Ram soccer goes camping

With a new head coach at the helm, and one year of competition under their belts, the Portales High School soccer team hopes to build on their surprising start last season, and they’ve begun that challenge with an off-season camp this week.

First-year Ram head coach Jonathan Smith and New Mexico youth soccer district commissioner Don Aragon are leading the group of teenage boys in everything from the fundamentals of ball control, to passing and defense.

“What we’re working on is the fundamentals of the game,” Aragon said. “Our main objective (on Tuesday) is passing and hopefully everybody will have a good time doing it.”

“I’m learning a lot of things at this camp like teamwork and the fundamentals of soccer,” PHS  junior Kevin King said.

“We want to see what type of condition they’re in,” Smith said. “We want to know what kind of skills they have and we also want to try to build on their skills as much as we can this week.”

Only 14 boys showed up on the first day of the camp on Monday, but Aragon said the small group was dedicated.

“But the 14 that we had yesterday were all excellent,” Aragon said. “They all were willing to learn and listen and that’s a big thing for me as a coach because that’s what I need to have in order to coach them is their want for the game.”

About the conditioning of the players, Smith understands his boys are in the middle of their summer break.

“They’re out of shape,” Smith said. “Any high school or junior high student at their age at this point in the summer is going to be out of shape. As (the camp) goes on, we’ll get better this week, and hopefully they’ll stick around next week for the off-season conditioning and we’ll get better and by the time the season starts, we’ll be great.

“My (conditioning) is probably not as good as everybody else’s,” King said. “I’ve kind of been lazy, but I’m getting there.”

The Rams begin two-a-days practices in preparation for the program’s second season Aug. 11.

“I’ve been impressed,” Smith said. “They’re working hard. They haven’t been questioning anything, they’ve been doing what they’re told — doing what they’re asked to do and I think they’re excited like I am.”

“I can’t wait,” King added. “I’m so excited about it.”