By Jeannette Cruz
GCU News Bureau
Summer break is upon us, and that means that Grand Canyon University is ready to kick off its Summer Soccer Camps Academy.
Camps are offered to a wide range of ages, and all are at GCU campus fields. The 2017 camp season begins with the opportunity to train alongside GCU players, men's coach Schellas Hyndman, his staff and volunteers in a Day Camp that is available to all field players and goalkeepers ages 6 to 15.
Under the direction of Hyndman, the Day Camp strives to help beginners learn new skills and show more advanced players ways to improve their skills and tactics and build confidence.
"We are introducing a technical training session in an environment where there’s mobility — that makes the three hours that they are at camp go fast, and they really enjoy it," Hyndman said.
The camp is scheduled for 8-11 a.m. June 5-9. Each day, campers focus on learning a new movement-off-the-ball technique, including passing, receiving, shooting, hitting and tackling drills. Campers then are taught to win the ball back or stop the opposition in a match conditioning drill.
Registration for individual players is $170. This includes a camp T-shirt and soccer ball.
Each camp will have a full-time athletic trainer from the GCU Sports Medicine staff on duty. Players should bring their soccer shoes, sneakers, shinguards, sunscreen and water to practice each day.
The GCU Residential Camp will be held over two five-day sessions, July 9-13 and July 16-20. The GCU campus and fields provide a one-of-a-kind environment where players can choose from overnight, commuter or day camper options.
In conjunction with the Residential Camp, the College Prep Camp is open to boys ages 14-18 and features all of the normal amenities of residential camp, but with its nightly games it also provides exposure to college coaches from around the Southwest and the U.S. The cost is $510 for the overnight option and $480 for the commuter option.
"Our ultimate goal is to make them better players, put a smile on their faces and get them excited about coming back tomorrow," Hyndman said. "No matter where I go do soccer camps — and I’ve done them in many places across the country — I always find that what makes the camps successful is preparation, organization and coaches who are passionate about helping young athletes."
Hyndman’s experience spans more than 30 years as a college coach. He also coached FC Dallas of Major League Soccer for six years and was named MLS Coach of the Year in 2010.
More information about the 2017 camp season is available at www.gcusoccercamps.com or by contacting Diego Walsh at [email protected] or at (786) 897-2898. Registration also can be completed in the GCU Soccer Camps website.
Here’s some more quick info on the camps:
- They’re for ages six and up.
- Day Camps are for both boys and girls and are a great place for beginners to learn new skills.
- Residential Camps are designed for kids with a strong desire to improve their understanding of the game and abilities as soccer players.
- GCU Soccer also holds College Prep Camps, designed for youth who want to gain a unique insight into the recruiting process and a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a college soccer athlete.
Contact Jeannette Cruz at (602) 639-6631 or [email protected].
