Empower Your Game: Soccerista United Camp Teams Up with Coach Jackie Bruno and Nike Sports Camps

Girls Soccer Network is partnering with Nike Sports Camps and Coach Jackie Bruno to launch the very first Soccerista United Camp this July!

It’s long been our dream to have camps and events for the girls and young women in our community. As our online presence continues to grow and inspire, it makes sense to bring this incredible community together and share our passion for the game in the three-dimensional world.

“After talking to Jackie and hearing her passion about passing along not just her knowledge of the game, but how it can enrich girls’ lives, it was a no-brainer to kick off our journey into live events with her,” Jen Gruskoff, GSN founder, said.

Bruno’s soccer pedigree is extensive, too: She was a four-time Staten Island Advance All-Star and 2011 Wingate Award winner, tallying 91 career goals and 25 assists en route to a PSAL Championship in 2009 and All-State honors in 2009 & 2011.

From 2012-16, she starred for NCAA Division I UMass-Amherst, collecting 31 points on 13 goals and five assists, including six game-winners. She was named captain in 2014 and participated in the 2015 NEWISA Senior Bowl. Currently, she is the assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton and coaches at the rapidly expanding club Legends FC.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this camp with GSN, Nike Sports camps, and Fullerton Soccer Academy. I love what all three partners represent in making the game accessible and holistic to soccer players, especially young females. The mentorship and guidance that the players will receive over this week of camp will hopefully continue to inspire them throughout the next phase of their soccer career,” said Bruno.

Soccerista United Camp is a girls’ empowerment experience that combines high-level soccer training with mentorship provided by current female coaches who want to give back to the next generation. The camp is based on GSN’s college mentorship program, Soccerista United. At SU camp, players will not only grow their game with individual skill development, soccer IQ progressions, and coaching within small-sided games, but they will also learn tricks on how to navigate the world of girls’ soccer today.

By bringing the campers face to face with coaches and mentors in group discussions and on-field activities, players attending the camp will learn how to manage their confidence, build resiliency, and sustain their motivation and love of the game. At GSN, one of the things we hear a lot from parents is that they worry their kids will burn out before high school. It’s not uncommon for that to happen, but it doesn’t need to if you never let them forget it’s a game–it’s supposed to be fun!

Topics covered will range from the educational, like the importance of nutrition, to how best to prepare yourself for club soccer tryouts, to the light-hearted, like how to manage your social media responsibly and grow your own soccer community. “Girls Soccer Network is what it is today because of social media. We believe that this is an area that can be used as a tool to grow girls’ interest in the game in a fun way and in the language they understand,” Gruskoff said.

SIGN UP HERE: Soccerista United Camp

There will be plenty of soccer throughout the day, but here are some of the additional activities we have planned!

• Monday Motivation – How we can use the foundation of this game to motivate us in school and life! Special Guest: Lauren Leslie (mindfulness & visualization)
• Tuesday Trades – Parkside Collectibles, our incredible sponsor, will donate packs of trading cards for the girls, and the girls will learn the art and education of collecting. Special Guest: Hannah Taylor (Youth international playing experience)
• Wednesday Reels – GSN content creator Madee will create reels for each girl!
• Thursday Thoughts – Chat about the importance of positive visualization.
• Friday Fiesta  – We will have a special treat and awards ceremony!

Enrollment is limited to make sure a beneficial coach-to-player ratio.

All campers will receive a free Nike Sports Camps T-shirt and goodies from Parkside Trading Cards and GSN.

When: July 15-19, 2024

Who: Socceristas, ages 8-14, who are ready to grow their game this summer. Open to both field players and goalkeepers!

Time: 9 AM – 3 PM (half-day option)

Price: $450 full-day session/$315 half day

Where: Cal State Fullerton: 800 N. State College Blvd. Fullerton

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