The Kansas City Wizards and Challenger Sports are pleased to announce the new Wizards Premier Soccer Camps. Specifically for male or female premier players ages 10-16, these camps are designed to go above and beyond what is offered at a standard soccer camp. In addition to first-class training, participants will receive: appearances from Wizards players and/or coaches, a free soccer ball, a free Wizards camp shirt, a Wizards camp gift and a voucher for one free ticket to a Wizards home match.
"We are really excited about initiating a camp program with Challenger Sports," Wizards President Robb Heineman said. "This follows our model of associating the Wizards brand with other high-quality organizations in the area. Together with Challenger Sports, we will become the high-performance place young soccer players turn to for instruction."
"We are very excited about the opportunity to provide Premier soccer players in Kansas City with a truly competitive camp environment and equally look forward to providing them with a chance to meet and talk to Wizards players and coaches," Challenger Sports Vice President Peter Arch said. "Our organization will run around 2000 camps this summer and we look forward to using our many relationships with leagues, clubs, coaches, parents and players to further promote the Wizards team and the continued growth of professional soccer in North America."
The focus of the week-long, 3-hour-a-day camp is to expose players to game-orientated training that will improve both their technical skills and their tactical soccer awareness. The emphasis of coaching will be on the mastering of advanced skills, performance under pressure and playing at speed in game-related situations.
The camp curriculum will feature:
• Passing and receiving on the move
• Midfield combination play
• One v One Defending
• Team Defending
• Shooting and Volleying
• Crossing and Heading
• Shooting from distance
• Taking on and beating defenders
• Daily competitive games
**Goalkeeper coaching will be available at each camp.
At the conclusion of the camp, individual player profiles will be passed on the Wizards coaching staff and player progress will be tracked during league and tournament play and future Wizards camps and training activities. Players may sign up individually or as a team, and will be coached within age and ability groups.
Wizards Premier Camps will take place at the following facilities throughout Kansas City in 2008:
Blue Valley High School on June 9-13, from 9:00-12:00pm: $139 - Sign up on line
Tiffany Hills (SPCAA) on June 9-13, from 5:30-8:30pm: $139 - Sign up on line
Blue Valley Northwest High School on July 14-18, from 5:30-8:30pm: $139 - Sign up on line
Wizards Swope Park Training Center on July 21-25, from 9:00-12:00pm: $139 - Sign up on line
Raytown Soccer Club on July 28-Aug 1, from 5:30-8:30pm: $139 - Sign up on line
