DuPage players help kids get a kick out of soccer

In the world of athleticism, it's truly a treat when a player gets to play in the place where it all began for him or her. Even more special is chance to stay and give back to that community, to teach a game the athlete loves to those just beginning.

DuPage County's own Kevin Briars and Mark Plotkin had the opportunity to do just that.

The local players served as assistant coaches at a recent soccer camp led by the Chicago Storm, which played in the former Major Indoor Soccer League. The camp is part of a series of summer camps the Storm is hosting throughout the Chicago area.

Led by Storm coach Steve Morris and midfielder Matthew Stewart, Briars and Plotkin worked alongside the Storm personnel to teach the game of soccer to the youth of Naperville.

Plotkin, an outside midfielder for DePaul University, grew up in the area and went to Naperville North High School. He remembers going to camps like the one he's now working for when he was younger. Still, he was surprised by his new role.

"It's a lot different. I didn't realize how much work went into being a teacher. Trying to keep the kids in control and teach them basic skills. You kind of take it for granted," Plotkin said.

Briars, a junior at DePaul, plays outside midfielder and forward. He grew up in Wheaton and played for Wheaton-Warrenville South High School.

Like Plotkin, Briars went to soccer camps during summer and winter breaks when he was younger.

"Its interesting because you think back and you kind of think about when you were learning stuff like this. You can kind of think about how you're teaching them and how they act and how they respond to what they're learning. Its interesting to see the contrast," he said.

Plotkin, who works mostly with the younger kids, says some of his favorite times at camp are the quiet moments.

"The water breaks are really funny. Getting to hang out with the kids and seeing what they do. Eating lunch with them is really fun too," Plotkin said. "I love playing with the little kids."

However, fun aside, Plotkin knew that with younger kids, he had to show the children the baby steps of the games he's played since he was their age.

"Teach them the basics like ball handling. How to dribble, how to pass and which way to go," he said.

Matthew Stewart, a Storm midfielder, was well aware of both the vast age differences of the campers - from as young as 4 to as old as 15 - as well as the difference in ability.

"You get kids that are different skill levels; kids that are really good, pretty average, and kids who have never played the game before," he said. "You've got to divide them up into their skill level, and you just start coaching them from there."

Stewart bridges the campers' differences with messages of hope and hard work to encourage all the campers.

"You kind of let them know that this is where they could be if they practice. Some of them really take it to heart and go home and practice. The surprise or the good part about it is that you see these little kids grow up in a matter of a couple of years and they become really good soccer players," he said.

Briars says the campers are getting a great opportunity at the weeklong sessions.

"To get professional players coming out here, professional coaches, and help these kids work, I think it's really good to learn from the best."

Plotkin hopes that the kids leave with a love for soccer.

"It's such a fun sport." he said. "Hopefully they will take an interest and come back so we can teach them some more."

Plotkin still lives in the area, and working at the camps has led to some interesting encounters.

"It's awesome. At some camps I run into families I know," he said. "Just to be able to teach them what I was taught. Making sure kids from this area are learning the things I was taught, hopefully they can be successful."

The Storm, which plays at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, is having a series of 31 camps this summer with a number still coming up throughout the area, including a second week in Naperville. Participants can register online at Chicagostorm.net, by phone at (866) STORM-81 or on-site at the start of any camp.

Chicago Storm soccer camps

The professional indoor soccer team is running a series of weeklong camps throughout the area. Here's a look at the rest of the summer:

Dates

Today to Friday: Libertyville Sports Complex, Libertyville; Notre Dame High School, Niles; Chute Middle School, Evanston

Aug. 4-8: Chicago lakefront, near Lawrence/Lake Shore Drive intersection; Chicago Indoor Sports LLC, Chicago; Sabatino Memorial Park, Sleepy Hollow

Aug. 11-15: Camera Park, Glendale Heights; White Eagle Elementary, Naperville; Harrington Park, Riverside; Anita Stone JCC, Flosmoor; goalkeeper and striker camps only, Sabatino Memorial Park, Sleepy Hollow

Aug. 18-22: Ackerman Park, Glen Ellyn; Lippold Park, Crystal Lake

Camps

Mini-Kickers Camp: 9 a.m. to noon, ages 4-6. Cost: $125.

Half-Day Camp: 9 a.m. to noon, ages 7-17; for recreational and intermediate players to build technical and tactical skills. Cost: $125.

Full-Day Camp: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a lunch break, ages 7-17; morning focuses on technical training, such as dribbling, passing, receiving and shooting; afternoon focuses on tactical and team strategies. Cost: $160.

Striker Camp: 9 a.m. to noon, ages 7-17; focuses on goal-scoring skills and instincts to beat the goalkeeper. Cost: $125.

Keeper Camp: 9 a.m. to noon, ages 7-17; focuses on techniques and confidence for goalkeepers. Cost: $125.

Team Camp: 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m., or 5 to 8 p.m.; ages 7-17; minimum of 12 players per team. Coaching staff will run a full-week training camp for your team, focused on team concepts such as fitness, attacking, defending, tactics and set plays. Cost: $140 per player.

Details

Registration: Available by phone and online; walk-ups Also accepted at camps

Info: (866) STORM-81 or chicagostorm.net/tb/?nav=camps