Sunday will be Adam Howarth’s eighth year hosting the Advanced Soccer Camp for male high school soccer players. College coaches from every level will participate in the camp.

“We have coaches from Division II, Division III, NAIA, and about a dozen (Eastern) players,” said Howarth, Eastern’s head soccer coach.

He will need all the help he can get with all of the kids signed up for the camp.

“We have between 300 to 320 players signed up,” Howarth said.

The ages will range between 15 to 18-years-old with the grades ranging from ninth-12th grade.

In the advanced camp, the players will be taught tactical strategies and a basic formation.

“We have a theme for each week,” Howarth said. “The theme for this week will be a 4-1-4-1 formation.”

Howarth said that they teach the players the formation and explain the different roles of the formation.

One of Howarth’s favorite parts about the camp is the playtime.

“I enjoy watching them play,” Howarth said.

Howarth also mentioned that he enjoys getting together with the other coaches, and seeing the improvements with the players.

However, there are some difficulties that come along with hosting a camp.

“There are little things,” Howarth said. “Injuries are always an issue. There is also making sure everybody is where they should be, and making sure there are no behavioral problems.”

Players can come to the camp as individuals or as a team.

The players who come individually are put together on teams, and the players who come as a team stay together.

Some of the teams who have decided to come to the camp are St. Charles North and Dundee-Crown.

Howarth has already signed two players from St. Charles North.

Midfielders Austin Andrekus and Mike Picinich, have both signed with the Panthers for the 2008-2009 academic year.

According to Howarth, Andrekus and Picinich have participated in the camp the last two years but they will not be joining the camp this year.

One advantage the players have coming to the camp is the coaches.

“The kids that come to the camp get to be seen by the coaches,” Howarth said.

This could improve the players’ chances of competing at the collegiate level.

The camp will begin with registration on Sunday, July 6, and will conclude at noon on Thursday, July 10.

Molly Clutter can be reached at 581-7944 or at mkclutter@eiu.edu.