Our Elite camps are offered in limited locations and are intended for the serious player with an eye toward college soccer. Elite groups are exposed to high-level skill sets and are challenged to apply these skills to tactically appropriate situations. Games and exercises stress tactical awareness, problem solving, principals of possession, advanced finishing skills, group defending, playing to targets, effective flank play and multiple player attacking combinations. Spirited competition is encouraged and fitness and speed training are emphasized.
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.
