Severna Park Boys Soccer Pays It Forward

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Story and photos by Anna Grace Keller

Upwards of 150 youth soccer players lined up outside Severna Park’s newly constructed turf field with water bottles and soccer balls in hand on August 24 as the Severna Park boys varsity soccer team gave back to the community by providing a fun-filled soccer clinic for players ages five to 13.

The clinic consisted of stations designed to sharpen skills such as dribbling, shooting and passing for kids eager to learn and play.

“This is our sixth year of doing the Falcon clinic, so most of the varsity players attended the clinic when they were younger and now understand the importance to get to know and inspire the future Falcon players,” said Severna Park head coach Ryan Parisi, who is entering his seventh year leading the program. “It’s one of my favorite days of the season to watch our players inspire and interact with all of the kids.”

The current Severna Park varsity players were once young participants in these clinics, and they expressed the surreal feeling of being on the flip side as a coach.

“I grew up coming to clinics such as this one, and the instructors there were always guys that I tried to model myself after,” said senior Declan Byrne. “It’s a really great way to help the younger generation develop a love for the game as well.”

With an impressive undefeated regular season on top of county and regional titles in 2017, the Severna Park boys soccer team hopes to continue its journey of success in 2018.

Said Parisi, “We focus on striving to get better one day at a time through training, fitness, team-building activities, clinics, scrimmages and games while creating a unique bond with one another that will last a lifetime.”

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