Heads-up girls kick it at soccer camp

NEWPORT COAST — One day at Wilson Elementary School this year, Carolyn Witte made a troubling discovery. The 16-year-old Laguna Beach resident, who attends Sage Hill School, was visiting the Westside campus to tutor fourth-graders when she noticed something about the soccer field at recess: It consisted almost entirely of boys.

When Carolyn asked her students if they wanted to play soccer, the girls replied that the boys wouldn’t let them. So she decided to prove otherwise. Approaching a group of boys on the field, Carolyn asked if she could join their match.

“They’re, like, 9, and they told me, ‘Why don’t you play with Barbies?’ ” Carolyn said. “I was shocked. It was a real eye-opener for me.”

Her eyes now opened, Carolyn decided to take action. Last week, she and classmate Kirby Anderson held their first-ever Hot Shots soccer camp at Sage Hill, training fourth- and fifth-grade girls from Wilson in the fine points of the game.

For five days, Carolyn and Kirby — along with Sage Hill varsity soccer coach Amy Ray and a number of peer assistant coaches — drilled the girls in passing, kicking, blocking and other soccer techniques.

On Aug. 11, the final day, the girls formed five teams named after different soccer-playing countries and faced off in a tournament. Ultimately, England won the top prize, but all the participants went home with medals.

The Sage Hill students, who conceived their project at the end of the school year, got some powerful allies in bringing soccer to Westside girls.

Former World Cup star Julie Foudy, who ran a soccer camp that both Carolyn and Kirby attended, provided balls, while Kobe Bryant donated cleats. The Promax sports nutrition company provided money for the bus to shuttle the girls from Wilson to Sage Hill.

For the Wilson girls, though, the camp was free — and the founders wouldn’t have it any other way. Kirby noted that for many Westside children, getting into an official youth league was simply too expensive.

“Usually, playing in an organization, you have to pay, and most parents aren’t willing to do that,” said Kirby, 16, who lives in Newport Beach.

Many of the Wilson girls said they treasured their first taste of soccer. Brittany Rodriguez, 10, who grew up watching her older brother play, scored two goals in her first match on Friday. Celia Duran, 9, looked forward to splitting the soccer field with boys when school resumed in September.

“They say they’re too tough for us,” she said. “I thought coming here was a good idea, so I can come back and show them.”