Parents of students who have attended academies and schools have shared their thoughts on the benefits of soccer camps , which are much more than just a place to play sports. The definition of a summer camp can encompass many things, but parents’ testimonials make it clear that it is a place where boys and girls have one of the best experiences of their lives.
Among the general objectives of a camp, we can highlight language learning, which is very important for the immediate future. In addition to that, a sports program can also play an important role in a child’s personal development. Another positive aspect is the many benefits of the school community experience that extend beyond the camps, which further encourage parents to choose these camps when planning their children’s vacations.
We mustn’t forget that every parent has their own reasons for valuing this type of camp, as well as key concerns. We’ll try to address them below. Concerns are normal—some related to travel—but thanks to the transfer service and staff supervision, children’s safety during the trip is fully ensured .
We’ve spoken with moms and dads who’ve already had the experience of sending their child to a sports summer camp, so we can address these common concerns and discover the benefits of camps for the lives of those who’ve already gone through this experience.
A Positive Environment for Youth Development
Surprise. This is one of the effects our summer sports camps have on parents, students, and the camp staff themselves. They’ve realized that the programs improve children’s lives. Common areas where personal growth is reported include:
- Self-esteem
- Building relationships
- Independence
- Confidence
- Leadership skills
- Cultural awareness
- Development of personal values
- Decision-making
- Social skills
- Team spirit
All these benefits of summer camps are sure to help students as they look toward the future. By developing their personalities and adopting a mature and independent attitude, students can improve their chances of getting into their preferred college or making the right choice of major.
Different Parents, Common Concerns
We’ve also spoken with parents of children from different countries and many walks of life. They all share the same concerns. It’s not easy to send their children to a summer camp thousands of miles away.
Among the most common concerns are:
- Sending a child so far away: It’s natural for parents to worry about sending their children away for two or more weeks, and this concern increases when it comes to sending them abroad.
- The cost of camps: Summer camps may seem expensive at first, and every parent wants to be sure that the overall experience offers good value for money. Choosing a camp well in advance can help you get discounts on sports programs.
This last issue is one of the biggest sources of doubt among moms and dads, but the high price is due to various factors, all of which are justified. In the following video, we explain the difference between residential and day camps, where you’ll see why camps are priced the way they are today.
To address these issues and help us continue improving our service, we’ve spoken with many parents, both in person and through surveys. Their honest responses serve as a useful reference for other parents planning to book a spot at a summer sports camp for their children.
Parents talk about the benefits of camps
So you can hear firsthand from various parents who decided to send their child to camp, we’ve compiled several interviews in which they share their experience and that of their child who enjoyed the sports program.
Case 1: “He had a lot of fun in the classes”
We asked Alejandro Prieto Pérez from Spain to tell us about his son’s experience in one of our soccer programs.
Like other parents, Alejandro had concerns about sending his son away from home, but those doubts were put to rest: “It’s been fantastic; from day one, my son felt safe and well taken care of.”
As for the new experiences away from home and the need to communicate in another language, Alejandro added that “there were no language issues” and that his son “had a lot of fun in the classes and training sessions.”
He also told us that his son “would have liked to stay longer” and that he wants to come back next year. As we can see, he emphasized how safe his son felt and how much fun the summer camp activities were, such as the language classes and training sessions with his peers. Ensuring that children have fun in a stress-free environment is one of the main goals of the camp staff, and when a child expresses a desire to return, there’s no better endorsement!
Case 2: “My son came back more responsible”
Juan González was also worried about sending his son away for a significant period of time, since it was his first time away from home alone— an experience that often has many benefits for children. But as he explained, the benefits made the experience worthwhile. “My son became more responsible and improved his language skills; he enjoyed being with people of different nationalities and learned to be tolerant,” Juan told us. For him, sending his son to camp has been a source of great satisfaction, as he stated that “it’s a very good experience for both parents and children.”
Juan sees the values of responsibility and tolerance as what his son learned while attending the camp. Of course, the boy also achieved one of the main goals: improving his language skills. As is often the case, both parent and student gained more from the experience than they could have imagined.
Case 3. “My son was lucky enough to meet Gareth Bale”
Marco Antonio Cárdenas Lubskiy, from Mexico, sent his son to our soccer camp in Madrid, where he received a very pleasant surprise. In addition to attending one of the best camps in the world, the boy was lucky enough to spend some time with some Real Madrid players. “Meeting Gareth Bale changed his view of him. He began to admire him even more. He would have liked to have met more players, ” Marco told us.
Marco’s son got to meet one of the best soccer players in the world during his stay at the camp, and that was one of the moments that made him love the camp. You never know who you’re going to meet at a camp!
Case 4. “The coaches created an atmosphere of honesty and self-improvement”
Also from Mexico, Juan Nicolás Torres Ayala tells us about the quality of the soccer training and how his son Nico enjoyed learning from professional coaches: “The truth is that my son is very satisfied. He really liked that they told him what he’s good at and what areas he needs to improve on. That’s important. The coaches recognized his skills, but they also fostered a spirit of self-improvement. Honesty is important.”
Juan also tells us about the impact the social environment had on Nico, as it was “very motivating” for his son to meet kids his age from other countries and share the same tastes and interests with them. To summarize his son’s time at one of our camps, we asked him how Nico enjoyed the experience, and he replied: “Overall, Nico came back more than satisfied and very happy. For me, that’s enough, but it wasalso reflected in the photos posted on the website, which made me feel at ease and happy knowing he was well taken care of.”
In this specific case, Nico was satisfied and happy with the coaches’ honest approach and loved the multicultural atmosphere at our camps. Additionally, his parents felt at ease and happy knowing he was having fun at camp, something that is highly valued.
Case 5. “The most important thing is that my son wants to come back”
The Beck family, from Venezuela, sent their son to a soccer camp to improve his skills as a goalkeeper (in another post, we’ll show you our camps with goalkeeper training). This decision meant much more to them than they expected, as the father was enthusiastic. Here are his full comments on what the experience meant for his son:
The whole family agreed that the boy’s self-esteem improved significantly during his time at the camp. This factor alone can make summer camp a very worthwhile investment for many parents.
What benefits do children gain from these camps?
Alek Álvarez Bermúdez’s parents decided to send him to a soccer camp to improve his skills and interact with children from other countries. They chose Real Madrid based on a recommendation from friends, though they were also aware of the club’s reputation for developing young players and that it was Alek’s favorite team. Alek’s father opted to book the child escort service and noted that “there were no issues.” Regarding the transfer service, he also noted that “airlines are very safe with children.”
On the other hand, little Alek told us about the program, noting that he adapted “very well” and that, of all the facilities, his favorite had been the training field.“The coaches were very good, and the rest of the staff and the accommodations were also very good,” said Alek, who left the camp with new friends with whom he remains in touch.
Meanwhile, young Alek told us about the program, noting that he adapted “very well” and that his favorite facility was the training field.
“The coaches were great, and the rest of the staff and the accommodations were also great,” said Alek, who left the camp with new friends he’s still in touch with. For Alek’s father, this new experience has been very enriching, and he expressed his satisfaction with the program, explaining that his son “has improved his soccer technique, ” in addition to becoming more responsible and learning to get along with other children. As is often the case, Alek and his parents mentioned the possibility of returning next year.
What have we learned after speaking with parents and children?
As you can see, every parent and every child highlights different aspects of their experience, though they generally agree that children of all ages benefit greatly from summer sports camps, even if they aren’t planning on pursuing a career in sports in the future.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the key takeaways from our case studies:
- Fun
- Responsibility
- Tolerance
- Technical improvement
- Good fit
- Good friends
- Satisfaction
- Honesty
- Motivation
- Peace of mind
- Happiness
- Self-esteem
How to get your children to camp?
Some parents send their children to a camp far from home, so you need to buy plane tickets to get to the camp. However, not everyone can personally take each child, so at Ertheo we wanted to explain what you need to do in those cases and what services are available to ensure your children’s safety during the trip.
Among the wide variety of feedback we receive, there is a common thread of positivity, and almost all of our students express a desire to return. However, as you can see in our case studies, it is the parents who are most surprised by the impact the camp has on their child.
By sharing the real-life experiences of other parents, we hope that any initial concerns or worries you may have had have been put to rest.
If you decide to send your child to one of our sports camps, we are confident that you, too, will be surprised by the positive impact it can have on your child’s development—both as a player and as a person. So, what better way to conclude than to let one of these children’s parents have the final word?
“More than anything, the children bonded with other kids their age from different countries. This has been a wonderful memory for them.” – Iñigo Latasa Amezqueta – Spain.
Call us at (44) 203 769 94 43 or (34) 902 750 359.