Do anyone send their kids to camps/ schools/ academies...during the summer months? Does anyone know of any good ones, with-out trashing the TTP rule of advertisement, of course? What do you expect your kids to get from these schools or camps other than maybe one or two hours of high priced baby sitting?
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Soccer Camps
- Thread starter knvb
- Start date
Ralph Wiggum
New Member
UBC has always been the best for the money, they have a really young group where the parents are involved and then the 5 and 6 year olds who end up with a mini world cup, where holland and england always lose, just like the real cup...
knvb said:
3 Main ones that do the rounds from community to community are the Whitecaps, AIA and Brad Higgs. Have not heard a complaint in a long time about any of them as I think they have all forced each other to get better through healthy competition.
I would expect Dude to pick up a few ball skills, although the babysitting is huge.
- Admin
- #4
Tee & Sarge have their Ontheball camps which I've heard good things about except their goalkeeping instructor is a little weak.
It seems nowadays, everyone and their dog or horse named patches has a school/camp. What the market really needs is something a bit different, perhaps along the lines of some personalized instruction, something like My Tutor - without the big tits.
It seems nowadays, everyone and their dog or horse named patches has a school/camp. What the market really needs is something a bit different, perhaps along the lines of some personalized instruction, something like My Tutor - without the big tits.
Depends on the age and skill level. I have sent my kids to both Brad Higgs and Whitecap camps when they were younger. Was highly unimpressed with Brad Higgs and have heard the same from friends of mine with more recent experiences. What did I expect? They were younger then and my expectations were for them to learn the game and fundamentals of it, (remember when it was chase the ball around in a group, check your own player, etc.) some play set ups, passing, team play, how to head the ball, throw it in, you get the idea. But probably just for them to get out there and have some fun meet some new people and get a different coaching perspective.
Good luck with your choice and I hope your little one has a blast.
Good luck with your choice and I hope your little one has a blast.
I can only speak from my limited experience w/ Mini Dude, turning 6 in August.
I've had him with Geoff McCormick, who runs some U-14 program or something for Surrey United. He also does his own soccer schools in the winter, indoor (Creative Soccer, Langley). Emphasis on learning and fun with young kids, and with older kids extra training in a controlled environment. He teaches Brazilian FDS to the older kids who are a little more serious; emphasis on ball skills and footwork. Mini Dude will be joining an introductory to FDS this winter, so we'll see what that is like. Geoff is an exceptionally patient and good teacher; he's doing an outdoor camp this summer...Mini Dude is registered for that, and for the AIA Camp.
For my kid, I expect that the program will enhance his enjoyment in the game- first and foremost- and teach him some skills to help him enjoy it more.
Personally, I'm heading to the Soccerwest camp, where the proprietors will teach me how to kick it hard, and kick it far.
I've had him with Geoff McCormick, who runs some U-14 program or something for Surrey United. He also does his own soccer schools in the winter, indoor (Creative Soccer, Langley). Emphasis on learning and fun with young kids, and with older kids extra training in a controlled environment. He teaches Brazilian FDS to the older kids who are a little more serious; emphasis on ball skills and footwork. Mini Dude will be joining an introductory to FDS this winter, so we'll see what that is like. Geoff is an exceptionally patient and good teacher; he's doing an outdoor camp this summer...Mini Dude is registered for that, and for the AIA Camp.
For my kid, I expect that the program will enhance his enjoyment in the game- first and foremost- and teach him some skills to help him enjoy it more.
Personally, I'm heading to the Soccerwest camp, where the proprietors will teach me how to kick it hard, and kick it far.
- Thread starter
- #8
Geoff does some great stuff. He and wife are also the Mangers behind Surrey U's Spring Academy teams.
Dude and Lita for that matter, how many kids do yours practice with? How many coaches are around per group? From my coaching experience at SU I know it's difficult top manage more than 12 properly and even then things and kids get missed and by missed I mean you're given them a set of instructions and catching a quick look as to what they are doing but it's difficult to concentrate on one or two kids for more than a couple of seconds at a time during the drill. Where I'm going with this is and why I'm asking is, I was watching a session pre my Muckers game last Tuesday at MAP. I assume it was some type of Langley player development camp and their was one lad with 18 or 19 U-13/14 (ish) boys in nice tight lines and sharp kit and he was running a pretty decent drill, but the one thing I noticed is there where balls going all over the shop after a couple attemps and the kids that I watched that struggled with the particular exercise, I believe, weren't noticed until the ball went off the back of the coaches head while he was shouting instructions to another group and really all he had time to offer in the timed drill was "come on lads concentrate." I also watched, to my horror, 6 girls trying to organize and mange about 100 young girls (Like U10-11 into 6 groups and get them rolling into a drill. I think it took more time getting them to stop chatting and explain the drill than they actually spent doing it. Not to mention the "drill" had like 1 ball for every 16 kids.
What do young players really get from these types of deals other than a new mate and possibly a free t-shirt? Now, obviously, some camps and schools and coaches are better than others but isn't the trend nearly the same with all 1 coach, 14-20 kids and a bag of balls?
Dude and Lita for that matter, how many kids do yours practice with? How many coaches are around per group? From my coaching experience at SU I know it's difficult top manage more than 12 properly and even then things and kids get missed and by missed I mean you're given them a set of instructions and catching a quick look as to what they are doing but it's difficult to concentrate on one or two kids for more than a couple of seconds at a time during the drill. Where I'm going with this is and why I'm asking is, I was watching a session pre my Muckers game last Tuesday at MAP. I assume it was some type of Langley player development camp and their was one lad with 18 or 19 U-13/14 (ish) boys in nice tight lines and sharp kit and he was running a pretty decent drill, but the one thing I noticed is there where balls going all over the shop after a couple attemps and the kids that I watched that struggled with the particular exercise, I believe, weren't noticed until the ball went off the back of the coaches head while he was shouting instructions to another group and really all he had time to offer in the timed drill was "come on lads concentrate." I also watched, to my horror, 6 girls trying to organize and mange about 100 young girls (Like U10-11 into 6 groups and get them rolling into a drill. I think it took more time getting them to stop chatting and explain the drill than they actually spent doing it. Not to mention the "drill" had like 1 ball for every 16 kids.
What do young players really get from these types of deals other than a new mate and possibly a free t-shirt? Now, obviously, some camps and schools and coaches are better than others but isn't the trend nearly the same with all 1 coach, 14-20 kids and a bag of balls?
Geoff runs things differently.
No more than 10 kids, and his assistant isn't always a soccer person. The best one he's had is a pre-school teacher. She keeps the kids in line, and knows how to comminicate on their level. Plus, when kids do get out of line (as some 5 year olds can), she can properly discipline them.
Leaves Geoff free to teach.
Anyhow, for any young kids, I'd highly recommend him.
No more than 10 kids, and his assistant isn't always a soccer person. The best one he's had is a pre-school teacher. She keeps the kids in line, and knows how to comminicate on their level. Plus, when kids do get out of line (as some 5 year olds can), she can properly discipline them.
Leaves Geoff free to teach.
Anyhow, for any young kids, I'd highly recommend him.
- Admin
- #11
Super Socco
Anyone remember the Safeway camps and the badges they gave for attaining a set level of standard for various skills?
Are there any week-long camps around in the lower mainland anymore where you actually stay in dorms? If not, there's an opportunity I think... when I was 12 or 13, Reedy and I attended one out at Trinty. It was way more than your basic skills stuff... everyday started with a run through the trails at about 6:30 AM. The evenings ended with everyone spying on one of the older chicks making out with some dude outside the dorms
Anyone remember the Safeway camps and the badges they gave for attaining a set level of standard for various skills?
Are there any week-long camps around in the lower mainland anymore where you actually stay in dorms? If not, there's an opportunity I think... when I was 12 or 13, Reedy and I attended one out at Trinty. It was way more than your basic skills stuff... everyday started with a run through the trails at about 6:30 AM. The evenings ended with everyone spying on one of the older chicks making out with some dude outside the dorms
Hands of Stone
New Member
Regs said:
There is no need for FIFA to push for more goals by increasing the size of the net, they have hired me to start coaching new goalkeepers and goals per game have allready started to rise.
"Keeper-Away" great shout kids.
hos
Regs said:Super Socco
Anyone remember the Safeway camps and the badges they gave for attaining a set level of standard for various skills?
Are there any week-long camps around in the lower mainland anymore where you actually stay in dorms? If not, there's an opportunity I think... when I was 12 or 13, Reedy and I attended one out at Trinty. It was way more than your basic skills stuff... everyday started with a run through the trails at about 6:30 AM. The evenings ended with everyone spying on one of the older chicks making out with some dude outside the dorms
This one still exists. Your kid left with KNVB all week, that may be a little tough to spin. Perhaps Dude as the chaperone.
Honestly with the growth of soccer and especially the demands for extra high end training, I think there is every opportunity to make a go of it with something new. IMO, differenciate yourself from the big ones that do the travelling roadshow thing, do it right, and word travels fast. As a sideline, set something up that focuses primarily on fitness and nutrition. My two cent consulting fee in tokens please.
- Thread starter
- #14
Run a session strictly on soccer specific fitness? I wish I had thought of that...Problem is, finding a team with the for-thought (sp) to realize straight doggies and laps are so 87'. Ahh, who are we kidding it would probably never work.
I've been to two parks in the last two weeks, and have seen close to 150 kids at each playing soccer in some form or part of some riff raff camp or another. Hell there is a Langley church running a 4 day soccer camp in July. There certainly is a demand, it's finding the right niche and clubs to associate with is the key I guess.
I still think it would be a greater benefit for a kid to have a personal soccer training as apposed to lumping him in with 15 other kids for an hour. There is no doubt he would benefit as an extra training session from the personal attention. Watch any kids shooting drill to prove the point. 15 players on a team they get a crack at net 1 every 14 times. A kid may get what? 8 shots in a night... he could have twice that in half time with a persoanl coach.
I've been to two parks in the last two weeks, and have seen close to 150 kids at each playing soccer in some form or part of some riff raff camp or another. Hell there is a Langley church running a 4 day soccer camp in July. There certainly is a demand, it's finding the right niche and clubs to associate with is the key I guess.
I still think it would be a greater benefit for a kid to have a personal soccer training as apposed to lumping him in with 15 other kids for an hour. There is no doubt he would benefit as an extra training session from the personal attention. Watch any kids shooting drill to prove the point. 15 players on a team they get a crack at net 1 every 14 times. A kid may get what? 8 shots in a night... he could have twice that in half time with a persoanl coach.
- Admin
- #15
It pretty much is being done by the P2 Soccer guys (Rico, Randall, Eddy, Nico, Jimmy E. Jr.).
As you say though, it really does come down to finding a niche and the way you market yourself.
For anyone interested in this type of stuff, here's a few ideas:
Adult Soccer Instruction:
- many companies these days are buying into the whole 'healthy employees make more productive employees'... market a soccer-specific training program for them
- co-ed... introducing young couples who have never played organised soccer to the basic fundamentals of the game... there's gotta be a tonne of lads out there that would like to swap 'ballroom dancing' lessons for some soccer instruction to get their missus' off their backs
- Adults... there are lots of keeners out there I would think that wouldn't mind having the chance to learn a few more skills or even to just have another avenue to train outside of their winter and/or summer team(s). For example, I am partnering with a surgeon in the US who specialises in hip replacements and will be starting a series of workshops that teach adults the basic requirements needed for performing "the move".
Anyways, there you go. Advertising your new venture can be started here: http://www.soccerwebmasters.org
I look forward to hearing from you.
~Regs.
Hands of Stone
New Member
Reading through the Straight today, I saw an ad for "Survivour" fitness training, it runs for a month and you train 4 or 5 times during the week working on your core along with strength training and endurance work.
How about someone coming up with a kick-ass two week program for youth teams that want a really good pre-season camp. I still remember the 2 a days up at SFU, that could help some teams out, runs around the hill in the morning and then full field sprints in the afternoon. How nice it was to be fit back then.
On The Ball puts on the Best Soccer Clinics in the Lower Mainland that I know of, with Tiggsy and Figgsy running a tight ship.
hos
How about someone coming up with a kick-ass two week program for youth teams that want a really good pre-season camp. I still remember the 2 a days up at SFU, that could help some teams out, runs around the hill in the morning and then full field sprints in the afternoon. How nice it was to be fit back then.
On The Ball puts on the Best Soccer Clinics in the Lower Mainland that I know of, with Tiggsy and Figgsy running a tight ship.
hos
knvb said:
For the camps there was usually 8 - 10 kids per group with one coach for them, sometimes two. Only one of my children is still interested in soccer and for the past couple years we have skipped the camps and a friend of mine gives me some really good drills to run with him. As he is a little older but not much bigger we work on things specific to him. We tend to get out at least 5 times a week for an hour, that is my recommendation to parents, as it is tailor made for your childs specific needs.
If you are looking for ideas on what to do and not do for youth camps, the best thing you can do is make it fun and don't overload the classes. I find that is the case now a days. It's all about getting the fee. I have heard numerous complaints from my friends whose kids are just starting out about how they are not learning anything because there are at least 15 kids per group, (pretty hard to control 15 kids under 10 no matter who you are) and it is very disorganized. They feel their child isn't learning anything and half the time is spent on trying to control the less disciplined kids. I liked the idea of having a pre-school teacher there just to be able to get things under control. Also, it should be done by skill level and not necessarily age. My friends kid is only 7 but his play is miles above his age group.
Anyways, not sure where you are going with this but good luck.
ps.
let me know if you know of any good camps for children in the u7 - u9 age group I have a lot of friends asking me for advice on it.
Hands of Stone
New Member
Whatcha talk'n about Willis!
