Cape boys’ soccer teaches its winning ways to future varsity players

The Cape boys’ varsity soccer team observed the world’s game from a different vantage point, donning the coach’s cap during the final week of July.

Local elementary and middle school footballers took advantage of the opportunity to learn from some of the top high school players in the state July 29-Aug. 2, during the Cape soccer youth camp. Held on the Bermuda fields, it afforded players time to see soccer as a complete picture and campers a chance to improve their game.

“What a lot of players do here is build a lot of mechanics around mostly passing – finding open people,” said All-American player Cardin Benjamin. “The younger kids are mostly doing really basic mechanics, and the older kids are doing more advanced mechanics.”

Benjamin added that the girls and boys were getting the full varsity treatment.

“What we did today [Aug. 1] was a lot of defending, which is really most of the game,” Benjamin said. “It's how you win – defending and passing. Like coach Joe [Rupar] says, ‘Defense builds championships,’ which is what built the last season for high school. It's great to show these little kids what to do.”

Benjamin has been playing soccer since he was 5, but said he never got a chance to learn the game from varsity players at a young age.

“It's great to do this because it really builds the character of the kids, and it makes their skill a lot better,” Benjamin said.

A member of the 2023 Delaware Top 11 team, Benjamin said he was able to gain perspective on certain scenarios by observing from the sidelines.

Max Mowl, 11, will be attending Frederick Thomas Middle School this fall. He was grateful to take in tips from elite players.

“It's pretty cool that I get to train with some people that got to play in the state championship,” Mowl said.

Mowl added that he enjoyed scrimmaging because he got to flash his skills and shoot.

Milton Elementary’s Jay Socrates, a defender, has been playing for about six years and sharpened his protective tactics.

“We were containing the attackers [Aug. 1], making sure that they're there in your line of sight,” he said.

Socrates said his favorite part was scrimmaging but later declared the attacking day was his favorite part.

“My favorite day was probably Wednesday, which was attacking,” Socrates said. “There were a couple of fun games that we did that day.”