The Advanced camps are available to players over 10 who have been to the camps previously or who have experience playing select soccer. The Advanced level teaches more complicated moves and swiftly puts players into competitive environments with an emphasis on 1v1 and 2v2 play in the morning. Small group tactics are also taught and small-sided games are played featuring fast break attack and counter attack. The importance of fast transition play is stressed and players are encouraged to play creatively and freely and to use their new skills in games. Players are also put in many situations requiring decision-making as that is a key ingredient to advanced play.
Advanced and Elite campers also compete in the adidas 5-3-1 competition each day where they are put in a series of competitive team environments and their scores are calculated each day. The teams and challenges change every day and each player’s scores are compiled throughout the week. The winner of the weeklong competition is recognized at our awards ceremony on Friday.
At all levels we follow a similar format. In the mornings we focus on individual skill development with emphasis on fast footwork, passing and receiving, and moves.
« Mondays we teach “attacking moves” to get behind defenders or create space to play forward.
« Tuesdays we teach “advanced attacking moves” incorporating combination play.
« Wednesdays we teach shielding and “change of direction moves” to create time and space in midfield and on the flanks
« Thursdays we teach “stops and starts” to beat defenders while running in space, particularly on the flanks.
« Fridays we review all the work of the previous week and have challenging contests.
At all levels, games are played to encourage the use of the specific skills being taught that day. Nearly three decades of cooperative curriculum development affords us a finely tuned method for getting the skills incorporated into the competitive environment as quickly as possible while building confidence along the way. The difficulty of the moves we teach and the intensity of the competition increases at each level.
