It’s that time of year when soccer girls start thinking about how they will get their soccer fix over the summer. We believe it’s so important to have a break from the grind of the regular season, not just for your body but your mind and well-being. But most players who love the game as Socceristas do, don’t want to take too much of a break. So, finding the right camp for the right amount of time is an important part of a Soccerista’s soccer journey!
We put together this list each year to help our community see what’s out there and shine a spotlight on some great options. There are many repeat camps because these are camps that come up time and time again as favorites. Some are co-ed, some are sleepaways, while others are held at high schools, parks, or universities.
But the one constant is that we’ve heard great things about each of these or know the people running them and feel confident in recommending them to you. This year we did something a little different. We polled our community, asked for recommendations, and got a ton of feedback. We’ve included a few of those as well.
Sleepaway Camps
Berkshire Soccer Academy for Girls
Location: Otis, MA
Dates: Multiple Sessions!
Berky is a special place. For two weeks in the beautiful Berkshires, campers will experience top soccer training, a nurturing environment, camp fun, and many new friendships. It’s the rare hybrid of real camp with excellent soccer.
Fixtures of the Berky itinerary include soccer, evening activities, and electives. Arts and crafts, paddleboarding, archery, and orienteering, are just a few of the awesome electives socceristas can choose from. In addition to these everyday features, camp goers will get visits from a cadre of soccer “celebs” (past guests have included Rose Lavelle, Brandi Chastain, and Heather O’Reilly) and special events like the opening and closing of campfires. This summer’s first session will include a visit from Team First legends Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly & Tisha Hoch!
A summer at Berky is fun, transformative, and educational with and without a ball at your feet.
Camp Manitou
Location: Maine
Dates: Multiple Sessions
Camp Manitou is not a soccer camp per se, but it has plenty of soccer in its camp curriculum. It boasts a full-size soccer pitch where an experienced soccer staff approaches game time with a mix of fun and technical training. A couple of girls in our community suggested we include Camp Manitou even though the ratio of soccer versus other activities is not as heavy as other residential camps. Still, it’s a great alternative for those who want a traditional camp with a healthy supply of soccer involved!
Check out Aly Fernandes’s comment:
Two Rivers Soccer Camps
Starting June 12: Multiple Sessions
Boys and Girls 7-17
Two Rivers Soccer Camp invites you to come to camp this summer! Learn new soccer skills, enjoy the outdoors, experience personal growth, and make new friends.
Two Rivers offers a truly unique experience for the soccer enthusiast. The camp, featuring European and American soccer coaches, creates an authentic soccer atmosphere. Located in Graeagle, California, it’s nestled in the majestic Sierra with two rushing streams bordering the 40-acre site.
Last year, more than 1,100 soccer players (ages 7-17) from the U.S. and around the world came to Two Rivers with a purpose; to improve their soccer and to have a great time. Many campers return to Two Rivers year after year. At Two Rivers, you will experience success and be challenged to work hard. You will leave camp with new feelings of self-confidence and inspiration to play your best soccer!
Furman University Soccer Camps – Doug Allison’s Soccer Academy
Boys & Girls Residential Academy: June 17-20
Boys & Girls Full and Half Day Academy: July 17-21
Furman came up a couple of times in the responses to asking the community what the best soccer camp for girls was. We usually don’t hear when we ask this, but Furman was called out for having great food, as well as being an amazing camp!
Under the direction of Head Coach Doug Allison, the Furman University Men’s Soccer Program has established itself as one of the elite Division I programs in the country. Coinciding with this growth, Doug Allison’s Soccer Academy has become one of this country’s top and in-demand soccer camps.
The mix of experienced college and ODP staff coaches, coupled with first-class facilities at Furman University, creates an unforgettable and invaluable experience for each camper.
Check out Leila Aberle’s comment.
For more information on Doug Allison’s Soccer Academy, please visit the website HERE.
Day Camps
Development Soccer Camp for the Girls of Lehigh Valley
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Dates: Multiple Dates
Headed up by one of our favorite coaches, Coach Michael Missmer, this camp is open to ANY female soccer player from 8th grade through college. It consists of five days of two-hour sessions (10 AM – 12 PM) geared towards getting you ready for the upcoming season. Before Camp week, each player will begin with a development survey to see where the player would like to focus.
Following the week of camp, they’ll work with the player to create a development plan focused on personal improvement in key areas. Personal development plans are an integral part of this camp’s process.
Most Summer camps are geared towards young kids “having fun,” leaving the older players as an afterthought. Those camps are great if you are 8 or 9, but here the focus is on older soccer players. Here you learn concepts like managing space, angles, distance, proper movement off the ball, and other ideas that make you a better and more confident player.
Contact Coach Michael Missmer on Instagram or Twitter @CoachMissmer
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All-Star Camp – Girls Only
Location: Southern California, Garden Grove
This camp is put on by a parent in our community, Hodari Garcia, and was a big hit last summer for young girls with a competitive edge. He chooses the camp coaches based on their winning record, so that tells you a lot about the mentality of this camp culture.
That said, the girls have a great time. We have a few ambassadors who have attended and loved it. Plus, we provide Siccerista United mentors to go and help with skills and support as needed. If you think your daughter has what it takes to compete here, submit her name, position, and club to 714-727-0000 to receive an invitation.
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Carolina Girls Soccer Camps
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Dates: Variety of Dates in June and July
UNC; it’s an acronym synonymous with excellence in women’s soccer. Legendary coach Anson Dorrance and his best-of-the-best staff offer several camps in the summer for socceristas ages 6-18.
These camps are designed to prepare the highly motivated, rising stars of the soccer world for the tactical demands and specific ball skills necessary to become the kind of world-class player UNC is famous for. Shooting, heading, serving, dribbling; the camp touches on it all and then implements 11 v 11 and small-sided games for players to gain confidence in wielding their skills in a realistic setting.
All the while, players are evaluated by staff coaches and provided with comprehensive feedback about their performance throughout the week.
Check out Erin’s comment:
Nike Girls Soccer Camp at Adelphi University
Dates: July 10-12 (Mon-Wed)
Camp Hours: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Check-in & out Location: Motamed Field
Ages: Ages 12-18
Gender: Co-ed
One of our favorite partners, Amanda Ferranti, works with this camp which means you’re not only going to develop as a player but as a person. Amanda is incredible at imparting mental strength training and hacks that can give you an edge on the field and in life.
This program is geared toward maximizing player performance in an educational and competitive environment. Players will get the unique opportunity to have some insight into the everyday life of a student-athlete before their freshman year!
Campers will participate in practice/game prep sessions led by NE-10, ODP, and ECNL coaches. In addition, the camp includes Athletic Trainer-led strength and conditioning sessions along with Mental Skills Consultant-led classroom sessions to drive improvement on and off the field.
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