The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Fantasy Camp kicked off its 2006 camp on Monday at The Home Depot Center on the campus of Cal State University-Dominguez Hills. The Galaxy Youth Fantasy Camp is geared toward giving professional training and experience to kids ages 8-15.
The day began with a player check-in where each participant will receive a Galaxy goodie, bag and uniform. The next stop was the player locker rooms in The Home Depot Center, where the kids changed into their new uniforms and got their pictures taken. After an introduction by Blane Shepard, Director of Special Projects for the Los Angeles Galaxy, the kids stayed out on Field 5 for a warm up with Germany's World Cup Athletes' Performance trainer, Shad Forsythe.</p>
Next the kids met Mauricio Cienfuego, a former El Salvadorian soccer star for autographs and pictures. Soon after the campers jumped right into the action with lessons on ball mastery and dribbling skills. Each day of camp instructors will focus on specific skills or techniques for the campers to work on.</p>
The Youth Fantasy Camp will give a great opportunity for kids to meet and learn the game from former Galaxy players. Former Galaxy midfielder Danny Peña and defender Adam Frye will be two instructors with a great amount of experience on the pitch.</p>
This year's Galaxy Fantasy Camp Head Coach will be Hugh Payne: "I am looking forward to working the 2006 LA Galaxy Fantasy Camp, the location of the camp is in my opinion one of the best soccer venues in the world. Together with first class facilities, campers will experience what it's like to be part of the "Galaxy" team. Campers will learn many new soccer skills and techniques from our highly talented coaching squad, which includes former Galaxy players Danny Pena and Adam Frye. The camp is designed to give all players involved a positive, professional environment in which to learn and develop skills as well as having lots of fun." Finally "My one wish for the week is that all campers arrive and leave each day with a huge smile on their faces, I am certain they will." </p>
Fantasy Camp Coaching Staff Information
Galaxy Youth Fantasy Camp Head Coach: Hugh Payne
Hometown: Welshpool, Mid Wales, UK.
Education: University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Personal: I am recently married to Michelle and currently living in Redondo Beach.
I have been playing competitive soccer since I was 9 years old starting in Mid Wales. I have played club, county, regional and university level. I started as a right sided forward, but found my best position as either a center or right defensive player.
My first coaching job was as Head of Soccer at Camp Robin Hood in New Hampshire. Since then I have traveled to America many times to work, in fact I have now visited 44 states. My favorite two states are Colorado, because of the beautiful mountains and California, because it has the best beaches in the world and it's the home of the LA Galaxy.
Between 1991 - 97, I worked as the coordinator of the Mid Wales Soccer Development Project. The Project ran eight centers of soccer development during the year for 800 young players. As well as the weekly coaching sessions, players also had the opportunity to participate in a number of international soccer tournaments taking place in UK, Europe and the US. Mike Smith, Former National Coach of Wales and Egypt set up the project. One of the many young players who played within the project was Michael Owen- Newcastle United and England Striker.
In recent years I have worked for Mayor League Soccer Camps as a Soccer Development Officer in the South Bay and in Chicago. During my time at MLS Camps I have worked with young players aged 3 - 19 on many camps and within the Manhattan Beach AYSO program.
I hold a number of soccer coaching qualifications including a Football Association of Wales & UEFA B License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. During the camp, campers will get the chance to participate in a number of speed and agility sessions. Other qualifications include Football Association Teachers Award & FAW Basic Treatment of Injuries Course.
Favorite All Time Player: Alan Shearer, former Newcastle United and England Striker. He was a wonderful player scoring hundreds of English Premiership goals. As well as being very so strong and powerful on the ball, he was also a great team player, often passing to teammates in a better scoring position.
Name: Danny Peña
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Born: June 17, 1968 in Inglewood, California
Hometown: Culver City, California
College: N/A
Last Club: Sacramento Knights (USL)
Drafted: By Los Angeles in the first round (1st overall) of the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft.
Personal: Peña is the son of Sally Peña Senner of Los Angeles and has three brothers, the twins, Raul and Carlos, and a stepbrother, Anthony...enjoys listening to music, going to the park with his dog Deak. Began his professional career straight out of high school in 1988...played with Wichita of the MSL. His most prized accomplishment was becoming a professional soccer player...pre-game rituals consist of taking a 3-hour nap, eating pasta, thinking about the game and doing his part for the team.
National Team: Earned first U.S. National Team call up for their 1-0 loss to Ecuador on 8/7/97 in Baltimore, Maryland but opted not to accept ...played in the 1987 Youth World Championships for the U.S. squad
MLS Career-Highs
Goals: 2, 10/1/98 vs. DAL
Assists: 1, nine times (most recent - 9/1/99 vs. SJ)
Points: 4, 10/1/98 vs. DAL (2-0=4)
Shots: 3, eight times (most recent - 6/27/99 @ TB)
Shots on Goal: 2, nine times (most recent - 9/11/99 vs. CHI)
Fouls Committed: 7, 9/4/99 @ MIA
Fouls Suffered: 4, two times (most recent - 8/28/99 @ DAL)
First MLS Game: March 29, 1997 in a 1-0 Galaxy shootout loss vs. DC
First MLS Goal: April 5, 1997 in a 3-2 Galaxy loss @ KC
First MLS Assist: September 10, 1997 in a 2-0 Galaxy win vs. COL
Name: Adam Frye
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Weight: 159
Born: February 14, 1974 in Alamogordo, New Mexico
Hometown: Alamogordo, New Mexico
College: UCLA
Last Club: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Drafted: By Tampa Bay in the first round (4th overall) in the inaugural MLS College Draft in 1996.
Acquired: Signed by Los Angeles off the waiver draft on March 16, 2000.
MLS CAREER: A veteran MLS utility man, Frye has played both as a defender and a forward for during his six seasons ... has appeared in 74 MLS matches (46 starts), during stints with the Galaxy, Earthquakes and Mutiny ... registered two goals and six assists for 10 points.
College: Attended UCLA where he played for Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid ... started 63 of 77 games and played more than 6,000 minutes during his four year career ... scored 15 goals and had eight assists ... team co-captain, All-Far West selection and winner of the club's Most Valuable Defensive Player award in 1995, helping the Bruins post 13 shutouts.
Personal: Parade All-America selection and New Mexico Player of the Year as high school senior in 1992 ... enjoys reading, hiking and biking.
MLS Career-Highs
Goals: 1, twice (most recent: 7/14/01 vs. MIA)
Assists: 2, 6/21/97 vs. SJ
Points: 2, three times (most recent: 7/14/01 vs. MIA)
Shots: 3, 7/7/01 @ DC
Shots on Goal: 2,twice (most recent: 9/1/01 vs. COL)
Fouls Committed: 4, twice (most recent - 3/27/99 vs. COL)
Fouls Suffered: 5, 4/14/01 @ KC
First MLS Game: May 11, 1996 in a 2-1 Mutiny win @ COL
First MLS Goal: April 7, 2001 in a 3-2 loss vs. SJ
First MLS Assist: August 3, 1996 in a 3-1 Mutiny win vs. COL
