Kids looking for kicks this summer might want to check out a Soccer Skills Clinic. The program is free to Wiscasset-area boys and girls. All the clinics are held on Wiscasset Middle High School’s lower soccer field by the soccer goal from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday.

Chris Cossette is the varsity boys’ soccer coach at WMHS. “The kids enjoy it and so do I,” he said at a June 28 clinic. He paused to shout out instructions for the next drill. About 14 kids were taking part, a dozen boys and two girls.

No soccer game is played; instead, Cossette begins with a few conditioning exercises then concentrates on practicing ball control helping the kids develop better dribbling and passing skills. He keeps it simple, stressing fundamentals, but makes it fun, too.

A Give and Go drill at the clinic didn’t go quite the way Cossette expected. “Okay, please stop for a minute. Raise your hand and show me how many of you were really listening when I explained how to do this.” Nearly every hand went up. “Really? Be honest,” he said. One by one, the hands start dropping. “Okay, I’ll explain again how to do it,” Cossette said. “It’s not hard; watch.” Next go-round, the kids ran through it perfectly.

After running through the drills, Cossette finished the clinic with a skills game. The kids enjoy “keep away.”

Cossette said there’s room for more participants. Parents are welcome to come, watch and even lend a hand if they like. “I like the kids to wear cleats, shin guards are optional,” he said. Bringing along a bottle of water is a good idea, too. Participants must be going into at least the fifth grade to participate. The program runs until July 26.