OXFORD – Youth soccer players from across Chenango County sharpened their playing skills last week at a day camp run by the New York Red Bulls Training Program. The camp, sponsored by the Chenango Soccer Club (CSC), was held at the David L. Emerson Soccer Farm in Oxford.

This was the second year the CSC hosted the Red Bulls camp. According to camp coordinator Sylvia Drelich, the club was impressed by last year’s program. “We want to better soccer in this area,” said Drelich. She believes the Red Bulls camp helps the club move toward this goal by improving the skills of local soccer players.

Coaches Andy Di Duca, Tom Taylor and Will Rowlands all hailed from the United Kingdom. They enjoyed the chance to travel throughout the region and share both their knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport. “This gives us the opportunity to shape the next generation of U.S. soccer players,” said Rowlands.

The week-long program was divided into two age groups. The coaching staff worked with younger campers, age 6 to 10, on learning and improving basic individual ball handling skills. Expectations for older players, age 11 and up, were higher. They worked on ball mastery, control, tactics and game awareness.