Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire men’s soccer team recently volunteered at the Knox County YMCA by holding a clinic for children.

The team ran the YMCA’s Preschool Soccer Clinic for 3 to 5 year olds over a two week period in late April.  The clinic focused on introducing the children to group activities and sports – including the game of soccer.

Head men’s soccer coach Matt Edwards said it was a great experience for the team.

“It is nice to be able to give back to our game while serving our community.  I think our team learned some valuable lessons in communication, empathy, and had a whole lot of fun doing it!”

Edwards said the team looks forward to working with the YMCA and supporting the development of soccer in Galesburg in the future.

Junior Dillon Kostka enjoyed the time he spent working with the youth at the YMCA.

“I never anticipated how hard it would be to teach the game of soccer.  It was a very fun experience,” he said.  “Watching the children progress day-by-day and seeing their excitement was the highlight of the clinic.”

Justin Inskeep, associate executive director of the Knox County YMCA, said the Knox men’s soccer team did a great job and the YMCA thanks the squad for volunteering.

“I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of knowledge and patience that the facilitators had with the group of preschoolers.  At the YMCA, we pride ourselves in teaching the four core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in all that we do.  The Knox soccer team exemplified those core values and made a huge impact on everyone involved in the clinic.”

The men’s soccer team is looking to run more camps and clinics in the future.