FREDERICK -- Coach Dave Spiezio stood stone still and sputtered like a machine gun: "Ball-Ball-Ball-Ball-Ball-Ball-Ball!"
"No," said Jana Poole, 8, keeping her foot planted on the soccer ball.
Coach had said you don't pass to a player who is too close, nor to a player who isn't moving, and she wasn't going to fall for the trick like the last kid. It's all about space and movement, Mr. Spiezio had taught.
So it went, a lesson well-learned on passing at Soccer and Bible Camp Tuesday at Ballenger Creek Park, and Jana's group took its water break and rotated over to Bible class in the shade. Sixty-five children participated in the camp, offered for free by Good News Presbyterian Church.
The church meets for Bible class at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:30 a.m. at Tuscarora Elementary School. Many of the children in camp were from outside the church, said the Rev. Peter Kemeny, pastor at the church.
"I've only been telling all my neighbors," said Andrea Smith, whose two sons, Robert, 9, and Patrick, 7, participated in the free, week-long, morning program.
Ms. Smith said that free soccer camp is a big incentive for a mother of two boys--especially when the coach is a former Brunswick High School boys' soccer coach. But even better, she said the camp teaches her boys good sportsmanship and humility, which she thinks are especially important lessons for children in sports.
Hunter Crawford, 11, of Walkersville said the camp was a great workout. "I'd like to make it vacation football camp," he said.
Kelsey Engram, 8, said the camp was "awesome."
Tommy Poole, almost 10, said he enjoys the Bible passages the children study between drills with Coach Spiezio and his wife, Denise, and parent volunteers.
"When I listen to the stories, I go home and read them with my parents," Tommy said.
"I like it because I get to meet new friends," said Robert Smith, 9.
"It's been a wonderful inspiration for my son, James (9), to get him a little more athletically involved," said Lorraine Joao, who has enrolled her son for both years the camp has been run.
The Rev. Kemeny said his approach in church is conservative and oriented toward Bible study.
"The emphasis is on expository Bible teaching. We just teach our way through the books of the Bible and apply it to our lives."
Mr. Spiezio said he enjoys coaching the camp especially because the Rev. Kemeny does all the organization for him, leaving him to coach.
Mr. Spiezio also emphasizes health and safety of the children, constantly reminding them to drink water and telling them to report any injury, however small, to a parent.
After camp the children gathered in the shade of one of the parks shelters to sing songs.