Austin English, a rising senior at North Catholic, speaks with campers during a recent youth soccer camp that he planned and organized. Submitted Photo

A cracked vertebrae sidelined Austin English in the spring of 2023. The injury could have remained just that, a physical setback that kept him from competing for his club soccer team.

It turned out, however, to serve as motivation.

“Not being able to play got me thinking about kids who don’t have the opportunities that I had growing up,” said English, a rising senior at North Catholic High School. “I started playing soccer when I was 3 years old, and attended a number of soccer camps as a kid. I formed a bond with the other players, and it was such a positive experience. That’s one of the reasons I gained a passion for the game.”

It was a year later when English decided to turn his empathy into action. Last summer, he began planning a youth soccer clinic, contacting Boys & Girls Clubs in the region to gauge the interest of participation.

His vision led to a three-day soccer camp, held June 23-25 on practice fields on North Catholic’s campus. Over 115 players ages 6-13 took part. The clinic was free, and campers at the third day were given soccer balls donated by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

“Boys and Girls Clubs from Duquesne, Aliquippa and north of Pittsburgh were represented,” English said. “I’d say 50% of the kids had no prior experience with soccer, and we split them up into groups depending on age and skill level.”

Instruction was provided by English and a number of his high school teammates.

“We needed a school rep each of the days, and our coaches at North Catholic, Scott Schlegel and Anthony Beilstein, were there to oversee things,” English said. “We worked on fundamentals, dribbling, passing, receiving. Each day’s clinic lasted two hours, and near the end every day we had scrimmages between the campers and counselors.

“The kids loved it. To see them enjoy something that I put together, to see them impacted by it, it’s hard to compare that to any other feeling, probably the best I’ve ever felt about anything.”

The positive experience has English hoping his relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs can be extended.

“I’d like to turn it into an annual thing, have even talked to some of the younger players on the high school team who can keep it going after I graduate,” he said.