ACTA Camps

We divide players initially by age and gender. When you register, you will provide this information. We can - and sometimes do - move players to a different group based on their ability and likelihood of improving by training within a certain group.

For example, you may have a very advanced 13 year old who is currently playing at a very high  level. Although they would be initially placed in their own age group, it might make sense to have them train with the older group, but this is not often the case. If you feel a change is warranted, simply message the camp director to make a request. Remember that more than half of the training at our camps is individual, so the level and age of the other players, while important, is not a crucial factor in players achieving success at our camps.

In our experience, there are negatives to consider in moving a player up or down that should be considered as well. Players in these age bands can easily become overwhelmed emotionally if the environment is either too stimulative, or not stimulative enough. Widening the age gap only compounds that problem, primarily due to social and emotional anxieties. Our number one priority is always the success of the player. A better experience leads to better performance.

Camp hours vary slightly by date, location and the duration (i.e. number of days) of the camp. Generally, here is what you can expect:

1 Day Camp: One day camps generally run for 4 hours. This allows us to complete 2 testing sessions in one day (Baseline assessment at the beginning to establish a measurement, and evaluation testing at the end to measure progress). The activities for the day are organized to maximize cognitive development without overloading players physically. Although players will want to be challenged physically, they are generally not aware of the fatigue that develops over such a long session. Too much training intensity leads to poor performance and increases the risk of injury.. Players attending a one-day camp will receive an evaluation based on scores and coaching observations for the day.

2 Day Camp: 2 Day Camps are similar in most ways to one day camps, but the days are slightly shorter (for reasons discussed above) and we add more lecture time. The additional lecture time serves two purposes: 1) Managing mechanical load 2) Increasing cognitive load. Players at a 2 day camp also receive both assessments, and will receive an evaluation that measures performance over two days, as well as coach feedback regarding additional development.

Curriculum: Camp days vary based on length, age and other factors, but in general each day consist of:

• Testing: .30-60 minutes 
• Speed of Play Training: 60:90 minutes
• Competition: 60 - 75 minutes
• Lecture: 30-60 minutes

Girls:

• Olders (14-17) 8AM - 12PM
• Youngers (11-13) 9AM - 1PM

Boys:

• Olders (14-17) 12PM - 4PM
• Youngers (11-13) 1PM - 5PM

Yes. This is a crucial part of the ACTA curriculum. These evaluations not only include subjective feedback and "development focus" recommendations from coaches, but objective scores from the data-driven soccer technology we use. These evaluations are how the player connects the experience at the camp to their game, and continues to progress long after the camp is over. We want our training to make a lasting impact on players.

Absolutely. If your layer attends one of our camps and they do not feel like they benefited from the coaching, and they did not improve at least one of their scores, we will refund your registration fee. It's that simple.

How often does that happen? So far, never. We have never had a player that did not improve during our training. And more than 93% of players say they saw significant improvement. We celebrate even the smallest victories, but we are here to see players explode with confidence and ambition, and we coach them to achieve exactly that.

Usually, camp field locations will be announced 1-2 weeks prior to the camp. Camps require pre-registration and we do not accept walk ups.