GO TO GOAL

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

Pete Hald has been running the Go To Goal soccer camp for 10 years. He has been the Flagler Palm Coast Lady Bulldogs soccer coach since 1991, and one of his recent players returned to help.

It was much different this time around for Cat Bradley, assistant coach for the Flagler Palm Coast Lady Bulldogs soccer team.

For years, she has been on the other side of the ball. The player doing the footwork drills. Working on her first touch, her midfield vision. Her conditioning.

But this year, Bradley is on the coaching side of things.

Bradley graduated from FPC in 2009, after playing soccer for Hald during her four-year career.

Bradley was a camper herself since the age of 10. She will turn 20 later this month.

“Honestly, it’s weird being on the other side,” Bradley said Tuesday, the first day of the four-day camp that extends through Friday. “I know I have a lot more to learn, but I’m honored to be able to be a part of FPC soccer again.”

Hald has been at helm coaching the Lady Bulldogs since 1991. He has conducted his Go To Goal soccer camp on his own since 2001, but has been involved dating back to 1996.

“This is a good showing,” Hald said during a water break.

More than 40 girls signed up to take part in the four-day camp. The morning session is for eighth- through 12th-graders, while the evening session is for grades five through seven.

“I like the smaller groups,” he added. “It’s always more consistent. Everyone gets trained by me.”

The early part of the session Tuesday focused on various footwork drills, dribbling through cones and poles, and also one-on-one defending and attacking.

But if the 20 or so girls who were at the morning session want to get better, Hald insists they fight through the heat and “get after it.”

“You have to go 80% to 90% if you’re going to improve,” Hald told the campers.

Bradley said she will continue to learn how to become a better coach, all while helping the players develop.

“Coaching these girls has brought joy to my life,” Bradley said. “I truly believe I am a mentor to the girls, and I try to be nothing less than a good role model to them.”