Soccer camp begins next week

By Laurie Gordon
NEWTON — On Monday, a five-day, one-of-a-kind soccer camp will kick off from five to eight pm at Hampton Park (affectionally called “The Pit”) in Newton.
Don DeStefano took over the camp in 2001 from Pat O'Donohue who had coached DeStefano for four years at Newton High School. The camp was called Soccer Skills Academy and he ran it with Brian Martin and Matt Martinka. Over the years, the camp has transitioned to become Kittatinny Soccer Club's Summer Soccer Camp. It's open to kids throughout the area in grades one through eight.
DeStefano started playing soccer when he was eight years old in Mansfield and immediately developed a passion for the sport. His family moved to Andover when he was in eighth grade and joined travel teams. He then went on to play for Newton High School and was able to play varsity as a junior. He went on to American International College where he played all four years.
“Upon graduation, he went into his family business, but his love of soccer was pulling on him,” said DeStefano's wife, Holly.
DeStefano then coached Jefferson High School's girl's soccer team and then transitioned to become the boys varsity soccer coach. A position became available at Newton High, and DeStefano was able to coach at his alma mater. He subsequently left coaching at Newton because it was too much time away from his family business, International Oils & Concentrates, and he runs the business now.
But his coaching days weren't over, they just shifted gears. DeStefano got involved with coaching travel teams. He and his wife have five children, three of whom play for Kittatinny Travel Soccer. He is able to coach one of his kids while training other teams four days a week.
“Since I left high school coaching, I have been able to coach local travel teams from Sandyston to Green to Stillwater as well as my daughter, Julie's, travel team,” he said.
Since his kids played for Kittatinny Soccer Club, its head, Oscar Fernandez wanted the kids to have a camp of their own in the evenings. Fernandez appointed DeStefano to run the camp with himself assisting.
Fernandez has a great soccer background as well. He was born in Columbia, South America where soccer is an everyday sport.
“It's played in any open space available there,” he said. “I would like to see the youth grow to love the sport as they do in other countries where soccer is the number one sport.”
What sets the camp apart are its combination of teaching important skills, training and throwing in fun. For instance, during the week there are prizes for “Crazy Socks” and “Crazy Hair” day.
“Soccer is a sport which requires the kids to be alert and ready for action,” Fernandez said. “It is a physical sport which keeps the players in physical shape. It takes them out of the house and away from their phones and video games. Instead, they are interacting with a team which demands thinking and strategizing. The more they play and practice allows their skills to increase which boasts their self-confidence.”
Camp will be held this Monday, July 30 through August 3 from five to eight pm at The Hampton Township Recreation Park. The park is located behind the Hampton Municipal Building on Halsey Road adjacent to Kittatinny Regional High School. You do not have to be from the Kittatinny sending district to participate: it is open to kids from throughout the area. For further information about the camp or to register, please call 973-670-9255 or e-mail ondt26@ptd.net