Moms participate in soccer boot camp

Belynda Crandall, left, watches her daughter Maddy Crandall, 14, center left, leap over an obstacle as other mothers, Lynn Arvay, center, and Ann Nolan, right, help lead exercises.

Soccer moms laced up Friday for an afternoon of athletic training and to put into action the saying “lead by example.”

More than two dozen moms participated in the 2nd Annual Mom Boot Camp hosted by the Southview Lady Cougars varsity soccer team. For two hours the team members, 35 students, were lead by their moms in physical activity on Southview High School’s soccer training field.

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The two-hour workout was meant to inspire the Lady Cougars to follow a healthy lifestyle beyond the high-school years, coach John Orozco said. A light bulb went off when he realized that many moms follow a healthy lifestyle and they could serve as an example to younger generations and other mothers.

“This was thought of over a conversation with a mom. She called and said ‘I’m gonna work out, can I speak to you later?’ And I thought interesting. Why couldn’t we do that with moms. I thought this could be a great idea for a camp where moms come and share with us what I call ‘fitness for life,’” he said.

On Friday, moms shared with young ladies and other moms what they do to keep fit.

“Girls can pick up from mom something they see her doing already but never tried it, such as cycling, Pilates, yoga, running …,” Mr. Orozco said.

Some of the activities from this year and last include a four-way tug-of-war, an obstacle course, an abdominal workout, weight training, and Pilates. The ladies also designed a Boot Camp Shirt to commemorate the annual bonding and training.