Teens teach soccer to elementary students

Nearly 100 young soccer players hit the field at the Rockville Centre Athletics Complex on July 24 to participate in the annual “Kids Teaching Kids” free summer program sponsored by the RVC Soccer Club.

Chris Anderson, an RVC Soccer Club board member, said the organization has provided this soccer clinic to young athletes, between the ages of four and eight, for more than 40 years.

“With our high school-aged players doing the coaching, the themes are giving back to the community and having fun playing soccer,” Anderson said.

Every summer, during the last two weeks of July, high school and college students give back to the community by pitching in to help guide their younger counterparts with a series of drills and activities that highlight the fundamentals of the sport.

Gavin Goodlad, 19, the former captain of the South Side Cyclones’ Boys’ varsity soccer team, is a sophomore at Endicott College, where he will continue to play in the fall.

“We’ve been running this (program) just to get kids falling in love with soccer at a young age and making sure they have fun,” Goodlad said.

Goodlad has been participating in the program since he was in eighth grade. He has been volunteering his time to help coach students, and for the last three years has been organizing the event with the help of the RVC Soccer Club.

Through the years, he has seen a greater sense of familiarity and bonding between the children who participate. The program is always well attended, however, this year set the record for the highest enrollment in its more than 40-year history with roughly 250 participants.

Kids stormed the field last week, with faces full of excitement and anticipation to get to train alongside some of South Side High School’s best soccer players in recent years.

Noah Porter, 15, a first-time volunteer with the “Kids Teaching Kids” program, expressed the joy he felt to share his love of the game by teaching other aspiring young soccer players in the neighborhood.

“I like the bond that you make with teammates,” Porter, who has been playing soccer his entire life, said. “I like making bonds with the kids and letting them have a good time.”

Avery Testa, 18, and Eva Curtis, 16, who have played for the South Side Cyclones girls’ varsity soccer team, expressed their gratitude for the experiences and opportunities the program has provided them and want to encourage future generations of soccer players.

“I really love giving back to the community that raised me and helped develop my skills and my love for soccer,” Testa said.

Curtis added, “I really love raising the new generation of soccer players to come,” and said that it is special to get to mentor those who will go on to play at South Side High School.

Several of the young soccer players participating this year were eager to talk with the Herald about their thoughts on the program and the training provided by the bigger kids.

Jackson Sully, 5, shared that his favorite part of playing soccer and the “Kids Teaching Kids” program is running and having fun on the field. Vito, 6, said he enjoys playing soccer and appreciates the program. He said that his favorite part is “kicking the ball so high” with his friends and teammates.

Reese Vanaski and Teagan Burns, both 8, have previously participated in the program, with this year being both their second and third time, respectively. Both girls said they have been playing soccer for most of their lives, and that the program is a lot of fun.

“All of the teachers are really nice,” Burns said, about how the older high school and college students help give them guidance.

Robert Livingstone was one of the original creators of the program in 1982. His son, Cam, told the Herald that the “Kids Teaching Kids” program continues to serve as a testament to the effort of local youth in the community.

“Volunteerism is alive and well in our village because all of these people who are teaching these little children are volunteers from our high schools,” Livingstone said. “It’s just a wonderful place to live and raise a family, and this is one of the reasons people give back.”

For more information about “Kids Teaching Kids,” the Rockville Centre Soccer Club and other local summer camp programs visit RVCSoccer.com or visit the RVC Soccer Club’s page on Facebook.