SEASIDE, Calif.- The Cal State Monterey Bay men's and women's soccer programs hosted the Otter Pups Fun-Damental Soccer Clinic Aug. 13, the first of what will be many this year in Otter Athletics.

As the fall season gets closer to kickoff, both soccer programs took some time before preseason practices to host and instruct a total turnout of 153 kids from local surrounding communities.

“I thought the turnout was awesome from the local community,” says women's head coach Erin Reinke. “It shows that the community wants to support CSUMB. The players are role models to these young kids who one day aspire to be in their shoes. “

The focus was to have fun and energetic games built around juggling, dribbling and passing. The coaches believed these drills could easily be done at home. “Our players did a great job in this, the proof was shown in all the thanks the parents were giving us at the end of the session.  It was a great team effort,” men's head coach Rob Cummings says. “I hope that these kids take away a little more excitement for the game and want to come out the watch some games this fall.”

To view photos from the event, check out the photo gallery at Facebook.com/OtterAthletics.

These clinics are a benefit of the Otter Pups Kids Club, the official kids club of CSUMB Athletics.  Other benefits include free admission to all Otters' regular season home games (with a paying adult), a birthday card from the CSUMB mascot Monte Rey, autograph sessions with student-athletes and more. This free youth program is made possible through the continued partnership between CSUMB Athletics and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.

Visit the Otter Pups page to sign up to receive information about our next clinic.

Follow both CSUMB men and women soccer programs as they begin their conference schedule the weekend of Friday, Sept. 9 at the Otter Soccer Complex.