Despite heat indexes near 100 degrees, last week's Milwaukee Rampage Youth Soccer Camp (August 6-10) held at Madison Field went off without a hitch. "I'm glad it was in the morning, it was cooler then," said Kyle Stoltz a participant in the camp. Stoltz joined 80 other area youth that attended soccer camp held by three players and a coach from the A-League Milwaukee Rampage Soccer Team.
James T. Ford, grandfather of J.T. and Connor Ford, who participated in the morning camp, said, "Soccer has taken over as the number one sport. When I was young all we played was baseball. This looks like a lot more fun."
J.T., Connor and the other 40 3- to10-year-olds played "Elimination," "Buffalo de Lion," "Crocodile," "Juggling" and "Doctor, Doctor" all games that help improve their ball skills.
Alan Ruffel, assistant coach of the Rampage and players Alex Zotinca, Ollie Ellsworth and Sammy Sucevic ran double shifts working with the 11-17 year olds in the afternoon. Nearly 45 braved the hot temperatures most of the week for the opportunity to perfect their ball handling techniques and team strategy with professional soccer players. Many of the older boys used the camp as a training opportunity before Stevens Point Area Senior High School soccer tryouts.
Many campers remarked how fun it was to have real Rampage players actually do the camp and noted how much their ball handling skills improved.
All participants received a personal evaluation from the Rampage staff, Rampage ball, camp T-shirt and a ticket to the Aug. 11 Rampage home game.