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Sports

Soccer Camp To Kickoff At Community Center

The Eddie Ballas Soccer Camp teaches kids skills, but the emphasis is on having fun

The Eddie Ballas Soccer Camp has been in existence for nine years. The 2011 edition of the camp is set to begin at the on Monday, Aug. 15, and run through the Friday of that week.

Coach Eddie Ballas, a USSF-certified coach, plans on maximizing fun and development. Children are grouped according to age and skill level. The staff consists of college and high school coaches and college players.               

The soccer camp sessions, for boys and girls include half days (9 a.m. to noon) for children ages 5 to 15 at a cost of $125 and the "First Kick" session, held from 9 to 10 a.m., for children ages 3 and 4 at a cost of $75.

Lunch is provided, and campers can purchase drinks and snacks.

Medical and registration forms must be provided and are available on the soccer camp's website.
                                               
“From 1986 to 2000 my wife and I owned a video shop on Lemoine and Washington Avenues, giving me the opportunity to become acquainted with many Fort Lee-ans," said Eddie Ballas, who along with his wife, Meryl, have been residents for 39 years. "Being a former soccer coach at all levels, I formed the soccer camp while I was still running the store. My purpose was to help train kids during the off soccer season to keep them active and in good shape. I’ve known many of the kids in my soccer camp from my video store.”

Ballas said, the camps consist of "quite a variety of children, each consisting of 60-70 kids."

"Besides running a camp at the community center in Fort Lee, I also have summer camp locations at Van Fleet Park on Myrtle Avenue that took place in June and at Veterans Park on River Road in Edgewater scheduled for Aug. 22 to Aug. 26," he said.

Meryl Ballas said the camp is "not a boot camp," and that the point is for campers to have fun while learning some soccer skills.

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"If they are having fun, they look forward to coming back," she said.  

Eddie Ballas is involved in the community as well. He helps out soccer coaches at Fort Lee High School as needed.   

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