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Ashe County Middle School head coach Alex Wray recently wrapped up his second soccer camp at Family Central.

Coach Wray’s Soccer Skills Camp featured 70 young athletes that wanted to improve their individual and team-building skills to improve for their upcoming seasons, whether it be youth league or at ACMS.

Coach Wray was also assisted by 18 varsity and junior varsity players from Ashe County High School that used this opportunity to fulfill some of the community services hours they are required to earn.

Campers were divided into three different age groups so they could practice and compete with kids around their own age.

The camp was set up to give young athletes eight different stations designed to teach a wide variety of individual skills, as well as team-building skills. Players will learn proper ball handling techniques, defensive techniques, and how to attack the ball. Groups rotated between stations every 30 to 45 minutes throughout the day. The three-day camp lasted from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

Also included for the young athletes was what Coach Wray coined as the “Soccer Olympics.” The event consisted of several different competitions, including a 100-yard sprint while controlling the ball, a longest throw-in competition, and an obstacle course where each camper had to control a ball while weaving and moving through different obstacles on the field.