SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes kicked off their 2011 Xfinity Soccer Clinic Series with a filled-to-capacity event at Starbird Park in San Jose, Calif. Wednesday night. The series will feature five free soccer clinics for kids 8-to-12 years old over the course of the summer and will be operated by Earthquakes players.
Wednesday’s clinic saw 125 local youths participate in drills and scrimmages under the guidance of Earthquakes General Manager John Doyle and players Brandon McDonald, Ike Opara, Bobby Burling, Jason Hernandez and David Bingham. Participants also took home a ticket to Saturday’s match against the Houston Dynamo, a soccer ball and autographs from the players on hand courtesy of Xfinity.
PHOTO GALLERY: Successful opener for Xfinity Soccer Clinic Series
The Xfinity Soccer Clinic Series has three additional dates finalized with one more to be announced. The next is set for Thursday, June 23 at the MacGregor Playfields in Newark, Calif. followed by Thursday, July 28 at Shorty Garcia Park in Union City, Calif. The Earthquakes have also locked in Thursday, June 30 as a clinic date with the location to be determined at a later time.
Each clinic is free and provides San Jose’s youth the opportunity to interact with Earthquakes players in a fun, interactive environment. Additionally, each participant receives a ball and match ticket to a Quakes home game. Along with the match ticket, families of all participants will receive a special offer to the same game.
Clinics run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with pre-registered check-ins beginning at 5:15 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best soccer players in the nation and top coaches from the club’s Development School about the fundamentals of dribbling, passing and shooting.
In 2010, the Earthquakes partnered with Xfinity for five successful clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area with each event drawing a capacity participation of 100 kids. To register for a 2011 clinic, visit SJEarthquakes.com/xfinity. Space is limited and registration will be on a first-come, first served basis.
Xfinity Clinic Series
Thursday, June 23 - MacGregor
Playfields, Newark, Calif.
Thursday, June 30 - Fair Oaks Elementary, Redwood City.
Wednesday, July 27 - Shorty
Garcia Park, Union City, Calif.
