How to Prepare for a Soccer Camp

Now that you have learned about the value of a soccer camp and how to pick one, it’s time to explore how to prepare for one. EXACT has worked with coaches and players all over the nation, and we know that in order to get the most out of your camp experience you need to be prepared.  In this article, we will talk about what you can do before, during, and after the camp to maximize your experience and performance.

Not only is it important that you bring all the necessary items, but it is also important that you are physically and mentally ready for the camp. Whether it is a day camp or an overnight camp, you will often be training for several hours, multiple times a day. Those training sessions will, without a doubt, be both physically and mentally draining. Because of this, it is important to take care of your body before and during the camp.

Before the camp, make sure you eat properly and consume as much water as you can. Being properly hydrated and well rested will ensure that you start the camp with the energy that you need. You may also want to set aside some time to practice imagery and goal setting. What is it that you want out of this camp? What do you want to accomplish? Asking yourself these questions can help you focus on your goals and achieve them during the camp.

It is also important to prepare all of your equipment and belongings well beforehand. You don’t want to be stressed and rushing around to find your cleats 2 hours before the camp. Make a list of everything you need and prepare your bags the night before. It is usually a good idea to bring extra cleats and socks (in case it rains), multiple water bottles, snacks (for in between sessions), a soccer ball, and a writing utensil and paper (for meetings with coaches/trainers).

During the camp, be sure to stay as hydrated as possible. Soccer camps – especially those in the summer months – can dehydrate a player quickly (Mamula 2004, Walker et al 2004). Drinking water before, during, and after training sessions will not only prevent dehydration, but will also increase your endurance, decision-making skills and recovery time. Eating healthy snacks and meals as well as getting adequate rest will keep you in top physical condition throughout the camp.

Being hydrated and eating right are important elements of your performance, but don’t forget to include your mental training. Throughout the camp you should periodically review your goals and reevaluate or revise them as necessary. For example, if before the camp you set out to juggle the ball 20 times on your head, but just can’t seem to get there, you may need to bring your goal down to 10 head juggles, or try a different approach. Remember, the coaches and trainers are there to help you reach your goals. If you’re having trouble with a certain technique or drill, be sure to ask an instructor for clarification – this will help you get the most out your camp experience.

After the camp, continue to hydrate properly and eat healthy to help your body recover. Write down any comments or suggestions the coaches gave you during the camp. This will give you something to refer to when making new goals or trying a new skill. If you attended a recruiting camp, be sure to follow up with a thank you email or phone call to the coach. A soccer camp is a great opportunity to learn from exceptional coaches and improve your game. Following these simple tips will help you stay on top of your game and be better prepared for your next soccer camp!

References:

• Mamula, P.W. (2004) Dehydration risk during summer youth sports camps. Physician and Sportsmedicine. 32(7): 435
• Walker, S.M., Casa, D.J. FACSM; Levreault, M.L., Psathas, E., Sparrow, S.L., Decher, N.R. (2004) Children participating in summer soccer camps are chronically dehydrated. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 36(5):180-181

How to Pick a College Soccer Camp

FAU Assistant Coach Tom Newell teaching campers at EXACT Miami NPDC

The value of a college soccer camp is undeniable (see EXACT’s article Discovering the Value of Camps), but picking a college soccer camp can often seem confusing and complicated. There are many factors that can affect your camp experience, so where do you start? Fortunately, this comprehensive guide will take the stress out of picking the right college soccer camp for you!

There are many things to consider when looking for a college soccer camp. Things like duration, cost, coaches, and size can all vary depending on the college or the company hosting the camp. Depending on what you’re looking to get out of a college soccer camp, some camps are better than others. Typically, there are three main reasons players choose to attend a college soccer camp: 1. To improve their game, 2. To be evaluated, and 3. To be “discovered” by a college coach.

Players who want to improve their game should look for camps that offer intensive technical training and lots of one-on-one time with coaches. Look for soccer camps that specialize in specific positions as well. For instance, a goalkeeper will likely improve much more over a 3-day goalkeeper camp than a camp designed for field players. If your main interest is developing as a player, remember that time spent with quality coaches and competing against high-level players is invaluable.

If being evaluated by a college coach is the most important thing to you, make sure you attend a soccer camp early in your high school years. This gives you the chance to improve aspects of your game that may be weaker, and will help you evaluate potential college choices depending on your level. A camp that offers a low ratio of players to coaches, as well as a one-on-one meeting with a coach will be beneficial.

For players who want to be recruited and scouted at a college camp, it is important that they attend the camps of universities that they want to play at or with coaches they want to play for. In this situation, choosing a camp with a high number of players is not to your advantage, but is sometimes unavoidable. To help yourself stand out, make sure you contact the coach before the camp as well as introduce yourself at the camp. Be sure that the coach will be the one training you (often times colleges put on camps that are primarily run by the players). If you get a chance to talk with the coach in private, be sure to express your interest in the school and explain what makes you stand out from other players. After the camp, follow up with an email – this will keep your name fresh in the coach’s mind.

While most camps offer a mixture of these things, EXACT National Player Development Camps offer all of the above – a chance to work with top quality coaches from some of the most reputable and successful colleges in the U.S., mental training and evaluation, one-on-one meetings with coaches, 5:1 player to coach ratio, position-specific training, and a question and answer session with coaches. And while these are not recruiting camps, our unique approach ensures that players improve both mentally and technically while being able to meet, ask questions, and develop relationships with college coaches.

Remember, before picking a college soccer camp, make sure it is offering what you want. A college soccer camp is a great investment, but it can be a waste of time and money if it doesn’t meet your needs. Looking over a camp website or brochure will help you understand what is being offered and how it compares to other camps. Hopefully this guide will help you in your search to find the best college soccer camp for you!

For more information on training and camp opportunities with the NCAA/NAIA, as well as access to EXACT development tools, consider enrolling in the collegiate soccer contact database.

Discovering the Value Of Camps

Competition is not what it used to be in regards to intercollegiate recruiting. With all the media outlets available to high school athletes, a talented player may be overlooked for someone who can edit a YouTube video and throw some music behind it. Unfortunately, for high school athletes raw talent may not be enough to get the kind of exposure to potential college programs that you are looking for. This isn’t to say you need to create a social media campaign, but high school athletes with a desire to take his or her athletic career to the next level should always look for an advantage. Competitive athletic camps like our EXACT National Player Development Camps give dedicated soccer, baseball, and hockey players that edge.

Attending intensive camps is not a revolutionary idea. For example, in ancient Greek society parents often sent their children to military based recreation camps to give them a leg up on other future Spartan soldiers. The problem is; athletic intensive camps are occasionally overlooked resources.

Like I stated before; it is all too common for an athlete with Division I talent to not get the exposure he or she deserves, and slips through the cracks. This could cause the loss of a better education, missed scholarships, and missed opportunities to develop your game at the highest level. If you are serious player or you are the parent of a serious player looking to play at the next level, you owe yourself these opportunities. 

So what do all competitive athletic camps have to offer?

All of them provide the opportunity to learn and practice new skills to transform your game.  Like any other student, many would argue that you are never done learning. That is the same for sports. For example; even Tiger Woods gets coached. Also, some camps offer a unique opportunity for exposure that a lot of athletes may not get otherwise.

So what does EXACT National College Development Clinic (NCDC)?

In short: All of the above and more. Not only does EXACT NCDC offer you all the physical training you need to take your game to the next level, but it also offers unique MENTAL training too. Being a sports psychology based company, EXACT provides training with the same psychological tools that the pros use. Imagine the difference that anxiety management, improved confidence, goal setting, unparalleled motivation can bring to your game. These are things scouts look for apart from physical talent.

You also get another valuable resource: exposure. This doesn’t just mean exposure for scouting purposes, but rather a unique exposure to college-level methods of development. EXACT Sports works with the top athletic programs at the Division I, II, and III levels. The coaches we work with are the coaches at the camp, giving you direct exposure and the ability to learn directly from the people recruiting you. Here’s an abbreviated list of the Soccer, Baseball, and Hockey programs who coach our camps:

                University of North Carolina

                University of Texas

                University of Miami

                Oklahoma State University

                Marquette University

                University of Arizona

                University of Utah

                University of Wisconsin

                Indiana University

                And many more…

Where else are you going to experience this type of exposure AT THE SAME TIME? Now let me clearly state these are not recruiting events. However, in the EXACT Sports network, coaches talk, and players looking for more exposure may open a valuable doorway to the future.

But what does the research say? Well, in a recent study by Georgia Hinman PhD she found out just how valuable these camps are.

“46% of D1 athletes attended exposure camps and 88% found it useful.  Same thing at the D3 level as well with 32% attending and 94% finding it useful.   While it is very important to attend camps, there are a options that need to be considered when selecting camps including coach to player ratio, quality of the instructors, mission & quality of the training, costs involved and other factors.  With approximately 64% of D1 players attending 4 or more youth camps, it could possibly be attributed to the amount of training and exposure the athletes were given (28% attended 10 or more)”

 The EXACT goal is to provide not only a well-structured training experience, but to also provide a strong ‘value’ from unique mental development and exposure to many programs at once.

The key for all players looking to play intercollegiate sports and beyond is to give yourself as much of an advantage as possible. EXACT Sports NCDC provides an unbelievable ‘bang for your buck.’ Take it from a former player; even if you are unable to attend our camp do not overlook other competitive exposure camps that will give you that leg up. They may just be the most valuable resource available.

~ Eric @ Exact

*If you have any questions about our upcoming events please feel free to email myself or my colleague Jared @ eric.rancke@exactsports.org or jared.blitz@exactsports.org *

Preview of Soccer Camp: Back to Barry University!

Tremendous success and the best weather in the country met me as I headed down to Miami on the last weekend in February to hold the Florida Boys Soccer Camp.  It was my first trip to South Florida and the  minute I got of the plane I said to myself “I need to set up another trip”.  So I did.

Steve McCrath leads one of the top DII programs in the country, and his facilities were perfect for the Sunshine State Elite Boys NPDC.  Couple that with a great staff featuring top programs locally (Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Wisconsin, North Carolina) and you have the best mental training and development camp in the region.

So, if we can accomplish that goal on the boys side, why not try it on the girls?

In December I was fortunate enough to bring University of Miami Assistant Coach Vernon Croft to Chicago for a weekend for the Windy City Elite Girls NPDC.  Host Coach Janet Rayfield (University of Illinois) had recommend Coach Croft, and after a few hours working with him, it was easy to see why.  His enthusiasm is contagious, and he quickly became a player favorite.

Coach Croft, noting the great weather in Miami compared to a Chicago winter, recommended we put together a group of coaches to host a girls NPDC in South Florida.  Enter Fred Jungemann, Head Women’s Coach at Barry University.  Why not go back to Barry University and offer the same mental training?

So it’s set.  A top notch staff including Donna Fishter (University of Central Florida), Vernon Croft (University of Miami), Fred Jungemann (Barry University), and Chip Dutchick (Lynn University) will deliver a truly exceptional camper experience on the field.  Barry University will be the site, and for those of you who have not visited the campus in Miami Shores, it couldn’t be more perfect.

I look forward to working with players and coaches alike on what will be a great weekend.  Check out the registration information at http://exactsports.com/soccer/events/

Player Development and Soccer: Benefits Beyond The Pitch

What does “player development” mean? What are the goals of player development? We here at EXACT Sports think about this question all of the time (after all, it’s our job!). The way we see it is that the goal of player development generally takes two forms: 1) developing skills that allow the individual to excel in his or her sport; 2) developing characteristics in the individual that he or she can take with them beyond the sport. While EXACT is well known for its work helping athletes achieve the first goal (e.g., our work with soccer camps, baseball camps, hockey camps, our player development services provided to pro sports groups like the NHL, MLS teams, colleges, etc.), we have also spent quite a bit of time researching and providing services that support the overall healthy development of youth. In a later blog post, for instance, I’ll be sharing a summary of the research we were asked to present at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America earlier this year that discussed these issues.

This post, however, I wanted to share some really interesting research that has been coming out of the scientific journals. I thought it was very compelling and relevant to healthy youth development and it shines a positive light on the value of sports participation… particularly, participation in soccer and participation of females in soccer. In a series of articles published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, researchers found a few very interesting findings:

• For females, participation in soccer resulted in a longer-term commitment to an active lifestyle than did female participation in running/jogging. The reason for this is because soccer created a sense of community and teamwork, whereas running was a more individual-focused sport. Researchers believe the reason that females had a higher long-term commitment to soccer is because the focus of soccer was social in nature, rather than an individual mandate to “get in shape”.
• Males showed less worry when they were playing soccer than when they were running. This is particularly interesting. Soccer was more successful at making its participants feel happier, more motivated, and engaged in playing the game than running/jogging.

These are just a few choice bits of the abundance of research showing how playing sport, and soccer in particular, yields healthy benefits even beyond just the physical fitness component. I thought it was interesting to cite this new research because it dovetails with EXACT’s own work in understanding and promoting healthy youth development.