Cochrane Minor Soccer (CMSA) held its first of what it hopes will be many summer camp this week as it continues to enhance soccer in the community.

With the assistance of a youth coach in the morning, CMSA technical director John Castrillon lead morning and afternoon sessions at the Rangers field from Monday to Thursday and attracted 12 U6/7/8 and an equal number of U12/14 players in the afternoon. 

Castrillon joined CMSA in April 2015 and he has since been using his wealth of experience and coaching skills to nurture the soccer culture in the community. The program has grown to 300 youth from about 100 and when you count in the grassroots programs there are over 500 enjoying the sport. He expects that number will continue to increase.

"I'm very excited about the progress and how we have been slowly building up this program," says Castrillion. "We've changed many things in our approach to coaching and education. It has come with challenges and we've embrace them and we're trying to do the best we can. We've definitely seen progress with the kids and players and the groups we have been training."

Castrillon has his roots in Colombia and came to Cochrane via Montreal. He played semi-pro in both Colombia and Canada in younger days and now wants to focus on the development of players both in the sport and in their character.

"My interest lies now in education; lay out the foundation for methology, how we can better, how we become more efficient competing at a higher level, and being with a World Class team allowed me to see that and allowed me to refine my methology a lot and now apply it with the kids here."

"What it comes down for me now is to share my experiences and educate people, I hope, the way we should educate people and allow them to also become pillars of our culture and to educate our kids the proper way so they'll have a positive impact on our society."

He also wants to focus on bringing back into the fold the higher level players who compete in Calgary. He says 58 took this route last year.

"This is something we're trying to fix and provide the kids with a good program here where they'll want to stay and I think we're working towards that."

Inclusion of all youth is important to Castrillon, but so is continuing to build alliances with the adult Cochrane Rangers.

"That's my goal as technical director to help build up the entire soccer program here in Cochrane.It all comes down to a collaborative relationship of sharing knowledge and helping everyone. We need to share what we have and grow from there."

He had originally intended to bring the coaches of the U17 Colombia team to the camp, but they have since qualified for the U17 World Cup being hosted by India in October and could not attend. He plans to try again next year and expand the camp to two weeks..

"We'll do it again and next year we'll bring the Colombian coaches and promote an international camp. I think it will be a great experience for the kids."