Soccer camps allow you to work on your game year-round and develop the skills you need to impress college coaches and earn scholarship offers. You may be wondering, how do I find soccer camps near me? NCSA has compiled a list of college soccer camps across the country. Use the list below to find a soccer camp near you. You can also get answers to top questions about soccer camps or search all soccer recruiting events here.
Before you go to a camp, make sure your NCSA Recruiting Profile is up-to-date! Create a free profile today.
Soccer camps are specialized skills training offered over the span of one day to a full week. Athletes work with instructional coaches to identify areas that need improvement and working on them directly. Camps use drills and gameplay to help athletes refine their skillset and put their new skills into practice.
Here are the different types of soccer camps you can attend this summer:
Camps give soccer players an outlet to get comfortable on the pitch and work on their game year-round. This can give them a competitive edge for the upcoming high school season – and in college recruiting! All camps provide athletes with specialized training, and some can even give athletes direct exposure to college coaches. There are three main reasons to attend a camp: to develop new skills, to identify areas of improvement, and to learn from experienced coaches.
Club and high school leagues generally run fall through spring, which leaves the summer as an open window for camps. While skill development camps can also be found year-round, college recruiting takes place in the summer. Why? Because college coaches have more time to focus on recruiting in the summer months since it’s outside of their own season and adheres to the NCAA recruiting calendar.
When choosing a soccer camp, athletes should answer the following questions.
Start by making sure you’re healthy and injury-free. If the camp will involve lots of competitive play, you’ll want to be well-conditioned and mentally focused.
You should also research the facilities and instructors ahead of time. The latter is especially important if you’re going to a college soccer ID camp. Even if there aren’t going to be any official recruiters or soccer scouts at the session, you should always be giving full effort. Remember, coaches like to talk and spread the word about promising talent.
Soccer ID camps help coaches to identify or “ID” talent. They can be hosted by college coaches on the campus of their university, or by a third-party on a neutral location where multiple college coaches can work as coaches or attend as spectators.
Top-ranked players on youth club teams may get invited to elite soccer ID camps sponsored by club organizations, such as US Club Soccer.
At a soccer ID camp, you’ll participate in drills and competitions with college coaches present. ID camps typically last about three to four days and depending on the location, you may have to stay overnight. University camps typically offer athletes to stay overnight in the dorms with other campers. Shorter ID camps are more commonly known as ID clinics and last one to two days.\
Rising juniors and seniors who are active in their recruiting process and in contact with college coaches will benefit the most from attending ID camps. However, any varsity level soccer player can find value in getting exposure to college coaches. This can be a good way to see what division levels are showing interest in you. Know that not all ID camps are the same. Your experience will vary depending on the location of the camp, number of college coaches and athlete participation.
Yes, you usually need to be invited to participate in a college soccer ID camp. Playing on a club team and attending soccer tournaments can increase your chances of receiving an invite.
If a college coach invites you to their soccer ID camp, know where you stand as recruit before accepting. General emails or mass camp invites should not be mistaken for a real interest. Ask yourself, has the coach seen me play before? Have they showed interest in me through an email or phone call? If a coach is actively recruiting you, chances are you will receive a personalized email or phone call from the coach asking you to come to camp.
Yes, soccer ID camps are worth attending because they give athletes the most one-on-one interaction with college coaches of any recruiting event. Most coaches serve as instructors at their ID camps, which allows them to engage with and evaluate athletes to determine if they are a good fit for their program.
4 ways a soccer camp can benefit your recruiting:
For ID camps to be a successful recruiting tool, you must be proactive and ready to put in the extra work before, during and after the event. Reaching out to college coaches before camp, getting facetime with coaches, being coachable, and following up with coaches after camp are sure fire ways to stand out.
Goalies or goalkeepers have a unique skillset that may or may not be addressed at a typical college soccer ID camp. Attending a camp that is geared towards goalkeepers can provide athletes with the specific training they need to be successful in the goal.
How to choose the best goalkeeper camp for you:
Soccer camps can cost anywhere between $100 to $500 and sometimes over $1,000. The cost mostly depends on the length of stay and quality of the camp. Overnight camps can sometimes offer athletes with residential options to stay on campus. In this case, the fees will reflect a price that also covers their lodging and meals. The more “exclusive” a camp advertises, the more expensive it will be.
The best soccer camps will provide athletes with challenging soccer drills and the opportunity to learn from experienced coaches. Add in recruiting exposure, and you’ve got a hat-trick! To make the most of your experience, seek and accept any tips and advice you receive from coaches.
Here are some of the nation’s top soccer camps to attend:
If you’re looking to work on your tricks, get evaluated as a potential recruit and explore a college campus, soccer ID camps are a great recruiting event option. Create an NCSA Recruiting profile to receive and respond to college camp invites. Create a free profile today.
Learn more about the different types of soccer events:
Recruiting in your hands.
Tools and advice to find the right fit.
