My U13 daughter and a teammate want to go to a soccer camp this Summer and I'm in charge of finding candidates. Our state university does a weeklong over-night camp in July, but from previous experience we've found it to be overbooked and understaffed. Plus it's not very immersive/intensive preferring a very casual approach because they have so many kids attending. I'm looking for something smaller & more focused than the university programs we get mailers from every week. The girls are not elite players, but they do like to work hard and want to improve. Plus they like meeting other kids who love to play soccer. With that in mind can any parents or coaches suggest some well regarded soccer Summer camps? Thanks in advance.
If you would specify a region/area/location, that might get you some responses. Have you contacted your state youth soccer association? They might have some suggestions.
You need to figure out residential vs. not. Soccer only vs. all sports. Sounds like you might be better off targeting private school campuses rather than universities, especially since they are not HS age yet. Even our local YMCA has specialty camps associated with their regular camps, but if the girls do know how to play, they might want to look at a camp that will improve their skills. Elite is in the eye of the beholder, very few camps have entrance criteria even if they say they are giving an "elite training experience". Do they want to be playing soccer half the day? Or do they want some soccer instruction plus a regular camp experience?
Thank you for the replies. I'm in Wisconsin. I've been canvassing opinion from local soccer assoc. as well as the state org. The head of ODP wanted my daughter at regionals last year in DeKalb but the timing was poor. I've thought of that as well for this Summer provided they still want her to attend. It can be residential. They are old enough to go away for a week for camp. To answer "what kind of experience do you want?"... I want a camp that has the rep for great coaching and has a low student to coach ratio for small class sizes. In my experience, from years of working at the Can/Am Hockey Camps in Toronto, if that's in place then everything else is usually sound. The balance of work and fun feels natural to the camper. So if they are playing for half the day then they are doing other team building and social activities that help them be a more well rounded player and person. Hope that helps with generating more suggestions. I do appreciate the answer. Thanks.
Can't say enough about the FC Barcelona Escola camp in Chicago (Schaumburg) last summer. Intensive, detailed, high standards. Was lucky enough to get chosen to assist the Barça coaches and see them work. Signed up both daughters (10/13) and they loved it. It's not for casual soccer players, though. It's for serious players, 5 hours a day of deep learning. The enjoyment comes not from a "fun" campy experience, but from the sense of accomplishment and mastery. The camp is back for two (separate) weeks this June.
Do yourself a favor and look at onesoccerschools . com They are running residential camps in California (one and two week durations), and they are awesome! Kids flying in from all around the country - for a reason. Also, they are doing a residential one week camp in Lake Forest IL, which is a great location for you. However, it's only their second year at that location, and attendance could be light. Could be somewhat of an issue if not a lot of kids from a similar age group sign up. The camp is by far the best my daughters have been to, and I would do it again - no question about it.
we have found college id/summer camps are a great place to start. the girls get good training plus have fun. there's a list of them at collegeidcamps.net. our girls are going to the UNC camp this year, because they will be 13 and qualify to go to the ID camp. should be strong training there. my oldest daughter committed to a D1 program after attending one of these summer camps so they are known as not only a training ground but also a recruiting event.
I have 6 kids from my kids club and about 6 more from other clubs and rec I will be training one day and then 3v3 in a local gym on a second day. We'll pepper in a few 3v3 tourneys and bring in some other coaches with "Dev" on their mind. The pool is not as intense or as good overall - especially with the rec kids. But we ll get plenty of touches. I find this a whole lot more flexible and better then a week of camp at $500.00 - $900.00. The flexibility is nice since it is summer and kids and their families have plans. Mine is free
This one is so expensive though. That and my kid has developed better then the kids who have been doing this for 2 years already - and she started out WAY behind them. No thanks - too rich for me.