Soccer is a well-known sport around the world, and most importantly at Powell High School. Students enjoy their soccer season during the months of March through May. Although the outdoor season only lasts a short three months, some students practice year-round.
Recently, the high school boys’ head coach, Dave Gilliatt, has been aiming to incorporate higher-level players into both the boys and girls high school teams.
“We try to have one joint practice each spring as a tune-up for both teams,” Coach Gilliatt said. “It’s good for the high school to share a field with the highest level before any actual games.”
This provides a great practice opportunity for PHS soccer players to see what they’ll be up against during the season.
“It helps for them to see what is possible for them if they continue to work hard and focus on fundamentals,” Coach Gillatt said. “Keeps them humble.”
Players have noticed an improvement in their playing because of their practices with the college. The college practice times give the players a glimpse of the faster-paced play.
“I have only played against and with them in a game/scrimmage,” senior Ivy Agee said. “The only benefit was just playing against older players and getting more of the college feel.”
Agee will be attending and playing Division II soccer at Black Hills State University in the fall. College soccer moves at a much faster pace than high school, so it’s good for players to play against that.
As well as getting some practice time with the college, some players practice at camps over the summer. One player spends some of her summer in Provo, Utah, running around the sports fields of Brigham Young University.
“Going to the BYU soccer camp has given me really good opportunities to get the feel of what playing in college really looks like,” junior Ava Gillatt said. “At the camps, I’ve been able to get coaching from the players and the college coaches.”
Soccer takes skill and practice, and working in the off-season is a key factor in keeping up with the competition. Soccer camps are a great way to be able to improve skills.
“This has improved my knowledge of the game as well as my technical abilities,” Gilliatt said. “It helped me to better get to know the sport.”
Although practice with just high school is good, the skills only go so far. Players find that college practices and camps help significantly.
“We would have trainings for defending, shooting, passing, and dribbling,” Gilliatt said. “That’s helpful for all positions.”
Soccer is made up of many different components, so practicing all of these is crucial.
“[Practicing with the college] prepares them mentally and physically for the best players they might face at the high school level,” Coach Gilliatt said. “They will not play against anyone at the high school level in Wyoming better than the guys at the college.”
All in all, the college and high school playing time together really improves skills everywhere. Between the newly developed skills, higher-level competition, and a peek into the season, practicing with the college has really helped the PHS soccer teams.
