Soccer Camps Go Global - Language Immersion Travel Camps Expand the World - View of Young Players

In the past twenty-five years, soccer has become the most popular youth sport in North America. Many of these young players have carried their love of the sport into adulthood, resulting in the debut of Major League Soccer, America?s first professional soccer league, in 1996.

Youth and professional soccer in the U.S. continue to grow more popular and more competitive, increasing the demand for specialized soccer training programs. Many of these programs offer training abroad as a way to tap into the fiercely competitive international soccer scene. The best of these soccer camps offer more than world-class soccer training. They foster cultural diversity, maturity, and independence in young soccer players.

Unique experience for young soccer players

Soccer camps have become available in countries around the world. Locations like Spain, France, China, Brazil, Greece, Holland, Italy and Germany have opened their doors to American soccer players. An international soccer program has recently opened in Israel as well. These international camps combine professional soccer training with a full-immersion language experience.

Camps can range from 2 weeks to several months. Young soccer players can live and train under constant supervision while learning to appreciate the unique culture of their host country.

Security: A must for travel abroad programs

If you are considering an international soccer camp for your child, safety should be a big concern. A good international soccer camp will have a clear security plan in place. In Israel, for example, EduKick students will train in safety at Kannot Youth Village, a secure, gated, educational and agricultural youth facility. Professional security will be provided 24/7 and accompany the players on all outings.

Full-immersion language instruction

The time young players spend at camp should be more than a vacation. An important part of the soccer experience abroad is learning foreign languages. Hearing and speaking another language constantly is the best way for your child to gain bi-lingual fluency. Bi-lingual instructors, competition with foreign teams, and structured language classes are integral parts of the EduKick experience.

World-class soccer training

Of course, the ultimate goal of a soccer training camp is top-notch soccer training. Look for highly-educated, experienced coaches with coaching credentials. The best coaches have experience playing at the professional level also.

The international field is highly competitive, offering a level of training that is unmatched in the U.S. When choosing an international soccer camp for your child you should accept no less than the best in soccer coaching. Look for international soccer training that focuses on strength and conditioning, technical precision, tactical development and sports psychology.

Enriching the lives of young soccer players

EduKick founders, Joseph Bilotta and Corey Zimmerman, traveled to Europe with their soccer team mates as teenagers, inspiring them to open soccer training camps all over the world as adults.

Remembering their travel abroad experience, Bilotta said, ?I remember feeling a sense of confidence upon returning home, I knew that I was wiser and it made me feel special."

EduKick international soccer training can have the same impact on the life of your child. Visit EduKick's Website today to find the perfect international soccer camp for your young player.

Soccer Footwork Drills - Make the Winning Streak

As a soccer coach or parent, you need to consider teaching the players about soccer footwork drills seriously. Let me give you a brief insight into some of those valuable things that can make a winning difference for your team.

Understanding the Soccer speed

The first and most important thing that a coach must let his players know is about the soccer speed. This is a specific speed for the game of soccer.

In fact, this is the term we use in soccer world for the ability of the player to start quickly from all different positions, accelerate to top speed in the shortest time possible, change direction, and stop rapidly under control to make the play. When a player understands this soccer speed, he will get to know how important the footwork is.

The reasons to Train Footwork

There are various reasons why the coaches should train footwork during their soccer drill coaching session. Well, the players must keep in mind the fact that the feet are in contact with the ground in movement and whenever they initiate a movement, it is initiated off the ground.

Therefore, the players must make sure that their feet absorb shock on ground contact so that they could use those forces to propel the body in the desired direction.

Position of the feet and the distribution of weight

Quick feet are nothing but quick and supple hips. Let the players know that the major objective of proper footwork is to Control and position the center of gravity. The players need not necessarily be on the toes because the foot must come back down to the ground to initiate movement.

Again, when it comes to weight distribution, it should be distributed approximately 75% to the forefoot and 25% to the rear foot. This will eventually allow the players multi-directional movement.

There are many other things as well, such as arms and hands of the players must be positioned to help them in the first movement. Coaching soccer footwork drills is not an easy cake, but you can make it easy if you use the above tips.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer footwork drills. His web site, Youth Soccer Drills, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.