Introduction
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July 3rd to 22nd 2008
- Co-ed Summer Soccer camp for high school students
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In association with ACT Sports Group
ECI offers you the exciting and enjoyable opportunity to take part in a fully chaperoned program of intensive coaching sessions and fun soccer related activities for high school students, designed and led by a professional player. Train at one of England’s premier sports facilities, regularly used by local professional clubs and national teams, including England squads. End your program with a four-day trip to London.
Program Highlights:
- Excellent soccer training facilities, including a range of floodlit fields.
- High quality and rigorous coaching sessions led by a skilled professional player.
- Opportunity to attend live, professional games and meet the players after the match.
- Informative stadium tours, including Old Trafford, home to Manchester United FC.
- Training sessions at grounds currently used by professional English clubs.
- Choice of fun sports activities, including tennis, squash, cricket and archery to supplement your training program.
- Comfortable accommodation at the training facility, in spectacular surroundings with all meals covered during your stay.
- Local sightseeing excursions including a trip to Liverpool.
- Four day, fully guided, sightseeing trip to London.
Who Can Take Part?
The ECI Soccer Camp Programs is designed for individual high school students of all abilities ranging in age from 15 to 18 who would like the experience of taking part in intensive coaching sessions at a top quality training facility in England, home of football.
Whether you play for your high school team and would like some pre season training or you are simply interested to improve your soccer skills this program is for you.
Who Designs Your Program?
The framework of the ECI soccer program is created by Justin Thompson, the founder of ACT Sports Group.
After completing a successful college career, at Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut where he captained the team for his final two years, Justin went on to play professional soccer in England. After a short spell at Bury FC, he played for both the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Virginia Beach Mariners in the USL Division 1. Justin also has extensive international experience playing for Canada’s youth development teams and Canadian Olympic Team. One of his fonder memories of playing for Canada is matching up against Adriano (Inter Milan) when they played Brazil at the 2003 Youth World Cup in Argentina.
Justin has been coaching for ten years at various levels. He has experience as both head coach of a youth team and extensive coaching with soccer camps. He holds community coaching licences and a B-Prep Provincial license in Canada.
He is a great ambassador for the game and a firm supporter of English football. As a professional player Justin is able to pass on the techniques, strategies and coaching methods he puts into practice during his own training sessions and weekly professional games. Justin is totally committed to providing you with a comprehensive, intensive and professionally delivered coaching program, fully customized to suit the needs and level of your players.
ACT Sports Group was founded in 2003 by Justin Thompson. The organization is involved in a number of soccer-related activities, including the organization of team tours from North America to Europe and the designing and overseeing of soccer camps in the UK, as well as the coordination of international professional player transfers. ECI is proud to be partnering with ACT Sports Group in order to provide players with a soccer experience of the highest possible quality.
Testimonials:
"Justin really helped me develop as a player, both on and off the field. His knowledge of the game and his coaching techniques made every practice fun and competitive.
Graham Tingey
U17 North Shore Metro
"Having Justin as a coach was really fun. He taught us lots of cool tricks and made soccer exciting. He was very patient and always took the positives out of a game."
Kelly McArdle
U17 Fairfield Fireballs
*(There will always be a qualified coach present at our camps.)
Where Is The Program Based?
Originally built in 1831 as the hunting lodge and family retreat of the Duke of Sutherland, Lilleshall Hall is now better known as Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Set in quiet, spectacular and secluded surroundings, Lilleshall is a flagship residential training centre and an award winning National Centre of Excellence for many of the UK's top sportsmen and women, including the England squad.
During your stay you will be accommodated in comfortable twin or triple rooms, with all meals provided, and access to a fantastic range of soccer training facilities including:
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4 floodlit, astro turf, all weather fields
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1 floodlit, grass soccer field
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1 floodlit, full size, water based, artificial field
In addition, your players will have a full range of sports and recreational facilities at their disposal during their stay:
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5-a-side football
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Tennis
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Badminton
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Cricket
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Squash
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Table tennis
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Snooker
The Coaching Program
Each day at the training facility will usually begin with a two to three hour coaching session. The major aspects of football coaching will be covered thoroughly, including the four factors:
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Technical
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Tactical
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Physical
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Psychological
Some training sessions will take place at nearby grounds currently used by professional clubs, to give your players the opportunity to experience a range of training venues, each with their own unique atmosphere.
After lunch there will be a selection of afternoon activities including visits to stadiums, the opportunity to watch a professional match and meet the players, the chance to play against a professional English club’s youth team, dependent upon the level of your team, and further training sessions or sporting activities.
After dinner at Lilleshall there is the opportunity to make full use of the sports and games facilities to supplement your players’ training, or to take part in further soccer coaching sessions. Some evenings could also be spent visiting a movie theater or bowling in the local town.
Local Sightseeing Program
During your time at the Lilleshall training camp you will also get the opportunity to take part in some local sightseeing – visit Liverpool, European city of Culture 2008 and home to the Beatles, as well as one of football’s most famous teams. Spend an afternoon at Europe’s answer to Great America, Alton Towers – a firm favorite with English teenagers. There will also be an opportunity to visit the city of Manchester, a vibrant northern English city.
London Sightseeing Program
No trip to England would be complete without a visit to London. Your English soccer program will therefore culminate in a trip to the capital, where you team will spend a fun-packed four days enjoying the sights of this amazing city. There will also be included further football- related activities, such as a visit to the Chelsea Football Club stadium.
Your three days in London will be fully guided. You will be accommodated in a well-located and high quality hotel, with breakfasts and restaurant dinners included.