Michael Tannebaum/Journal Scene

Logan Batchelor, a third-grader at Fort Dorchester Elementary, is among a group of students at the school who meet once a week to play soccer.

Michael Tannebaum/Journal Scene

Fort Dorchester Elementary third-grader Jair Martinez is one of about 30 students in the school’s soccer club.

The brightly colored cones that line the grassy island in front of Fort Dorchester Elementary School serve as soccer field boundaries, but they can’t contain the excitement of the students running between them.

Every Tuesday after school, the roughly 30 third-graders who make up the recently formed Fort Dorchester Elementary Soccer Club unite to hone their skills, take part in some exercise and enjoy the company of their classmates.

Neil Veloso, a soccer coach in North Charleston, whose wife Jennifer teaches at Fort Dorchester Elementary, heads up the club along with several of the school’s teachers.

“I wanted to be more involved in the school and thought I could make the biggest impact by offering a soccer program,” Veloso said. “We teach the children some basic skills, but it’s really about giving them access to an athletic activity in a safe and healthy environment.”

Because the club was limited to about 30 students and twice that many wanted to join, the current group of students will meet for four weeks and then a second group will be formed.

The skill level of each student varies with some having never played soccer before and others having more experience, but the lessons are geared toward making sure every child has fun and expands upon his or her own level of talent.

The students start each lesson with a brief jog to warm up and then spend the next hour or so learning proper dribbling and passing techniques and taking part in scrimmages. Because children often want to learn soccer, but may be turned off by the rigidity and rules of more organized soccer programs, the lessons taught at Fort Dorchester Elementary are loose and relaxed, Veloso says.

Whether they’re running up and down the makeshift soccer field during a game or taking part in a passing drill with a friend, the students are smiling, laughing and appear carefree, which is the goal of the program. As long as the students work up a small sweat, leave the school feeling good about themselves and enjoy the day’s lesson then the soccer club is serving its purpose, Veloso says.

“We’re not coaching for championships; we’re just here for the kids to play and enjoy the game,” Veloso said. “We want them to see that all you need to play soccer are a couple classmates and a ball, then you’re off and running.”

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com

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