Carbondale: SIU Soccer Coach Graeme Orr Tries to Fund Team Through Youth Camps as World Cup Nears
SIU soccer head coach Graeme Orr is launching youth camps in Carbondale to fund the team, since Saluki home games are free to attend. The camps start June 1 and run through July.
Free Games Mean SIU Soccer Must Get Creative
Southern Illinois University does not charge fans to attend home soccer games. That policy leaves a hole in the program's budget, and head coach Graeme Orr is trying to fill it with youth camps.
SIU soccer announced several summer camps starting Monday, June 1, at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex on campus in Carbondale. The camps are designed to serve local youth while generating revenue for the Salukis.
"What we're trying to do is trying to give options for all ages, boy or girl, so they don't have to drive as far at St. Louis to be able to get top-quality coaching," Orr said, according to a KFVS report.
A Growing Program in Its First Decade
The Saluki soccer program is still in its first decade. Orr sees the 2026 World Cup, which begins mid-June on U.S. soil, as an opportunity to grow the sport in southern Illinois.
"Carbondale, I still think we've got a large job to do, as to promote the game of soccer," Orr said. "So hopefully, with the World Cup games starting mid-June... I'm hoping that that will get kids involved in soccer, and we will be able to adapt from kids that want to start for the very first time, to kids that have aspirations to want to play pro."
Camp Schedule
SIU is offering four camps this summer. All take place on campus at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex. Discounts are available for multiple siblings attending the same camp, according to the report.
| Camp | Dates | Ages | |------|-------|------| | Youth Summer Soccer Camp 1 | June 1-4 | Pre-K through 8th grade | | Goalkeeper/Striker Camp | June 6-7 | 4th through 12th grade | | Youth Summer Soccer Camp 2 | June 8-11 | Pre-K through 8th grade | | Youth Summer Soccer Camp 3 | July 6-9 | Pre-K through 8th grade |
Families can register at SalukiSoccerCamps.com.
Fall Season Ahead
The Salukis have already released their fall 2026 schedule. The team opens the season on the road against SEMO on August 13. The home opener comes three days later on August 16 against Western Illinois.
For a program that cannot rely on ticket sales, these camps represent a critical revenue stream. Every registration helps subsidize the team as SIU works to build soccer's footprint in the Heartland.