It’s that time of year again when family and friends spend time with one another. Although the holidays are a time for all to relax, a dedicated group of high school and college students decided to give back to the community and share their love of soccer.
Among them was Patrick Li, a freshman at the University of Michigan and the co-founder and Coaching Director of Love Joy Passion Soccer (LJPSoccer). Patrick Li is a national “D” license soccer coach. He rented the field, bought the necessary equipment, and oversaw logistical aspects of the camp. Other LJPSoccer team members, including Alex Mui, Ray Sun, Samantha Zhu, Ethan Qui, Vallerie Sun, and Allen Lin, worked together with Patrick Li. Through their efforts, they created an environment to not only hone the skills of the young players, but also spread smiles and holiday cheer.
From January 2nd to January 5th 2024, practices took place at Knox Hall in Ward Church. The LJPSoccer team worked tirelessly to encourage the love of the sport. The young participants were split into several groups varying by age. The coaches made sure to personalize the drills and activities of each group to best reflect the skill levels of the players. Sessions, spanning two hours each day, focused on refining dribbling, passing, and shooting abilities through engaging activities. In addition, the coaches incorporated small games to get the players to move more and warm up.
The LJP team demonstrated leadership and encouragement as they gave guidance to the participants, further promoting the growing passion for soccer. Friendly yet competitive scrimmages were held between the coaches and players, allowing players to apply the techniques. Contrasting with the cold Michigan weather outside, the indoor environment provided a warm and welcoming haven that not only made the experience educational, but also socially enriching.
The camp ended with a heart-warming gesture brought forth by the LJPSoccer team – the distribution of gifts to all players. Witnessing the children's faces light up with excitement as they received their little goodies created a magical moment that perfectly symbolized LJPSoccer's mission.
LJPsoccer is a Novi-based nonprofit organization started in 2021 by a group of high school students. Their mission is to give young children in our community the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game of soccer with the core values of Love, Joy, and Passion. For more information, go to https://www.ljpsoccer.org or email ljpsoccer2018@gmail.com.