First (free!) clinic of ‘24 - in the books!

We've developed a great relationship with a great group.

At a terrific Pleasant Grove school everyone calls STAG, a highly motivated teacher and leader has cobbled together a soccer program. It's unofficial, but well-crafted and highly organized.

Ana Sepulveda has created five teams from the School for the Talented and Gifted (4th - 8th grades). She heads the program with assistance from other volunteer staff at the school, but the task is even bigger than that.

Even on a cold day, we had 40+ good boys and girls for this one

Because there is precious little infrastructure in Pleasant Grove youth soccer -- little to no rec soccer and nothing particularly higher level until the kids reach one of the better high school programs -- she has to go find competition and matches. It's not easy, but she usually manages to find something for her kids. (I tell her all the time, they are lucky to have her.)

To get their spring season going, Pleasant Grove Soccer and Sports ran a one-day clinic on Jan. 13. We just barely got ahead of the latest push of arctic air; it was chilly, but mostly sunny and almost ideal for a three-hour clinic.

We worked with the players (some advanced, some just intermediate) on

• Shielding and turning out of pressure

• Pass / receive and doing the simple things right

• 1 v 1 skills -- attacking AND defending

They have indoor games for February and March, then into their outdoor spring season.