A young Drumheller soccer player had the chance of a lifetime to train with world-class coaches from Spain.

Liam Treller, during the regular season played for the Drumheller Soccer Association U12 team. This summer he had the chance to train at  an FC Barcelona Camp. About 200 youth, ages 6 and up attend the camp in Calgary, with some coming from as far away as Saskatchewan to be instructed by coaches who trained at the FC Barcelona Centre in Spain.

Liam’s mother Helen told The Mail, “It was an intensive, high caliber training program that included classroom sessions, as well as plenty of time on the field during the week-long session.”

“The camp was amazing. Very well run, it taught more than soccer skills, it taught respect and kindness. Liam improved so much,” said Helen. “The coaches were so caring and encouraging. I cannot speak more highly of the camp!”

 The family was not aware how integrated FC Barcelona’s program is in Canada until Liam participated in the camp.   In some urban locations in Canada, there are opportunities to play on travel teams that compete in tournaments across Canada.

There is another opportunity for Liam, as at each camp a select few players who embody the “Barcelona Spirit” of good sportsmanship and skill, are invited to a week-long camp in Barcelona later on in the season. While chances are slim and they’re not holding their breath, it is an opportunity they certainly wouldn’t turn down. 

    One of Drumheller’s legendary softball tournaments is coming to a close.
    The Chris Bolin Red Eye Memorial Tournament started in 2009 in memory of 18-year-old Christopher Bolin, who passed away in a car accident.
    Chris was the son of Laurie and Duane Bolin. Chris loved the sport of baseball from a young age, and often would play the sport competitively alongside his brothers and father. After the accident, Chris fought his injuries courageously, but succumbed to them on Friday, April 29, 2005.  
    The tournament was originally held at the HooDoo Campground in 2009 and slo-pitch was played around the clock.  
    In 2013, the tournament was moved to Morrin Campground and was played only during the day.
    In the 7 years  the tournament ran, it raised $44,492.30 that was donated to different charities. The biggest donation was to the Morgan Jayne Project with a sum of $21,597.15.
    The Morgan Jayne Project is dedicated to fighting the AIDS epidemic in Roatan. The project’s main focus is to reduce mother-to-infant transmission of the virus. The name sake of this project is from a local Drumheller girl who also passed away at the young age of 18.
    Many great memories were made at the Chris Bolin Red Eye Memorial Tournament, and father of Chris Bolin, Duane, is thankful for everyone’s participation.
    “For the majority of time, the teams that won the games, donated their winnings back to the tournament. They knew it was a fundraiser tournament, and every penny helped.”
    The tournament donated $17,195.15 to the Drumheller Fire Department, which helped them purchase rescue and training equipment such as a river boat, rescue cart, water rescue gear and a quad.     
    The tournament also donated funds to a DVSS Scholarship ($3,700), Big Country Victim Services ($1,000), Batten Disease ($500) and Big country Anti-Violence Association ($500).
    Duane Bolin explains why the tournament will no longer continue, “In the last few years participation was getting low. There was low interest and it was a lot of work. That is why we wrapped it up. We told everyone last year that it would be the final year of the tournament.”