Are Soccer Camps Worth It? (kickstart Your Career)

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Many young people in the world aspire to be professional soccer players as their idols and play on the best teams in the world and participate (and win).

The most important team and personal trophies. It’s normal for a young person to dream of achieving these objectives, so are soccer camps worth it?

The path to get there varies depending on several factors, although in all cases, it’s pretty tricky and requires a lot of talent, work, dedication, and commitment.

Soccer Player In Training during camp. Boy Running Between Cones During Practice in Field on Sunny Day. Young Soccer Players at Speed and Agility Practice Session. ○ Soccer Blade

What Are Soccer Academies?

In each country, the opportunities to achieve professionalism in soccer are different. In most countries such as South America and Europe, most soccer clubs have youth teams of different categories where they recruit through testing and train their players for the future.

There’re academies dedicated solely to training players at both soccer and an academic level so they can then go on to professional clubs. Such as the Qatar ASPIRE academy, whose work’s carried out in different sports disciplines, not just soccer.

Another system is used in South Korea, Japan, and the United States, where scholarships promote the sport and give opportunities to the most outstanding players through educational institutions such as high schools and universities.

What Are US Soccer Camps?

In the case of the United States, it’s a system that’s used for most sports disciplines and incorporates a selection program known as Draft, where franchises choose their prospects.

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In these cases, reaching the necessary level to be part of the soccer teams of some of these educational institutions takes on great importance,

Especially in the aspirations of young players to achieve their dreams in soccer.

Group of school children running and kicking soccer balls on grass field. Kids practicing football on summer training camp close up. ○ Soccer Blade

Are Soccer Camps Worth it?

Soccer camps can kick-start your career. Working with quality coaches and players every day for a few days or weeks can boost your skills with the right program.

Ensure the camps have good reviews and work on different aspects of the game.

There’re several types of soccer camps; there’re men’s and women’s camps, and there’re soccer camps for specific age ranges; in some, young people stay overnight; in others, they usually return home after the day.

Some are more intense, while others are a little more recreational, mainly so they can enjoy the experience.

In short, there’s a notorious variety in this type of soccer camp that can be adapted to each young person who’s interested.

Advantages of Soccer ID Camps

But, what are the benefits of investing money in an ID college soccer camp?

The young player will have direct contact with high-level coaches who’ll present training methods and technical and tactical demands at the level that would be required of them when being in one of the institutions they represent.

This leads the player to understand his current level and what he needs to improve to achieve his goal of playing soccer professionally.

In addition, in these camps, there’re scouts and staff from different teams who take the opportunity to see the young prospects and start initiating contacts with them that may serve the future; this is beneficial for the young person.

Soccer players training - Are soccer camps worth it?

What to expect at a soccer ID camps?

A typical ID soccer camp day consists of an appropriate breakfast for athletes with their peers and coaches to initiate ties and communication.

Then, the coaches will make a presentation of the soccer camp indicating the activities they have planned for the day, similar to a technical talk from a soccer club.

The first training session of the day begins, which will be interrupted by lunch, in the same way as breakfast, following the guidelines of nutritionists according to what’s best for an athlete.

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Followed by lunch, a second training session that may be accompanied by some games, depending on the stage of the soccer camp, and finally, a meeting with the coaches to establish feedback on the day.

How do you stand out at a soccer ID camp?

Here are some tips to stand out in an ID soccer camp:

  • First of all, you’ve to enjoy it. Having fun during the camp is important as this will show your passion for soccer and allow you to be more relaxed to improve your performance.
  • Listen carefully to what the coaches say and do exactly what they ask; this will demonstrate that the player’s ability to follow the instructions.
  • It’s necessary to show corresponding respect to all those who are part of the camp, such as the coaches, rival players, teammates. In short, to everybody, since all this is considered in the evaluation of coaches and scouts.
  • You should give your best during each and all the different parts of the training process and in each part of the games that are played because these are opportunities that do not appear every day and can end up defining the future of the player in question.
  • It’s recommended to ask the coaches about your performance and the points they consider you should improve as well as asking soccer questions in general to show your interest in learning.

ID soccer camps in 2021/22

Below we’re going to list some of the ID soccer camps that’ll take place in the United States during 2020:

  • Maryland Soccer camp
  • US Club Soccer’s exclusive id2 (for women)
  • UCCS Nike Boys ID Camp
  • Pilot Soccer Camps at the University of Portland (for women)
  • Johns Hopkins Women`s Soccer Academy (for women)

In order to answer the question asked in the title of this article, it can be said that ID soccer camps are worth it.

If you’ve got a real interest in soccer and your life’s biggest goal is to be part of a university institution or a professional team that’s part of leagues such as the MLS or the NWSL or even playing in a European club.

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Women soccer players in a team doing the plank fitness exercise in training together on a practice sports field. ○ Soccer Blade

Soccer Camp Coaches: What’s Best

Be sure to check the camp’s stature and the coaches there. Top coaches come at a cost, so it depends on what level you’re at.

Starting a local camp will be beneficial, but if you’re advanced, you may need to travel outer state.

These soccer camps leave a very valuable experience to be exploited and an exhibition that can lead young people to be a little closer to achieving their dream.

If you’ve got the desire and the dream to be a top soccer player, soccer camps can excel in your career working with top coaches, in a professional environment. For more useful guides, see the articles below or visit our home page.

Soccer Analyst and Publisher at Soccer Blade | Soccer Blade | + posts

Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.

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Youth Soccer FAQ

How do you know if a youth player is good?

A youth player is great at soccer they will have some of these qualities; ball control, endurance, speed, movement, strength, leadership, creativity, attitude, will to play, and will to win.

How can a parent support their child in soccer?

+ Play for fun with them. Don’t “coach” or “train” your child, just play soccer games with them!
+ Take them to soccer games. Getting kids around soccer is one of the best ways to grow their love for the sport as well as their game IQ. 
+ Sign them up! No matter what level your child is at, there are opportunities to play.
+ Choose the right level. If you want to help your child, choose a team/level that suits their abilities and interest level. 
+ Be the biggest cheerleader. Leave the coaching to the coach. As a parent, your job is to encourage your child and support them.

Do youth players get paid in America?

Players in the United States only get paid for playing soccer when they sign a professional contract. This is normally possible when a player turns 18 years old. In Europe, it is common for players to earn a salary when they are 16 years old.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a youth soccer coach? 

+ Selecting a team
+ Organizing training sessions
+ Communicating with parents
+ Scheduling practices
+ Scheduling games
+ Registering for tournaments/leagues
+ Attending league meetings
+ Administrative duties (e.g. registering players)

What are the youth soccer levels?

The youth soccer pyramid is now incredibly complex and often confusing. There are three separate organizations (USYS, USSSA, and US Club Soccer) sanctioning several divisions for youth soccer players, resulting in multiple high-level youth leagues. 


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