Ohio soccer players reach out to Youth

by Eric Pfahler
For The Post

The Ohio soccer program will conduct a youth clinic April 28 to help children improve their playing ability.

It will focus on skills such as passing, dribbling, shooting and heading. The clinic, slated for the Shafer Street Varsity Complex, will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 3 p.m.

Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said the event should be a great opportunity for children to meet the Ohio players and learn the fundamentals of the game.

"It should provide a good basic overview of skills," Strauss said.

All children ages 6-14 are eligible to participate for a $15 fee. Players must bring a soccer ball, shin guards, water bottle and appropriate shoes. Participants also should have medical insurance.

The clinic will be on one field, so only 70-75 players can participate. Pre-registration will run until April 20. Players can pay at the gate if there still are spots available.

Ohio goalkeeper Vanessa Dennis said she thinks the event will be a good opportunity to interact with the kids.

"Some of the Athens kids have come to our games, and it would be nice to meet them and play with them," Dennis said.

Checks should be made payable to Ohio Soccer. They can be mailed to Ohio Soccer, at The Convo. For more information, call Strauss at 740-593-2990.

Coach speaks to Boy Scouts

Ohio football coach Brian Knorr was the featured speaker at the seventh annual Boy Scouts Leadership Awards Dinner Tuesday night.

Knorr spoke before Scouts and Scout leaders from Meigs and Athens counties.

He said he felt honored to be chosen to give the speech.

"I basically tried to relate leadership values that I have come across," Knorr said. "Basically values that I obtained from the Air Force Academy."

Knorr also said he felt the Ohio football program looks for similar values to those instilled in Boy Scouts.

"We're in a business where we're trying to develop kids with good character," Knorr said. "The Boy Scouts do that."

The dinner was designed to show support for people in the community who have strengthened the backbone of area youth programs. The honored members included Mike Brooks of Rocky Shoes & Boots and Shelley and Larry Conrath of Athens.