RSL clinic proves a big success among Catholic kids

Intermountain Catholic

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The kids participating in the Real Salt Lake clinic were taught basic skills, like dribbling, from the RSL Youth players and staff. IC photo/Jenn Sparks

WEST JORDAN – Real Salt Lake team members presented for the first time a soccer clinic for the teams of different Catholic parishes in the new Father Carley sports field of Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Church.

Saul Garcia, who organizes the teams, said the July 6 clinic was possible through hard work and perseverance and that these type of events are very important to motivate the kids to become involved and stay involved in sports.

"This is the first time (Real Salt Lake) has done a clinic for the Catholic community," said Garcia. "This time they are going to teach the kids how to play professional soccer, and one of the main players of RSL is going to be here with us, sharing time with the kids and giving autographs and taking pictures."

This season about 250 kids are participating in different Catholic teams and some were left out because there were too many people interested in participating, Garcia said.

The league has grown; it started just with the kids of the families of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, but now kids from different parishes and even non-Catholics have joined. Among the league sponsors are the University of Utah’s organ donation clinic, the Clinica Medica Familiar, some supermarkets and tax offices. This year, RSL offered its support.

As a matter of fact, due to all the support they have received from RSL, 11 kids from the league will be escorted by RSL players onto the field for a Major League Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 6.

"Our kids are also going to play a mini-game at the stadium during the half time of the game," said Garcia.

The Catholic kids soccer league is named ‘Liga de Santa Teresita,’ honoring Father Martin Diaz, pastor of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, who has been a great support for them.

The clinics conducted by the RSL Youth Soccer staff, players and coaches, are geared towards children ages 5-17. During the one at St. Joseph the Worker, the kids were divided into two groups: one for ages 5 to 10 and the other for 11- to 17-year-olds.

"I’m very happy for all this," said Monica Hernandez, who took her son Martin to the clinic. "I love the fact that he does sports and I want him to keep doing it instead of playing video games or watching TV."

During the clinic the kids learned how to prepare for a game, practiced control of the ball, coordination and speed.

"These types of events are important to keep the kids busy in healthy activities so they are not just there wasting their time," said Nora Durazo, who learned about the clinic through the Internet. "We go to the Cathedral of the Madeleine, but I like to bring my kid to this league."

During the clinic, Jamison Olave, the RSL defense player, appeared in the field and just in seconds he was surrounded by the kids and their parents, who made a line and waited for their turn to shake his hand, take a picture and get an autograph from the player.

The Liga de Santa Teresita season finals will take place July 16, at noon on the Saint Joseph the Worker field.