Real California FC

Should I send my child to soccer camp? What are other ways for my child to get in soccer shape before the season?

Soccer camps can be an ideal way for your child to improve his or her soccer skills during the slower summer months. Several different types of camps are available, including day camps and away camps (boarding camps).

These can range from one-week to a month’s time and are often arranged according to a player’s potential ability or skill level. Talk with your child’s coach about the different types of camps available. Some inexpensive options can be found at local college campuses of you live near a larger college with a fairly reputable soccer program.

If your child is in good aerobic shape, he or she will naturally in be in good soccer shape. Even if soccer season is not in full swing, your child can still participate in other cardiovascular sports, such as basketball, track and field, lacrosse, field hockey, etc. Muscle-building sports, such as baseball or gymnastic, can also be helpful.

Of course, the best option to keep your player in tip-top soccer shape is to have them play soccer year-round (if they enjoy it) and many teams and leagues now offer indoor soccer playing opportunities during the colder winter months.

Indoor soccer is played on a 50-yard “field” (Astroturf) with walls surrounding the playing area that the kids can use to play the ball off of (and even score off of).