Soccer Camps: Everything You Need to Know

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.

Find soccer camps near you

42 results

IMG Academy Boys Soccer Camp

IMG Academy

Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023

Bradenton, FL

Ages / Grade Level: 10yr – 18yr

DAWGS Weekly Training Academy Camp (Fridays)

University of Georgia

Aug 25, 2023 – Dec 15, 2023

Athens, GA

Ages / Grade Level: K – 12

Division: NCAA D1

$600 – $700

Lindsey Wilson College Soccer ID Camp and Homecoming Celebration!

Lindsey Wilson College

Sep 30, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023

Columbia, KY

Ages / Grade Level: 9th – 12th

Division: NAIA

$99

Fall ID Camp

Boston University

Oct 1, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023

Boston, MA

Ages / Grade Level: 9th – 12th

Division: NCAA D1

$225

Fall ID Camp

Coastal Carolina University

Oct 8, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023

Conway, SC

Ages / Grade Level: 9th – 12th

Division: NCAA D1

$220

Before you go to a camp, make sure your NCSA Recruiting Profile is up-to-date! Create a free profile today. 

What is camp in soccer?

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.

What are the different types of summer soccer camps?

Here are the different types of soccer camps you can attend this summer:

Youth development camps: This is where you start if you’re a young player who wants to build on the fundamentals. Some sessions may include hundreds of attendees, dozens of instructors and several skills/drill stations running continually throughout the day.
Soccer clinic sessions: If you’re a more advanced player who wants a lot of one-on-one attention from instructors, a soccer clinic will be more productive. Clinics often focus on specific positions and advanced strategies.
College soccer camps: Most college soccer programs offer on-campus camps for various age groups and skill levels. These are perfect for athletes who want to learn more about a college and develop their skills.
ID showcase camps and tournaments: This is where you gain exposure to college coaches and recruiters. Most of these tournament-style showcases are invite-only for club players or college recruits.

Why you should attend soccer camps

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.

When do camps take place?

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.

How do I choose a soccer camp?

When choosing a soccer camp, athletes should answer the following questions.

What is my skill level? While soccer camps are a great place to advance your skill level, it’s important that you don’t attend a camp that is too far beyond your abilities. Look for camps that match your current skill level.
What is my goal for attending a soccer camp? Everyone’s goals are different, so it’s important to identify what you are looking to gain from attending a camp. Do you want to gain exposure? Learn a new skill? Improve on your current skillset? Once you determine your goal it will be easier to find the right camp.
Who is hosting the camp? For athletes looking to gain exposure while attending a camp, it’s important to find a camp where coaches at your target school are present.

What’s my budget? The reality is, camps can be expensive. Athletes should decide on a budget before searching for camps.

How do I prepare for a soccer camp?

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.

What are soccer ID camps?

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.

Soccer ID camps allow college coaches to identify new talent

How do soccer ID camps work?

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.\

Who should go to a college soccer ID camp?

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.

Do you have to get invited to a college soccer ID camp?

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.

Are soccer ID camps worth it?

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:

Get identified as a college prospect. Is there a better way to get evaluated by a college coach than to work directly with them? Getting hands-on experience can give you a better look into their coaching style and personality.
Compete against high level of competition. You’ll get to see how you stack up against other players which can help you evaluate the right division level for you.
The college experience. This is a big one. You’ll get to check out a variety of college campuses and athletic facilities to help you discover what you’re looking for in a college. Plus, get a taste for what to expect at college workouts.
Improve your soccer skills. You’ll be training with some of the best soccer coaches and players. Take this opportunity to not only work on your current skills, but also develop new ones!

4 ways you can stand out at an ID camp

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.

Are there camps for goalkeepers?

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: 

Where is your skill level? Read the description of camp to find out what type of instruction or training there will be. To truly improve, goalkeepers need to be challenged in the right areas. 
Who is the coach or instructor? What is their pedigree? You want your athlete to learn from a coach who has the knowledge and experience goalkeepers need to advance their skills.
What is the coach to player ratio? There are a lot of camps out there that are just for profit. Which means they might not cap attendance. You want to make sure your athlete will have the opportunity to receive individual training and a lot of reps.

What do soccer camps cost?

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.

What is the best soccer camp?

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:

IMG Academy Soccer Camp: The IMG Academy, a large sports-centered prep school in Bradenton, Fla., offers some of the best high school soccer camps in the nation. Attendees get access to state-of-the-art training facilities and world-class IMG coaches.
Exact Sports Soccer Camp: Every year, Exact Sports teams up with Adidas soccer to put on what is billed as the No. 1 ID camp in college soccer. More than 1,000 college coaches attend these Adidas camps to build connections with recruits.
Future 500 ID Camp: In addition to offering a showcase series for college coaches, the Future 500 features valuable recruiting educational seminars for players. This camp is all about providing opportunities for players of various skill levels, from D-I stars to potential D-III walk-ons. The Future 500 hosts regional and national camps that attract 75-plus coaches.
Nike Soccer Camps – US Sports Camps: By partnering with US Sports Camps, Nike soccer offers hundreds of sessions in locations across 21 states. A typical Nike camp will have attendees across a broad age spectrum split into groups based on skill level. The low coach-to-player ratio makes an ideal formula for skills development.
Barca Residency Academy: FC Barcelona is one of the most lauded soccer clubs in the world. By attending a Barca Residency Academy summer soccer camp, boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 17 can actually learn from some of the club’s coaches. Camps are held at the club’s U.S. facilities in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Conclusion  

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:

Soccer combines
Soccer tournaments