Jared Montz, a 2001 Mandeville High graduate and former professional soccer player with the MLS’ Chicago Fire, has been involved with sponsoring camps in the Northshore area for the past three and a half years. The Jared Montz Pro Soccer Camp held its latest event July 13-17 at Pelican Park in Mandeville, which was attended by 28 campers, ranging in age from 5-13.

“We had a nice turnout for the Pelican Park camp. The quality level of the kids participating has been awesome. Everyone who took part had a great time. The parents have been extremely supportive and the kids love it,” Montz said.

Montz won a national championship with Lynn University and also won a U. S. Open Cup with the Chicago Fire. He is now coaching youth soccer full time.

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“We do a lot of teaching during the morning session and like to finish up with scrimmages. Its all about the kids playing games and enjoying themselves,” Montz said.

Montz even found himself playing in goal during the five-on-five scrimmages and said he felt maybe he taught the players too well because they were able to put in some goals against him.

“I guess I’ll need to take some goalie lessons to improve my defensive skills.”

Montz said the focus of the camp is to teach fundamentals along with lots of technique and skill work.

“What we do on the field, I want it to translate into life. I have a slogan called ‘Believe in it’. It is their dreams, whether it is in the classroom or on the field. We always have them say it. The confidence they gain from being on the field will translate into the real world,” Montz added.

Montz said he likes all aspects of the camp.

“I get a huge kick out of being with the young players and seeing them learn. I enjoy the end of the week when you start seeing the players doing the stuff you have been teaching them on their own without being told. You see them walking taller and that is the best part.”

Montz surrounds himself by taking on former local players as camp coaches to help make a difference instructing the participants.

In his most recent camp, Montz had three coaches help him out including Caroline Voelkel, a 2004 St. Scholastica Academy graduate and a 2008 Rhodes College graduate and player. Voelkel is currently the head varsity soccer coach at Cabrini High School in New Orleans, entering her second season.

The other coaches included Hammond’s Jehan Ayap, referred to simply as coach “G,” a former Southeastern Louisiana University player and Jared Bonin, a former Fontainebleau High player and goalie at Savannah College of Arts and Design, who graduated recently with a degree in architecture.

Voelkel, who coached the younger group (5-7 years of age), said the camp was extremely successful.

“Seeing the growth of each and every child in my group was phenomenal. Each camper improved tremendously during the course of the week,” Voelkel said. “Jared does a great job constantly interacting with each and every child. Just to see his involvement with each of them is amazing.”

Camp participant, 10 year-old Haylee Sproles of Mandeville, who is entering the fifth grade at Lake Harbor Middle School, talked about her camp experience.

“I had a lot of fun learning new things. I had the most fun during the scrimmages. It is fun scoring goals,” Sproles said.

Sproles tallied three goals in the final scrimmage of the camp. She said Montz and the other coaches are really nice.

“Coach Jared is a really good coach and a good soccer player,” Sproles added.

Sproles talked about the “Believe In It” saying.

“It means that you have to believe that you can do something. You should never say you can’t do something because if you do you will never be able to do it. You have to believe in yourself,” Sproles said.

Montz has two goals for his camp. The first is to give the campers the knowledge he never had at their age, which will help them reach the level they desire. The second is to be a long lasting positive influence in their lives by leading by example and proving to them that if they Believe In It, work hard enough and smart enough anything is possible. His motto for camp is “White Collar Smarts with a Blue Collar Heart.”

Montz retired from playing professional soccer back in March following some nagging injuries.

“Now that I am doing this full time I have big plans and ideas for the future. There are different ways to make this camp a lot bigger by bringing in other professional players that are still playing along with doing a lot of guest speaking.”

Montz said his Online Soccer Academy is kind of like a camp for the world.

“We have kids signed up from all over including California, Georgia, Wisconsin as well as Iceland and New Zealand. People are starting to pile in from around the U. S. It has been great to this point,” he said.

For more info about Montz’ Online Soccer Academy check out ww.jmsoccer10.com.