What about the trainers from the Netherlands? Are they still around? I think they do a trip to Amsterdam for select campers too.

UMD used to have a great camp, so did Penn State. Back in the day, I think Brit Am did a great sleep away camp too.

Not sure any of these started back up after the pandemic.

Anonymous wrote:My son loved the Real Madrid camp, though it was HOT. He liked the instruction and had more confidence in himself at the end. Anyone know the deal with who gets “selected” to go to Spain? They say it’s based on skill and attitude, but honestly I don’t know if they are that organized. I’d take my son because of the boost in confidence and also because I would love an excuse to go to Spain.

My son did their camp three years in a row (maybe U10 - U12?). Was "selected" to go the second time and we went. It seemed like just about everyone was selected, but we mostly enjoyed the trip to Spain. It was run by Avanza and there were TONS of kids. Families who were there for the 2nd time said it was MUCH better pre-Covid because there weren't as many kids - food, lodging.

My son loved the Real Madrid camp, though it was HOT. He liked the instruction and had more confidence in himself at the end. Anyone know the deal with who gets “selected” to go to Spain? They say it’s based on skill and attitude, but honestly I don’t know if they are that organized. I’d take my son because of the boost in confidence and also because I would love an excuse to go to Spain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the Real Madrid/PSG ones just money grabs? They seem to have lower quality training for the pricing.

My U15 kid (female) liked UVA overnight camp and Coach Allison's camp at SJC (I don't know what it's called, but it caters to "elite" female players). I would say at glance most kids at both were 12 and older?

I have found the big clubs camps’training better vs local club camp, overnight UVA or SJC. The locals camps are just the same old same old.

My kid (who is a reliable-ish) reporter said UVA was mostly games and scrimmages and not much instruction

My DD loved UVA camp.

9 year old really enjoyed FC Barcelona and PPA camps. Barcelona was over the top excitement to go every day.

My daughter liked the UVA overnight camp at Episcopal HS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the Real Madrid/PSG ones just money grabs? They seem to have lower quality training for the pricing.

My U15 kid (female) liked UVA overnight camp and Coach Allison's camp at SJC (I don't know what it's called, but it caters to "elite" female players). I would say at glance most kids at both were 12 and older?

I have found the big clubs camps’training better vs local club camp, overnight UVA or SJC. The locals camps are just the same old same old.

My kid (who is a reliable-ish) reporter said UVA was mostly games and scrimmages and not much instruction

Anonymous wrote:Are the Real Madrid/PSG ones just money grabs? They seem to have lower quality training for the pricing.

My U15 kid (female) liked UVA overnight camp and Coach Allison's camp at SJC (I don't know what it's called, but it caters to "elite" female players). I would say at glance most kids at both were 12 and older?

I have found the big clubs camps’training better vs local club camp, overnight UVA or SJC. The locals camps are just the same old same old.

Are the Real Madrid/PSG ones just money grabs? They seem to have lower quality training for the pricing.

My U15 kid (female) liked UVA overnight camp and Coach Allison's camp at SJC (I don't know what it's called, but it caters to "elite" female players). I would say at glance most kids at both were 12 and older?

After many summers of soccer camps, here are camps my kids would recommend for beginner, rec, and low level travel players:

DC United
Real Madrid and other big name camps
Neighborhood camps or camps run by smaller clubs.

Note that the training above isn’t necessarily lesser quality less or competent but that my kids find the best camps where they learn the most are from camps where the other attendees were really good too.

The following camps they’d recommend for top players or kids who believe they are really good or confident players.

NextStar (they do their own or affiliate with Nike soccer camps)
Achilles summer camp
Boys soccer camp at UMD

That said, my kids thought all the camps above to be fun so if ur kids just love to play soccer even in crazy heat, they’ll be fine.

Would love to hear recs of other local camps that draw confident and solid players

In MoCo, there a various HS Prep Camps. These include 2 hours on weekdays over the Summer to a week long prep camp right before HS soccer tryouts.

My DD signed up for:

ATD HS Prep Camp: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 6-8pm

Upper90 HS Prep Camp: week long 9-3pm. (Week before HS soccer tryouts)

Anonymous wrote:Just read a larger thread about camp reviews for this summer and thought a soccer specific one would be appropriate. I’ll start first - although it will be anti-climatic.

DC for the first time ever passed on camps. Starting high school and opted for personal training.

Yep most of the soccer camps age out by 8th-9th grade. If the camp has older kids it is always a small group. By high school you are doing year round soccer or you are not playing soccer.

Anonymous wrote:Just read a larger thread about camp reviews for this summer and thought a soccer specific one would be appropriate. I’ll start first - although it will be anti-climatic.

DC for the first time ever passed on camps. Starting high school and opted for personal training.

Can you share what camps your DC has done in the past and your review of them?

Just read a larger thread about camp reviews for this summer and thought a soccer specific one would be appropriate. I’ll start first - although it will be anti-climatic.

DC for the first time ever passed on camps. Starting high school and opted for personal training.