Anonymous
05/28/2025 19:52
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:and recs in Virginia?
Apologies ahead for the off topic response... camps are a distant 3rd place behind paid individual / small group training... which is a distant 2nd place behind consistent individual (player initiated and on thier own) training.
Have said that, all of those things might be behind kids getting together and play on their own just for fun...
No one asked you for this. Do you converse like this with people in real life?
Someone asked about camps. You don’t like them. Maybe skip the thread.
Some people like camps for training. Some people like camps so their kid is occupied while they work for a week or more during the summer. Some kids like going away for week with friends or to meet new friends. Some people like playing and training in an organized environment. Some people like collecting tee shirts.
Some people like smugly judging others on Internet forums. But also, good luck sending a 12 year old to just play with friends all summer when his/her friends are at camp.
Yes, I could see the conversation heading in this direction in real life...
No judgment, camps have their place, I've done them for my kids... less recently than in the past.
It was just a thought that came to my mind, so I shared it... it's just an internet forum, no big deal
Anonymous
05/28/2025 11:50
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Any thoughts on VA Revolution soccer camp?
Anonymous
05/27/2025 14:15
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
My son liked the GMU and Marymount camps. Goldenboot was good as well. Try to figure out something that isn’t too far away. There will usually be some kids from their club at different ages.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 13:36
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:and recs in Virginia?
Apologies ahead for the off topic response... camps are a distant 3rd place behind paid individual / small group training... which is a distant 2nd place behind consistent individual (player initiated and on thier own) training.
Have said that, all of those things might be behind kids getting together and play on their own just for fun...
I see this sentiment expressed here often. But some of us work harder when we are working alongside others. I have always been this way. If I’m doing things on my own, I get bored quickly and cut corners. If I’m in a group, I work my butt off the entire time because my competitive side comes out. Maybe some of our kids are the same way. I agree that it would be ideal to have a group of kids who are regularly available for pick up soccer. But that is not the reality for most kids. Everyone has all different schedules in the summer, especially if the kids are younger, and their parents are both working. So sometimes the best we can do is sign up for some structured things.
Agree on the pick-up soccer, it probably isn't an option for most American kids, including mine.
I don't disagree with you reference kids training on their own. All I am saying, is that it is my experience that that is the great Seperator between average players and players that continue beyond HS. More importantly, it is free!
Personally, I will not pay for my kids to play anything beyond rec if they are not willing to train on their own... longstanding rule for us.
Everyone's goals, expectations, etc are different, just my take.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 13:31
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:and recs in Virginia?
Apologies ahead for the off topic response... camps are a distant 3rd place behind paid individual / small group training... which is a distant 2nd place behind consistent individual (player initiated and on thier own) training.
Have said that, all of those things might be behind kids getting together and play on their own just for fun...
No one asked you for this. Do you converse like this with people in real life?
Someone asked about camps. You don’t like them. Maybe skip the thread.
Some people like camps for training. Some people like camps so their kid is occupied while they work for a week or more during the summer. Some kids like going away for week with friends or to meet new friends. Some people like playing and training in an organized environment. Some people like collecting tee shirts.
Some people like smugly judging others on Internet forums. But also, good luck sending a 12 year old to just play with friends all summer when his/her friends are at camp.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 13:15
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:and recs in Virginia?
Apologies ahead for the off topic response... camps are a distant 3rd place behind paid individual / small group training... which is a distant 2nd place behind consistent individual (player initiated and on thier own) training.
Have said that, all of those things might be behind kids getting together and play on their own just for fun...
I see this sentiment expressed here often. But some of us work harder when we are working alongside others. I have always been this way. If I’m doing things on my own, I get bored quickly and cut corners. If I’m in a group, I work my butt off the entire time because my competitive side comes out. Maybe some of our kids are the same way. I agree that it would be ideal to have a group of kids who are regularly available for pick up soccer. But that is not the reality for most kids. Everyone has all different schedules in the summer, especially if the kids are younger, and their parents are both working. So sometimes the best we can do is sign up for some structured things.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 12:45
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Anonymous wrote:and recs in Virginia?
Apologies ahead for the off topic response... camps are a distant 3rd place behind paid individual / small group training... which is a distant 2nd place behind consistent individual (player initiated and on thier own) training.
Have said that, all of those things might be behind kids getting together and play on their own just for fun...
Anonymous
05/27/2025 10:20
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
For the climate change pooh-poohers, my kid got burns on his feet last year at a soccer camp on turf.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 10:14
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Futstars was good. We only sign our kids up for half day in the morning if outdoors. It’d there’s a heat wave that turf is dangerously hot. Not worth it.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 08:56
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
My DD likes the UVA run sleep away camp at St Andrew’s
Anonymous
05/27/2025 08:47
Subject: best soccer camp for a 12 year old
Soccer Academy -wouldn't send my kid back if they paid me.
Futstars had a good summer camp, we also had a good experience at Golden Boot.
Futstars had a good summer camp, we also had a good experience at Golden Boot.