Sports

Budding Soccer Stars Refine Skills in Local Camp

The Raider Soccer Camp is run by longtime high school soccer coach Tom Breznitksy.

The skies opened on the Raider Soccer Camp Monday afternoon and campers headed for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School gymnasium to continue instruction.

Outside, longtime high school soccer coach Tom Breznitsky sat in a golf cart waiting for the sun to reappear. His son, Ryan, a recent graduate of Rutgers University and a standout player in both high school and college, made his way out of the school and looked into the sky—it was indeed clearing.

“Bring 'em back out,’’ his dad said.

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The kids headed back to the fields for some scrimmage. Breznitsky, who has been head coach of the SP-F boys for 32 years, was recently named to the New Jersey Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He’s in his 17th year of directing the camp and has seen countless youngsters learn and refine their games and mature into fine players, who've gone on to high school and collegiate success.

More than 100 children from the first through ninth grade this week are being mentored by experienced soccer coaches like Scotch Plains native Eric Ruano, who played for Breznitsky, leading the Raiders to state championships in 1991 and 1992. He went on to have an outstanding career at Radford University in Virginia where he was a captain. Several former Scotch Plains-Fanwood players are part of the staff.

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“They come out for the love of the game,’’ said Breznitsky, who has a 545-125 record at Scotch Plains-Fanwood and is one of the top three winningest coaches in New Jersey. “We say to our coaches, you fine tune what we do. You have been through it, you have played the game. You don’t have to go strictly by the coaches manual. You can base it on your own experience and switch it up.’’

The camp is supposed to be fun, Breznitsky said. The way the children ran up and down the field turf varsity field, dribbling, passing, shooting and shouting—there was no question they were doing just that. Below the varsity field, more children learned about the world’s most popular game. Breznitsky said that each camper gets a shirt and soccer ball.

The camp is co-ed and for the most part, girls and boys are separated. On Monday, the players learned to refine their dribbling skills. Children are grouped by their experience and ability levels. That can be tough, Breznitsky said. Novice through experienced players come to the camp.

The first week of camp was held July 6 through 10. This week’s camp runs through Friday. First through fourth grade players are out on the field from 9 a.m. to noon, while older players go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At the end of the day, a review of that day’s drills is given by instructors.

“They break it down and review the day with each coach in their group,’’ Breznitsky said.

There will be three-on-three games for older players and awards will be given out at week’s end in different categories, including competition skills and others for outstanding offensive and defensive players in each group.


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