NATCHEZ — Two professional soccer coaches stormed the Adams County Christian School field Tuesday with passion and energy to make “great” players out of the area youth players at the British Soccer Camps 2014.

Coaches Kurtis Graves, 20, and Matthew Slack, 21, bring the type of enthusiasm and fun mixed with hard work and competitive drills that keep young players interested, and the group of boys in the evening session of camp were eager to learn from the pros.

“Don’t be good, be great,” Slack said stating his motto.

Girls 13-18 participated from 8 to 11 a.m. daily, and the boys take part during the evening from 5 to 8 p.m.

The girls’ session is filled with ACCS soccer players learning to improve as a team, and senior midfielder/goalie Anna Kate Scott said she sees improvement already.

“The biggest thing that beats us every year is communication and passing, and that’s all we’ve been doing the first two days and we’re improving,” Scott said. “We learned six different types of passes and we don’t move on until everyone has it down.”

As the boys group practiced their juggling, Slack kept them entertained by doing tricks with his soccer ball. He flipped it from his foot and in an instant it would disappear under his shirt, and just as quickly, several players were trying to master a trick that took Slack years to perfect.

But it wasn’t always fun and games, Graves and Slack spent time working on the details of passing and dribbling the ball and controlling their bodies all the while.

Graves said each drill he teaches the players is meant to improve their fundamental and motor skills.

One drill separated the camp into three groups and one goalie, and focused specifically on two-man passing and cutting for the goal.

“This drill is a combination play, and not only is it fundamental, but we use our special awareness and control as well,” Slack said,

“The kids have been outstanding, they have been the most excellent listeners and they want to learn.”

The camp will continue throughout the rest of the week, with girls ages 13-18 at the ACCS field from 8 to 11 a.m., and boys ages 13-18 from 5 to 8 p.m.

To register, email Jimmy Allgood at jimmy-allgood@adamschristian.org or call at 601-597-6658.