C.R. Rampage United players, coaches share love of soccer through summer camps

CEDAR RAPIDS — From its inception, the idea of adding an outdoor team to the Cedar Rapids Rampage professional indoor franchise came with the intention of building year-round player chemistry and lasting connections within the community.

Throughout the summer, the players and coaches of the Cedar Rapids Rampage are doing that through youth soccer camps.

'They come in with that passion to learn,' Rampage United midfielder John Pachar said. 'It makes it fun. They're all ready to learn. They're excited. They want to do every drill. They want to do every game.'

Rampage players and coaches instruct the campers – who range in age from four to 14 – through a variety of drills through the week-long camp. The first two days are reserved for dribbling and passing instruction, followed by shooting, crossing and receiving drills.

'We do some drills where we teach them some moves and then we'll see them in the games,' said Pachar, an Illinois native who led NAIA Robert Morris University (Peoria, Ill.) in goals and assists last season. 'They're actually using the moves … so it's fun watching that they're actually catching on to the things we teach.'

Amana, Cedar Rapids and Marion hosted the first trio of sites, while the remainder of the summer will branch out to areas such as Anamosa, Independence, Iowa City and Vinton-Shellsburg. Details can be found on the team website.

'A lot of these kids know already what the Rampage is all about,' Pachar said. 'So they're really excited seeing that the players and the coaches are involved in the camps.'

The Cedar Rapids Rampage United outdoor team (2-1-2, 8 points) will face the Croatian Eagles in a Premier League of America game Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Clark Field.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com