Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

Ballaz International has taken on the challenge of teaching junior footballers how to be 'champions' through the 11th staging of the 1st Touch Football Camp, August 14-18 and August 21-25. The camp is being staged at Jamaica College, Old Hope Road, St Andrew.

The camp, which comprises of 120 boys and girls, has been broken down into three categories with Sherrick Williams taking charge of the 3-6 age group (Lil' Ballaz), 7-11 (Jr Ballaz) is coached by Orlando Clarke and Boris Johnson, and the 12-16 group (Bigga Ballaz) is headed by Donald Stewart, Leon Gordon and André Virtue.

Tactical stuff

"We have a camp theme which is 'I am a champion'; we do believe that we have a responsibility to the kids in helping them to understand really what it means to be a champion on and off the field, so that is on one side," Ballaz director and founder Virtue said. "On the other side, we have run camps and coached the technical side, but we have done a little more this year by including tactical stuff as well," he added.

The first week of the camp which started on Tuesday will conclude today, with the second week commencing next Tuesday and ending on Saturday. It cost Lil' Ballaz $8,000 for a week or $15,000 for two weeks, while Jr and Bigga Ballaz pay $11,000 for a week or $21,000 for two weeks.

The Lil' Ballaz will be in camp from 9 a.m. to noon each day, while the Jr Ballaz and the Bigga Ballaz will undergo coaching from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the exception of Saturdays which sees camp ending at noon.

Thirty youngsters from three communities - Arnett Gardens, August Town and Mountain View/Rockfort have been sponsored to attend the camp by main sponsors PanCaribbean. Hi-Lyte is the camp's official hydration partner, with Mother's providing lunch, as well as Sunshine Snacks and GNC which provide vitamins and shakes for the children. Main Events and High Prints are responsible for equipment, tents and signs.

Ten members of Jamaica College's Pepsi and Colts team have also been given places in the camp.

"They have taught me some new tricks and it is fun and I have got a lot better," 11-year-old Zoya Smith said. "I have learnt that in football you have to do everything as a team and that communication is the key," she added.

Ten-year-old Matthew Bell, who is attending the camp for the third consecutive year, is hoping that he will improve enough to help his school.

"I have to improve to make Mona Prep's team again and so that we can win the tournament this year," Bell said.