Pells Keeper School - Testimonials

The following testimonials are directly from students, camp participants, parents and others regarding their experience of PKs. They are in their original form, unmodified.

"The Pells Goalkeeper Camp was over the top! I am so impressed with your passion for soccer, your staff and the world-class instruction provided to the players. UM is lucky to have you as a part of their program and it's clear that your players are committed to excellence and your value your leadership.

As Charlotte develops her skills as a field player/goalkeeper and if she ultimately decides to focus on being a Goalkeeper then it is great to know that we have have the Pells Goalkeeper school in our backyard. Your program is a tremendous opportunity for any aspiring player in the DC/MD/VA/DE regions to develop exceptional goalkeeping skills. "

~David Chamberlin

"The girls were like kids at a candy store at your camp. They are a bit sore (the good kind) and can’t stop talking about all they learned. Many thanks and we hope to see you soon! "

~Tom Collamore

"This has been such a hard week- but so much fun and so intense- and I learned so much- Your absolutely amazing and such a great coach- "

~Jordana Goodstein quoting her son David

"Laurie - the clinic was fantastic and Nicki loved it. I was really impressed with your passion and your great team of goalies. "

~Rich Lane

"Thanks for giving my daughter Emily a great experience. This was her first year at your goalkeeper school and she loved it. She was happy to finally find a goalkeeper program that actually taught her new things instead of the same old stuff. "

~parent

"Many thanks to you and your staff. I reported back to our coaches that it was the single best training we have been to. The caring, professionalism and the incredible knowledge of you and your assistants was something great for me to observe, and the student keepers were really into the whole program. Your system built upon itself, and in the end I think the players would have come back for more, more, more!

Naomi wanted me to relay her thanks for the attention you paid and the lessons you gave. She has a new level of confidence to take onto the field that I can't wait to see. She also said she would like to come out and be one of your sideline ball-girls for a game next season. Let us know if your team allows that. Maybe we could get a few of the Davidsonville Sharks out there to help out and see soccer at it's best."

Dave Parker
Assistant Coach
Davidsonville Sharks
WAGS U-12

"WOW !! What a great camp ~ My daughter Kristen "Moose" has been a goalkeeper for her Club/Travel U-10 Soccer Team for over 2 years now ! She brings a rare excitement for the position at her age ~ She was so excited to attend a "goalkeeping" camp, where she could spend all her time doing what she loves best ~ You and your staff were so good at breaking down the skills into easy to follow steps and your ENTHUSIASM for the sport, the position and teaching....Amazing !!! -- I hope that we can talk some more and arrange for Moose to spend a lot more time with you - She had a blast and at 10 years old - That says it all !!! Please send me some information on group/private trainings !! Thanks again!"

~Heather Darragh

"Hi Laurie,
I just wanted to thank you (on behalf of Kristen) for a great time at your camp this past weekend. She said she learned so much (and can't wait to kid her coaches on all the wrong ways they taught her!). Your enthusiam and focus is amazing and Kristen had so much fun the entire weekend. Practicing and scrimmaging with the UM players was an added bonus!
Hopefully, her brain absorbed everything you taught her and she'll be able to use it in practices and game situations!

Thanks again for a great weekend. Congratuations on a such a successful, fun camp!"

~Mary and Tom Bissell

"Laurie – I really was impressed with this camp and you. I really think Katherine got a lot out of it (and more than just all the aches and pains she is dealing with today!)
Pros:

Convenient for us.
Wonderfully SMALL in attendance!!! (Katherine feared the OVERCROWDED style camps UM has in the summer) I was blown away at pick-up time Friday night to see that your attendance was only about 16 players. I really felt like the kids had a wonderful, supportive atmosphere to learn in.
Cool weather! Even given that it was a COLD blustery weekend, the girls didn’t suffer in the bubble. It was refreshing for Katherine to attend a camp where she didn’t sweat to death and almost suffer heat stroke like the summer camps she usually attends.
My daughter seems to have gained some self confidence!!!! (She is going to love telling her coach that YOU told her not to listen to him when he tells her to_____ (fill in the blank) – he was a keeper himself!)
YOU – your personality and support to the girls was GREAT! I should have sat in on more of the training!
Cons:

It came at the END of a season. (Okay, so this is the first one I’ve ever learned of, maybe you offer others)
Jam packed weekend!!! (But it does get it out of the way.) I’d love to see a pre-season training that lasts about 4 to 6 weeks and go once or twice a week before the season starts.
Again – Thanks! I am so glad Katherine’s coach received the email about this camp and forwarded it on. And more importantly, I’m glad Katherine agreed to go. Usually she won’t attend a camp unless she has “buddy” to go with. Many camps we’ve put her in with out a friend she has come out disappointed because of the “team clicks” that exist. At your camp this wasn’t an issue (nor would it ever be for a Keeper Camp). After she agreed to go, I quickly signed her up. I then went back to her and asked why she agreed to it even though she didn’t have a friend going. “Mom, I figured it was just a weekend. If I didn’t like it, it was just a weekend, not 5 days.” I’m glad she had that attitude!

I think it was a good experience for her. As we approach high school next year I will be checking your website for more camps and training!"

~Barb MacKie

"Laurie is a great overall person who knows how to coach well and motivate any player she coaches. We have tons of fun, while at the same we learn and perform drills that help you to learn. Laurie has a wide variety of what you are able to learn and she can help you with almost any question or situation you may have to ask. She makes things clear and covers them to a full understanding extent.
As for the camp last year. I learned a lot more than i would have thought I could have for my first time with Laurie. Right from the start i could feel myself improving and doing better in things i usually struggled in. I learned how to back step and tip the ball over the goal. I also learned a lot about breakaways which was a pretty fun drill.

Laurie is the best."

~Alison Mills

"The transformation in my child's goalkeeping form, skills and technique is massively apparent since she started working with Pells. She looks like a real goalkeeper...and it's fun to watch!
My child has always been driven but now has direction; constantly gaining praise from her peers, opponents and their parents. The confidence in her abilities groomed by Pells clearly shows on the pitch and more importantly off the pitch as well.

I would recommend anyone serious about improving goalkeeping abilities to Pells. The difference made is simply amazing! Thanks Laurie, you're awesome!"

~Brian Gorecki (parent)

"PKs is a great camp to send your child to. Laurie is a great coach who pushes you to be all that you can be. Her intensity and enthusiasm about coaching makes it obvious that she really wants to be there and really wants to see you improve. At the camp we covered every aspect of goalkeeping in ways that were both challenging and fun. At the end of each day I was exhausted, but at the same time I felt stronger than I did when I arrived and like I really improved. Laurie will answer any question you may have without hesitation, and she makes sure you understand before moving on. I would definately recommend this camp to ALL players, of every age and skill level."

~MT Callahan

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for providing excellent goalkeeper training to my daughter, Alicia since December 2007.
In the winter of 2007, Alicia attended your winter camp, Pells Keeper School. During the camp experience, Alicia's primary goal was to work on her positioning, breakaways and crosses/highballs. Each evening at camp, she worked hard to improve her goalkeeper skills with your instruction and the assistance of other players from the University of Maryland Soccer Team. At the end of each day at camp, Alicia was able to verbalize something new that she had learned and she also enjoyed meeting other goalkeepers from many different areas in Maryland.
We so "greatly appreciate" your expertise and focus on detail. Alicia skill and game performance over the past 10 months has greatly improved. She has a better understanding of her position and her confidence is better.

Thank you so much Laurie."

~Kim Humphrey, mother of Alicia