ROCKINGHAM - For the 18th consecutive summer, the Richmond Senior High School soccer program will host its annual development camp. But it will be the first time with two co-directors running the show.
With 30-year veteran head coach Bennie Howard officially retiring from Richmond County Schools last week, newly announced head coach Chris Larsen will step up and captain his first summer camp alongside Howard.
“When we started this camp, we only had 29 campers come out the first year,” Howard said, also adding that this will be his last go-around at running the camp. “It has continued to grow in size, and Chris has helped out (the last six years). With him being co-director this year, it’ll help him get ready to run the program. I’m excited to be able to do it one more time.”
The four-day camp will be held from Monday, June 25, through Thursday, June 28, at RSHS’ soccer facility, and is open to local male and female players ages six to 18. Each day, camp will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and campers will receive a t-shirt for their participation.
Last summer, 110 local youth players from Richmond and Scotland counties participated in the camp, and both coaches hope to see that number increase this year. For one player, camp is $65 if that player is signed up before the first day -- late registration, which is June 25, is $70. For families with more than one participating camper, the cost is $120 for two and $165 for three.
With spots filling quickly, those wanting to participate are encouraged to sign up ahead of time by contacting RSHS at 910-997-9812.
Larsen isn’t new to the Richmond soccer scene, as he played for four years under Howard before spending the last six seasons as the junior varsity head soccer coach. Heading into his first season as the program’s head varsity coach, Larsen is looking forward to the opportunity to get things rolling.
“I attended as player, and helped out for the last 6 years,” Larsen said. “We’ve had different turnout numbers, and we have a lot pre-registered for this year. We’re always looking to get the camp to grow and get kids touching the ball more then when they’re playing. There will be good quality coaches this year, and the kids will learn something new and hopefully apply it to whatever their aspirations are with soccer.”
Richmond’s camp will be aimed at welcoming and encouraging new players to the sport, while also giving top-tier quality instruction to developing high school and middle school players. Campers will participate in a variety of on-field drills, including instruction on the correct ways to pass, trap, finish, and cross a soccer ball, maneuver and communicate on the field, while also emphasizing proper shooting techniques and boosting soccer IQ.
“There will be different age groups, but the main focus for all the groups will be to improve on skill moves,” Larsen explained. “We’ll do one-on-one drills and quick passing games -- the biggest thing is to teach the proper way to make quality passes and traps, get the ball off your feet and do something with it.
“With the older kid, we’ll focus on the fundamentals in the early part of the week,” Larsen added. “Then later in the week we’ll have some eight-on-eight scrimmages to put their skills to use, and give the goalies some live action.”
Richmond’s participation numbers continue to grow each summer, and with the added interest comes additional help from distinguished area coaches. Helping Larsen and Howard will be Larsen’s wife Ashleigh, who assists the Lady Raiders’ soccer team and is the head volleyball coach at RSHS. Also helping out this year will be Tad Hamilton, who has been tasked as the new boys junior varsity head coach.
Coaches not associated with Richmond who will lend a helping foot are Colin McDavid, Danny Villa and Brandon Standridge. All three have helped out in past camps, with Howard calling them “cornerstone pieces” to the camp’s success.
McDavid is the longtime head coach at Hoke County High School and Villa coaches boys and girls soccer at High Point Central High School. Standridge brings some collegiate coaching experience to the pitch, as the former four-year starter at Richmond is the head women’s coach at St. Andrews University.
Also on staff will be former Lady Raider standout soccer player and UNC Wilmington volleyball commit Altman Griffin, who will be working with the younger group of kids.
“I’m really excited to be able to teach the kids some of the skills I learned over the years,” Griffin said. “I’m looking forward to helping the kids out and assisting Bennie in having another great camp.”
As explained by Howard, all of the funds raised from the soccer camp, after paying for the t-shirts, will go straight into the soccer program’s general fund for the upcoming season.
This past school year, both Richmond varsity soccer programs found success. The Raiders finished with an 11-9-1 overall record and made it to the second round of the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament. The Lady Raiders broke the school’s single-season wins record this spring, posting a 17-6 overall record, which was good enough to host an opening round playoff game in the state playoffs, the first time since 2004.
“The ultimate goal for camp is for us as coaches to see new faces, and see what’s coming up for the future,” Larsen closed. “And it’ll be nice to see how the high school and returning players have developed since they were younger players. I’ve seen many of them grow up and progress doing the stuff they’ve been taught to do. The biggest thing is to get kids excited about playing soccer and getting better at playing the sport.”
