Youngsters, ranging in age from 8 to 13, learned the fundamentals of the game of soccer this week at the first annual Future Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Lady Cats soccer camp at Centennial Field.

During camp sessions, the youngsters  worked on the basic soccer fundamentals of ball control, passing, dribbling, heading, defense and shooting.

The instructor was coach Jamie Ard who led the 2012 Bearcats to the Region 1-AAAA South Sub-Region championship and a berth in the second round of the State Class AAAA playoffs.

They opened their playoff run with a 6-4 victory over the Northside Columbus High School Patriots at Centennial Field. The victory was their 13th in 16 games and they were the first soccer team to win that many games in school history.

Ard’s team followed up the big win over Northside Columbus, which put them in the state playoff round along with 31 other Class AAAA teams. with a 3-1 home victory over the Hardaway High School Golden Hawks of Columbus, the Region 1-AAAA North Sub-Region champions.

‘”Our camp goal this week was to get participants excited about the game of soccer while they are young and let them know about our programs at the middle school and high school levels,” Ard said.

At the final camp session on Thursday, Ard urged the youngsters to continue practicing the soccer skills they learned during the week.

“I am looking forward to seeing you play in the youth soccer programs at the Bainbridge-Decatur  County YMCA,” he said.