teams. There are currently 12 kids enrolled. He would also like to solicit assistance from parents in the future to help him if the classes get really large.

"I just wish there were more kids," he said.

The class for 5- to 9-year-olds is from 6 to 6:45 p.m., and the class for 10- to 12-year-olds is from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m.

The Salvation Army is at 1710 S. Seventh Ave. For more information, call (630) 377-2769.