Soccer camp a kick for dozens of kids

Noxon Youth Soccer began last fall as part of the Clark Fork Soccer Association, which graciously incorporated our program alongside other Sanders County communities such as Plains, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, and Hot Springs.

Thanks to the vision and initiative of Taylor Etienne, it became clear that if there was enough community interest and volunteer support, we could successfully bring the sport of soccer to Noxon. This program not only fills a gap for children not yet old enough for junior high athletics, but also helps them learn teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship at an early age. 

Following our first season, the volunteer coaches recognized the need for better outreach and earlier preparation for the upcoming 2025 season. To generate more awareness and engage in a broader age range, we decided to host a summer soccer camp aligned with our early bird registration period. After planning together at the close of last season, we all agreed this was the right step forward. 

To promote the camp, we shared flyers across multiple social media platforms and community groups, including the “Noxon Youth Soccer” Facebook page. The response was incredible. 

The camp was held this week at the Noxon School football field from 4-5 p.m. 

On Monday, we were thrilled to welcome 53 kids ranging in age from 4 to 14 and attendance remained strong all week. We had enthusiastic young athletes from Noxon, Trout Creek and Heron come out to participate. 

 Our primary goal for the camp was to introduce local youth to the fundamentals of soccer while creating excitement around the sport. Additionally, we aimed to involve a variety of age groups to help increase the number of teams we can form going forward. The camp featured five skill-building stations focusing on ball handling, passing, offensive and defensive techniques, and game-based learning activities that tied it all together. 

On each day of camp, Steven Mace came up with a special treat for three players that had the following: Best Sportsmanship, Most Improved, and Best Hustler. It encouraged the kids to really do their best each day. He also brought a treat every day for all the kids to cool off at the end of camp, including on the last day arranging to have the new local Noxon business, Silver Tip Junction, bring gallons of ice-cream to scoop for the players!  

We couldn’t be more excited about the level of participation and community support, and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead for Noxon Youth Soccer in 2025.