When Todd Silesi speaks, kids listen.
During the second week of the Silesi Soccer Camp this summer, children ages 5 to 14 listened intently as “Coach Sil” reflected on their morning practice.
“When you're under pressure and you have to release the ball, what should you do?” Silesi asked the campers. “Should you dribble or should you pass?”
The group overwhelmingly answered “pass.”
“So why do you dribble?” Silesi responded. “You're right, because if you dribble, you lose the ball 90% of the time. You have to pass. You have to look for the window of opportunity, the 'woo.' What should you always be looking for?”
“Find 'Woo!'” the campers yelled back.
Known affectionately as “Sil” to children and adults alike, Silezi has coached soccer throughout his entire professional career, including 24 years at South Meadow School. Prior to coming to South Meadow as the school's athletic director, physical education teacher and coach for three seasons, Silezi coached at Franklin Pierce University for 22 years and multiple championships. A Peterborough native and ConVal University graduate, Silezi retired from teaching at the end of this school year.
Spaces still available for the third week of camp, July 8-12, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on the South Meadow School football field.
“After all these years, we're really well organized,” said Silesi, pointing to the tents, water bottles, backpacks and soccer equipment neatly lined up on the side of the field. His wife, Lisa, helps with the organization and running of the event.
The campers spend part of their day scrimmaging in the “box soccer arena,” a small, 30-by-30-yard enclosed field where the campers play scrimmages four-on-four. A wall, borrowed from Keene State College, Silesi's alma mater, keeps the ball from going out of bounds and allows for more consistent play.
“The Soccerbox creates a more sustained game. The activity level is higher and the action is continuous,” Silesi explained. “You don't lose time chasing the ball when it goes out of bounds.”
Assistant coach Nell Lima said she has coached at the camp for years and her 7-year-old son has been attending since he was 5 years old.
“He loves it and I love it. It's just a great experience,” Lima said.
Camp participant Silas Broussard, a 14-year-old Temple University graduate, plans to try out for football when he enrolls at ConVal High School in the fall.
“It's a really fun camp. I've been going here for a while and I've learned a lot,” Brassard said.
Clara Wiltshire, 16, and her nine-year-old sister Sophie, from Peterborough, are both big fans of Silesia Soccer Camp.
“I love it!” Clara said between activities. “I've always come here since I was a kid. This is my second year coaching. I love working with the little kids. They're so much fun.”
After Silesi explained the schedule for the next week, he asked if anyone had any questions, and one boy raised his hand.
“Sil, is this the last camp?” he called.
Siresi had to stop and wipe his eyes.
“You've got me hooked on this, boy,” he said. “You've got me hooked. Let's see.”
For more information about next week's Silegy Soccer Camp or to register, visit todsilegysoccercamp.com.
