ROYAL CITY - According to organizer Perla Garcia, the first UK Elite soccer camp for youths in Royal City the week of July 21-25 was a success.

Perla was hoping for at least 16 participants so that the UK Elite program would return next year and in the future. It attracted 22 youngsters.

"Everyone looked very eager to start the soccer camp, and every day the kids were super excited to see what the coaches had for them," Perla said.

The camp was for two age groups - 5-8 years and 9-16 years. The campers were introduced to soccer games and activities from Brazil, England, Spain, Holland and the USA.

"All our kids loved it," soccer mom Annalee Brown said. "They liked being from a different country each day when they scrimmaged. They enjoyed learning new skills and then getting to use them when they scrimmaged."

Soccer mom Aidee Morales was pleased by the encouragement the coaches gave the youngsters. She said they were never bored and became creative.

"I appreciated the evaluation at the end," Brown said. "It was helpful and interesting."

Each day the participants practiced a specific skill the same way a particular country does. At the end of each day they played a short scrimmage, and the winning team got a make-believe World Cup.

"All the kids looked forward to the games and played extra hard to win," Perla said.

Perla noted the parents were "really"supportive. Every day someone brought a cooler of water and ice for the kids to drink.

"It was really nice to see our kids' soccer skills improve in only five days," Perla said. "It was very successful, and I hope that next year we get an even better turnout."

Perla put this effort together after she came to realize the children in Royal City need these sorts of camps in order for them to be as competitive as the other schools.