APU Summer Sports Camps

August 08, 2008 | Written By Lauren Vroom '09

Azusa Pacific University's summer sports camps drew youth participants from the surrounding areas throughout June and July. The university offered local youth and elite athletes alike the opportunity to attend soccer and softball camps to develop their skills and learn about teamwork.

The soccer camps kicked off with APU's youth camp, hosted by head coach Phil Wolf, assistant coaches Dave Blomquist and Dan Wood, and the nationally-ranked Cougar men’s and women’s soccer players. The co-ed youth clinics for ages 5-14 took place on the West Campus soccer fields July 7-10. The coaches and Cougar players incorporated top-level instruction with fun games and competitions for the campers, leaving all who took part with a feeling of accomplishment, and a new love for Cougar-style soccer.

The final soccer camp of the summer was new to the APU summer camp schedule. The High School Elite Residential Camp, designed to give high school players first-hand experience of what it means to play at the collegiate level, took place July 28-31. APU coaches and players, along with club and college coaches from Southern California directed the players in a challenging environment designed to give players a taste of the next stage of competition.

"Both weeks of camp were excellent," said women's assistant soccer coach Dan Wood. "The campers had so much fun, and it is such a positive experience for them."

The softball program also offered a variety of camps this summer. Cougar softball coaches and players shared in the fun with their campers as they hosted a two-day team camp, a four-day elite team camp, and four-day individual all-around and advanced camp throughout the months of June and July on the APU softball field on West Campus.

"The campers were taught the importance of discipline, confidence, and enjoying the game from women who know what it takes to play collegiate softball," said Lori Shimasaki, assistant coach and camp director. "They worked hard, and the overall atmosphere was positive and encouraging."

This summer's camps provided quality instruction in a caring, encouraging atmosphere as APU athletes reached out to local youth and elite athletes, showing them how to compete and play with the character of a true champion.