NATCHEZ — Adams County Christian School is continuing the development of its fledgling soccer program with its first ACCS girls’ and boys’ soccer camp this week.

The camp featured Copiah-Lincoln soccer coach Trey Woodham as the primary instructor for the approximately 55 ACCS soccer players that came to the camp, Rebel soccer coach Jim Allgood said.

“(The turnout) is unbelievable. We’re happy, delighted,” Allgood said.

Allgood said he is also pleased with the way soccer is catching on at ACCS.

“We have approximately 430 students, K through 12, and 60-plus kids in (grades) six through 12 are soccer players for AC,” he said.

Allgood said he and Woodham are working on the basics with the players during this week’s camp.

“Last year we basically learned to ride with training wheels, this year we are taking the training wheels off,” he said. “In years to come I want it to be like were riding a unicycle.

“The camp is about educating the kids on the right way to play the game so we can fast forward to catch up with teams from Jackson, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Meridian and Baton Rouge that are in our league,” Allgood said.

Allgood said he wants his players to understand the importance of dribbling, passing and building offense from a foundation of strong defense, and that is the focus of this camp.

The camp is for all ACCS soccer players, and Allgood said the camp features experienced players to players that are just learning the game. All campers will be members of one of the four Rebel soccer teams this fall, he said.

“Every kid out here has joined the team,” Allgood said.

One of the players new to the game that joined the Rebel soccer team was upcoming 10th-grader Brandis White.

White said the first day of camp was her first to play soccer, but through some of the drills taught at the camp she is already improving.

“I came to learn to get better, and (soccer) looks fun,” she said. “It’s something new I wanted to try, and I want to get better, and it keeps me active.”

White said her favorite part of camp is when the teams scrimmage.

The camp is broken up into a morning session, which focuses on drills and soccer education, and a night session, which gives the players a chance to scrimmage, Allgood said.

One of ACCS’s most experienced players, Kevin Campbell, is also benefiting from this year’s camp, he said.

“(Camp’s) going good, we’ve gotten to learn a bunch of different drills and technical things on situations that we haven’t heard before,” Campbell said.

Campbell, a 6-foot-tall, 315 pound rising senior, said he has been playing soccer since he was 4 years old, and his love for the game has kept him coming back each season.

“First of all (soccer) helped me keep in shape,” he said. “It’s a game that I could get out and have fun, and my cousins were playing, and it’s just a fun, active sport you can get out and meet people.

“I love it, I got addicted to it. It’s a sport big kids can play, and not be limited by their size and lack of speed.”

Campbell said he was on ACCS’s inaugural boys’ team his freshman season, and the team continues to improve each year.

Allgood said he hopes Woodham’s presence will not only instill the philosophies and attitude that Woodham teaches his players, but also create a pipeline where future Rebel players will have the opportunity to play collegiate soccer.

Allgood said the camp required a $25 fee that went towards buying shirts for the campers, food for the evening matches and also to pay Woodham for his time and travel.

Allgood said the girls’ season begins Aug. 10, and the team has come a long way since it started. He said he expects to see an improved team this fall.