Before stepping back on the pitch for the 2017 United Soccer League season, Louisville City FC Assistant Coach Daniel Byrd and players are offering the chance to play with the pros at a series of specialized sessions for local kids.
Signups are now open for LouCity’s Spring Youth Camps, which for $149 include four weekly, hour-long sessions as well as a replica home jersey, 10 percent off the club’s summer camps and two weeks of access to the Baptist Health Performance Training center.
“In the fall, myself and several of our pro players conducted a series of technical clinics for kids,” said Byrd, who’s back for his third season with LouCity Head Coach James O’Connor. “We limited the numbers to make sure each player received lots of attention and structured the training so it was position-specific in a smaller area to hone in on the technical aspects of the game.
“The camps were a huge success, and we really enjoyed helping the kids develop their game. It was great to see how quickly the sessions sold out. I’m sure this time it will be the same.”
Dates for the Spring Camps are all on Sundays — Feb. 26, March 5, March 12 and March 19 — at the Baptist Health Performance Training center located at 12101 Sycamore Station Place. Children ages 8-12 are eligible to sign up and train by position group.
From 4-5 p.m. each week, Byrd and LouCity players will work with defenders. From 5-6 p.m., it’s the midfielders’ turn. Forwards then go from 6-7 p.m.
Byrd, who has so far coached LouCity to consecutive second-place finishes in the quickly growing United Soccer League, previously worked for Orlando City SC’s youth squad and played collegiately for Johnson University in Tennessee from 2000-2004.
As for the perks, the home replica jerseys in purple normally retail at $70. Access to Baptist Health Performance Training (previously known as D1 Sports Training) includes up to six hour-long classes per week. From Monday-Friday, sessions are available at 4:30 and 7 p.m. for kids ages 12-15; those ages 7-11 can attend a 6 p.m. class.
Find the signup form for the club’s Spring Camps below. For more information, contact LouCity’s director of operations, Brandon Morris, at bmorris@louisvillecityfc.com.
