Rob Cross, left, and Colin Morow, right, were two of the coaches on hand last week for Dundalk-Eastfield Rec's Challenger British Soccer Camp.

For the past seven years, soccer players from Europe have been traveling to the United States to teach American kids how to develop a real appreciation for how the game is played.
According to Andy Yianni, one of eight soccer coaches in the program and a former semi-pro soccer player, about 120 children signed up this summer to participate in the Challenger British Soccer Program, which breaks last year's record of a little over 60 participants.
"Kids from age three to age 16 have joined together to take advantage of this opportunity,"� stated Yianni. "It's been really great to see them get so involved and be full of so much excitement, especially in these uncomfortable temperatures."
The weeklong soccer clinic took place at the North Point Government Center located on Wise Avenue in Dundalk, and began on Monday, July 5 and ran until Friday, July 9, daily from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Temperatures that week topped out at more than 100 degrees.
The cost for a full day of the soccer clinic is $158 which includes many activities, snacks and, don't forget, the opportunity to play with European soccer players. This past year, Chris Baxter took over the program which was recently handed over to him by his brother Mike Baxter who operated the clinic for the last six years.
Parents are also joining in on the excitement, especially this year with the growing popularity and interest within the program.
"Both my daughter and son are enrolled in the weeklong camp, and I absolutely love to watch them out there on the field. It's a great experience for them to see the cultural difference in sports,"� acknowledged parent Rodi Maul.
Maul also added that three of the soccer players actually stayed in his home throughout the week, which he admitted was very cool.
Yianni believes the reason so many of the kids are so excited about the camp is because of one game in particular called the "World Cup".
"They love when we break them into groups because each group represents a country such as Argentina, Italy, France and so on. Once we do that, they compete against each other to see what group or country will win," smiled Yianni.
If this sounds like something you believe your child would be interested in, then don't wait another minute. Visit www.challengersports.com to register today for a program near you, so that you can make sure your child will enjoy a new understanding and appreciation for what soccer is all about.