Posted on March 24, 2021
| 10:00 a.m.
Noozhawk’s ParentNooz Camp Guide is officially here and we made sure to make things easy when planning your child’s summer!
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about Summer Camps for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local programs for this year’s Summer Camp Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk sat down with Jeff Johnson, Owner and Director of one. Soccer Schools to learn more about their summer camps here in Santa Barbara.
One. Soccer Schools
Question: What is the name of your Summer Camp or Program and what is its mission?
#BeAChampion (One. Soccer Schools photo)
Answer: one. Soccer Schools Day and Residential Programs: Our mission is to be the top soccer camp program in the United States for creating dynamic training environments and soccer education.
Q: Describe the activities involved in your camp or program.
A: At one. Soccer Schools athletes participate in the following sessions:
Soccercize, Going 2 Goal, SAQ (speed, agility and quickness), Dribbling (1v1, 2v1 and 2v2), Technique, Rondos (possession games), Transition Exercises, Footvolley and Small Sided Games. At some programs we incorporate Yoga and Visualization.
Q: What is the age range for children in your camp or program?
A: Jett Program – Ages 3/4
Junior Program – Ages 5-8
1/2 Day and Full Day Field Players & Goalkeepers – Ages 9-16
Note: We will be offering Pro I.D. camps and other programs for high school and college age players that aspire to play in Europe or the United States at the professional levels
#Juniors (One. Soccer Schools photo)
Q: How many years has the camp been running? Do you get a lot of return campers?
A: one. Soccer Schools is entering its 22nd year of soccer excellence running camps all across the United States. This summer we will travel to 12 states and work with 2,500 players. Our return rate is very high as we get players that start in our program at the Junior level and return year after year. Our return rate is so high since players actually improve and leave not only better players but better people. Athletes like being challenged and like the work and environment where they are being pushed and forced to get out of their comfort zones.
Q: What protocols does your camp have in place due to COVID-19? What is different about your camp this year?
A: We will be carrying out all the protocols that we followed last summer in 2020. Obviously the restrictions are changing along with the CDC guidelines and we are following them closely week to week. At the moment we will be providing the following safety measures. When the summer is here, all of our protocols will be reviewed again and if any changes are needed they will take place at that time. Our number one concern and responsibility is that our athletes are safe and protected.
Protocols below:
1. All players, parents and coaches must have mask when entering and leaving the field
2. All coaches and players must wear mask during the entire camp. This may change for players whereby they would be allowed to play with their mask down. When on breaks or not 6 ft apart the mask would need to come back on. This section will be a game time decision depending on CDC guidelines during the time of the camp.
3. All players must enter the soccer complex from one side and leave on the opposite side.
4. All players will sanitize their hands before, between and following session throughout the day.
5. Temp checks and screening questions will take place before entering camp.
6. All players will be assigned group that they will stay in for the duration of the camp and throughout the day.
7. No players will be allowed to exchange food or water bottles. Players must be responsible for bringing multiple water bottles for daily hydration.
Q: What goals do you have for kids participating in your camp or program?
A: Our goals for the athletes that attend our programs are to be the best they can can be in all areas of the game of soccer and life. We focus on playing, improving/learning/competing and enjoyment (FUN). We want our players to compete throughout the day and be challenged both technically, tactically, physically and mentally. It is important that when players leave your program that they have a better understanding of how to incorporate their enhanced technical abilities within the game arena to better support their tactical decision making abilities. We want our players to be passionate about soccer and not mind putting in the extra work to achieve success. We encourage our players to be bold, brave and courageous when they play. We want them to play free and express themselves without the fear of failing and making mistakes.
Q: What makes your camp or program unique?
A: one. Soccer Schools provides the following for their athletes:
1. Each player receives a pro jersey, shorts, socks and match training ball
2. Each player participates in our innovative 9-10 step youth player curriculum, Juniors (5-6 step)
3. We have professional youth American and International Staff present at all camps
4. We use the latest soccer tools and equipment for training
5. Our facilities are top notch
6. Our athletes actually get BETTER!
7. We have medical bags for injuries and all coaches are CPR certified and have Safeguard certificates
Q: How do you hire staff for your camp and when hired, is there a training that they have to complete before the camp begins?
A: At one. Soccer Schools, our coaches are hand selected on experience, knowledge, passion, enthusiasm and their ability to make a positive difference in the lives of our young athletes in a 5 day period (Residential program – 5,10 or 15 days). Our coaches must be able to provide world class demonstrations technically while clearly breaking down both technical and tactical exercises. Each coach has to complete background checks, be CPR/first aid certified as well as have safeguard checks (concussion protocols).
Q: What is the best part, in your opinion, about your camp or program?
A: The best part of the one. Soccer Schools program is that the athlete not only has FUN but improves. The player is challenged all day while they are competing, playing hard and enjoying learning new skills. The other part about the program is that our coaches genuinely care about making a positive difference and impact in the lives of these young soccer players. There is a big emphasis put on core values and character traits throughout the week. We stress the importance of being a better human being always takes precedence of being a world class soccer player.
There is no way a player can come to one. Soccer and not leave a better player and person! We want our players to understand and learn how to accept more responsibilities both on and off the field while doing their best to maximize each and everyday (get the most out of the day)!
Q: In what ways is your camp or program educational?
A: One of the main focal points of the one. Soccer Schools program is for the young athlete to understand all the different facets of the game and how each of them support one another. We want our players to understand the importance of how to run more efficiently, how to become better on the ball, how to make better decisions on the ball as well as how to move off the ball to support their teammates and their # 1 objective to go forward and score more goals.
Our teachings are all progression based learning with an ‘Attention to Detail’ approach and ‘Fail your way to Success’ mind set. We encourage our players to be magical and creative with the ball and take risks while not being afraid to make mistakes and play out of fear.
Our athletes need to understand the importance of warming up, cooling down, visualization, nutritional values (Specific foods and Water) and ideas to give them more energy and help with recovery. We also stress the importance of our players setting high goals and dreams, identifying what it is going to take to reach our goals and dreams and then creating the proper mind set to have the desire, discipline and willingness to achieve success within our short and long term goals. Ultimately we want our athletes thriving to be CHAMPIONS on the field as well as off the field in their school work, at home with their families and off the field with their friends and community!
Q: What is the price range of your camp and do you offer scholarships?
A: 1/2 Day Program – Juniors Ages 5-8: $219 early reg April 15th, $239 regular reg and $269 late registration 2 weeks before program begins.
1/2 Day Program – Field Players Ages 9-16: $219 early reg April 15th, $239 regular reg and $269 late registration 2 weeks before program begins.
Full Day Program – Field Players & Goalkeepers Ages 9-16: $329 early reg April 15th, $359 regular reg and $399 late registration 2 weeks before program begins.
Click here to learn more information about one. Soccer Schools summer camps!