Pine Belt Youth Descend on William Carey University

Hattiesburg, MS, July 24, 2008 - William Carey University men’s soccer coach Nigel Boulton, women’s soccer coach Danny Owens, and softball coach Wendy Hogue had their hands full this week as over 266 Pine Belt area youth took part in softball and soccer camps on the William Carey Campus.

The camps started this past weekend as William Carey women’s soccer coach Danny Owens hosted a residential team camp. Teams from Pascagoula, Gautier, Gulfport, Pearl River Central, and Menard out of Alexandria, LA, attended the camp.

“The team camp was a huge success,” said Coach Danny Owens. “We ended up with 88 players who had an excellent opportunity to play, train, and receive instruction.” Special guest instructor Mike O’Neal along with several current and former Crusaders team members assisted with the Camp.

O’Neal is visiting Carey from Ireland where he is youth development director for the Arsenal Football Club and serves as a scout in the Belfast area.

The Carey soccer day camp was held in conjunction with the Hattiesburg Youth Soccer Association and hosted 78 players ranging from ages 5 to 13. “Our numbers are up 25% from last year,” said William Carey men’s coach Nigel Boulton. “It is absolutely magnificent to see so many young people interested in soccer.”

The camp is designed to generate an outstanding soccer experience which will increase each camper’s knowledge of the game using qualified coaches and instructors. Campers learn the technical, tactical, psychological, and fitness aspects of the game.
 
Instruction is conducted by Carey head coaches Nigel Boulton and Danny Owens, graduate assistants coaches Flourent Sourice and Courtnie Prather, and Mike O’Neal.

For Sourice this camp marks his final week at Carey. Sourice receives his Masters of Business Administration degree and returns home to Anjou, France.  Sourice was an All-American Goalkeeper for Coach Nigel Boulton and served as graduate assistant coach this past season. “Carey and Hattiesburg have been my home for over five years and I have enjoyed every minute,” said Sourice.

The Carey Fast-pitch Softball All-Skills camp enrolled 100 players. The camp is broken into a morning session for ages 8-12 and afternoon session for ages 13-18. Instruction covers all aspects of fast-pitch softball.

“This is our fifth year to conduct the camp and the turnout and talent level has been outstanding,” said head coach Wendy Hogue.  “We have had eight players that have attended all five years and at least twenty that have attended for four years. It is just a thrill to see these young ladies grow and improve over the years.”
Head Coach Wendy Hogue, assistant coach Craig Fletcher, and several current and former Lady Crusader softball members also provide instruction.

An unidentified camper practices with others during the William Carey University Soccer camp held in Hattiesburg.