Days before the 2018 World Cup kicked off in Russia, Seymour’s soccer players were on the pitch working on their own skills.

The high school hosted its annual camp Monday through Friday last week for incoming first through ninth-graders.

SHS varsity coach Matt Dennis, and assistant coach Talmadge Reasoner, ran the camp with the assistance of players from the high school teams.

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In total, 44 campers were at the SHS Soccer Complex.

“It’s a good group of kids,” Dennis said. “We have first through third-graders in one group, and the seniors are running that team. We’ve got fourth through sixth run by coach Reasoner and the juniors. I’m running the seventh, eighth and ninth with the help of the sophomores. We use some of the (sophomore) players to add numbers.”

While the skill levels varied, all the players worked on fundamentals.

“With all the age groups, we are kind of working on the same thing — it’s just that the drills are different,” Dennis said. “At the first, second, third-grade level it’s a lot of touches on the ball, a lot of dribbling. We have them play a to of games and have them get comfortable with having the ball at their feet.

“In the middle age group, coach Reasoner spent two days with dribbling, another two with passing, and passing with dribbling, and (Friday) it (was) all shooting. It’s the same thing with the seventh through ninth grade. We’re trying to give them a little bit of everything. We end with games in hopes they use what they learned and have some fun.”

Kayden Cox, 11, said this was the fourth straight year going to the camp.

“It challenges you and keeps you fit over the summer,” Cox said. “We’ve been working on passing, shooting and many other things you do in soccer. I like the actives we do, like (Thursday) we played FIFA World Cup.”

Incoming freshman Casey Regruth said that the camp is helping him prepare for his first high school season.

“I came (to camp) after weights in the morning,” he said. “I’m going to play soccer in high school, and this is our first chance to work with (coach Dennis). We’ve worked on passing, shooting, and communication.”

Dennis said he feels it’s important for his high school program to work with the younger kids.

“This is where our guys started,” he said. “When I got this job, some of these seniors were fourth graders at the camp. Seymour soccer gave them an opportunity. Now this is their time to give back to the game.

Something we talk about at the end of every season is that I ask them to give back to the game — be a coach or go get a license to referee. The game has given them so much over the years that they should give something back to the game. I think that is what they’re doing.”