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Summer Soccer Academy

 

2024 Camp Check-Out Information:

 

4v4 games start at 9:30a on the Stadium field
4v4 teams by player last name
4v4 game schedule
Campus Map

All players may be checked out Thursday 8/1 between 11:00a-11:30a at stadium OR 11:30a-1:00p at building #6 Kemp Hall. *
*late fee applies after 1p, text Jimmy Shiflett (443-716-5620) if you will be picking your player up after 1pm.

All players will have packed their rooms. Once checked out, parents / players can pick up all items from rooms and depart.

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The MSYSA Summer Soccer Academy (SSA) is held at the Saint James School in Hagerstown each year, open to all genders, and most recently serves players born in 2009-2014.

Run by ODP coaches (including a dedicated goalkeeper staff!), SSA provides a great opportunity for developing your young player's technical and tactical ability. The camp is open to all players regardless of ODP participation.

Residential camps are a great opportunity for players and teams to develop both on and off the field in the off-season. The Saint James School provides air-conditioned dorms, fantastic food, and around-the-clock supervision and security. The camp maintains a 5:1 supervision ratio with the help of ODP coaches and previous ODP players as counselors.

For more information, please see the drop-downs below. We hope to see you at camp!

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Registration Information:

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Camp Registration for 2024 Is Now CLOSED 

2024 Camp dates are:
July 21-25 (2014-2011)
July 28-Aug 1 (2012-2009)

 

Cost, Payment Plan, and Refund Information

Costs include room and board (with air conditioning!), four t-shirts, a soccer ball, and camp tuition. Day campers are welcome at a reduced price!

  • $699 - Overnight Camper
  • $599 - Day Camper (room and breakfast excluded, lunch and dinner included)
  • $624 - Returning Overnight Camper
  • $624 - Team Overnight (cost per player)
    • Minimum of 10 players
    • Discount issued as a refund after registration closes
    • Returning players may count towards the team count but players may only receive one discount

*Please note these costs do not include credit card fees*

Payment options:

  • In full during registration
  • Payment plan (automatically withdrawn):
    • $225 due at registration
    • 50% of balance due 6/1
    • 50% of balance due 7/1
  • If you are interested in scholarship assistance, please click here and scroll down to 'Scholarship Opportunities'

Refund Policies:

  • Players are eligible for a refund on request:
    • Prior to registration closing this will be a full refund minus a $21 administrative fee.
    • Once registration has closed this will be a full refund minus $225.
    • Once camp has begun, refunds will only be provided in the event of injury preventing participation.
  • Covid refund policy:
    • If a player is unable to attend the camp for individual COVID-related reasons, they will be provided a full refund.
    • If camp is unable to occur for COVID-related reasons, all players will be provided a full refund minus any expenses that have already occurred on behalf of the players. 

 

Important Documents

 

Covid Policies

 

  • Throughout camp it is encouraged that all persons follow all applicable CDC and MDH standards and guidance. These include but not limited to:
    • Following the direction of camp staff at all times
      • Camp staff have been trained on the most up-to-date requirements of Federal, State, and Local laws, procedures, and guidance. Camp staff will prioritize the health and safety of all campers and staff in their decision-making.
      • If a camper refuses to follow directions from camp staff without a legitimate medical reason, the camper will be sent home immediately without a refund.
    • Masks
      • Masks are NOT required during camp for campers or staff except potentially during specific situations.
        • In the event a staff member directs a camper to wear a mask and the camper refuses without a legitimate medical reason, the camper will be sent home immediately without a refund.
      • If they wish, all persons are encouraged to wear masks unless they create an unsafe situation. These may include but are not limited to: while sleeping or during physical exertion in certain temperature and humidity ranges (staff will let campers know when this presents an unsafe situation, campers may choose to sit out if they wish).
      • Masks are encouraged during situations where social distancing may not be possible, especially indoors (staff will let campers know in advance of potential close quarters).
    • Social distancing
      • Social distancing of 6’ is encouraged whenever possible especially indoors.
      • If sharing a room with another person, it is encouraged that you sleep ‘head to foot’ on separate beds to enable more distance during sleep.
    • Personal hygiene
      • All campers and staff are encouraged to maintain a healthy environment via a high standard of personal hygiene.
      • This includes:
        • Proper sneezing technique (into your elbow/sleeve / tissue etc.).
        • Frequent handwashing with proper technique (utilizing sanitizer/soap for 30+ seconds, front/back/between fingers).
        • Frequent showers utilizing soap
    • Wellness checks
      • Designated staff will perform regular wellness checks. If a camper/staff member does not feel well or otherwise displays potential symptoms of Covid they are required to report it.
  • Any other requirements in place by applicable jurisdictions at the time of camp will be communicated in advance

 

About the Saint James School

Founded in 1842, the Saint James School is a coeducational Episcopal boarding school open to children of all backgrounds in grades 8-12. With a current enrollment of more than 230, their community is small, but thriving!

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Check In/Out Information

Check in: Sunday 2pm-4 pm

Check out: Thursday 11am-1 pm

**Please note that late pickups will be charged $100 per 30 minutes (rounding up) per player to pay for staff overtime. By participating in the camp you are agreeing to these terms**

Benefits of Attending Camp 

Soccer Benefits

  • Develop soccer skills 
  • Increased game IQ
  • Improve tactics 
  • Training from top soccer coaches in Maryland 

Personal Benefits 

  • Develop independence 
  • Increased physical and mental skills 
  • Enhances social skills
  • Confidence and self esteem building  

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Activities and Offerings

Learning Topics Off the Pitch
  • Attacking principles of play
  • Defending principles of play
  • Individual technical development
  • Passing, possession, and combination play
  • Finishing technique and tactics in the final third
  • Goalkeeping technique, tactics and integration with team play
  • Tactical presentations
  • Soccer Olympics
  • Talent show
  • Age appropriate movies
  • Skills competition
  • Snack bar

Additional SSA Testimonials

Our daughter's first experience with a sleep over camp was at SSA last year and she loved it to much she wants to go back every year! The campus was beautiful and easy for kids to navigate with their groups to each training session. The ODP coaches and staff challenged the players with group competitions, training sessions, and offered detailed individual feedback at the end of the four days. We were impressed with the security provided, the efficient check/in out process, and the general organization of the camp. Overall it was a fun experience that resulted in new friendships, fierce competition, and great memories! -Kim W.

My daughter had a wonderful time at camp. She enjoyed the training sessions, led by world-class coaches, and because several girls from her team attended, they had the chance to work together on and off the field. Camp offered them a safe bonding/team building environment, and I highly recommend the camp experience. -Sara V.

I am writing to tell you THANK YOU! My son had an amazing time and would've happily stayed another week. He didn't want to leave! We've been home for around five hours and he's spent most of that time juggling his new soccer ball. From a parents' perspective, the camp was organized and ran smoothly. And there's nothing better than a happy kid! -Jen B

I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for the wonderful camp you ran this week. It was not only my son's first time at your camp, but his first sleep-away camp as well. In as few words as I can tell you, HE LOVED IT! He talked nonstop all the way home! And when he found me in the checkout line in the gym after you released all the campers from the field, his first concern was making sure I heard you talking about next summer’s sessions because he is definitely returning! I most sincerely thank you and your staff for making it a great soccer and camp experience for him. See you next summer! - Katie C.

I just wanted to send a quick thank you for all your and your staff's hard work this past week.  My son came home beaming each day and thoroughly enjoyed his week with you and your staff.  He especially enjoyed his Coach as he said she helped and taught him a lot.  He already can't wait to come back next year.  I want to thank you for making it easy to drop-off and pick him up each evening as he was a commuter.  He/We thought your camp was extremely organized and what he learned I know will help him develop as a player.  Thank you again for all your time and effort and I wish you a successful soccer season! - Jeff B.

Cheers and thanks to you and the staff. You assembled another amazing elevated soccer camp experience this summer and my son had a great week with you all! I can't imagine all the extras you put into these events.  Please know and share how much we appreciate the professionalism, organization, extra care, sweat, tears and obvious love for the sport and the kids that you pour into the organization, this camp and the lives of everyone you touch. You should be proud (and happily exhausted)! - Kara V.

I wanted to thank you, your trainer, and the coaches for taking such good care of my daughter, with her level of play, and especially the extra attention required after her ankle injury. The intensity level, and knowledge of the coaching staff, seemed to be just the right combination of challenge and education for her. She is recovering well; following her instructions; and heading to the beach for a few days! She came away from the camp motivated, excited, and ready to prepare for the Fall season! - Scott L.

I just wanted to let you know of the positive impact that the Summer Soccer Academy program has on my oldest daughter. Before the program, while she had good tactical sense, decent to strong ball control, and decent fitness, I felt she struggled with movement within the field and relative to other players, making runs, and attacking the defender aggressively.  I also felt she struggled with second efforts, especially if she lost a battle for the ball or lost possession. She has also been the player that would set up the pass for someone else to take the shot. When we saw her at the tournament on the last day of the program, it was night and day in all those areas.  She moved so well relative to her teammates, she committed to runs, and was so much more confident to take on defenders.  She transitioned without thinking, and got back the ball immediately after losing it.  Not to mention the improvement on her finishing (the cherry on top of the cake was her scoring that last goal in the 2v2 tie breaker in the final).  After the program, at the Summer practices for her age group, she was a different player than before: much more aggressive, a lot faster with the ball, taking on defenders and fighting for that ball, a lot more physical, and so much more communicative. Last week, after 8 days of tryouts at her High School (NDP), she made it to the JV team. I know that this would have not been possible, or would have been a lot more difficult, had she not been part of the SSA this year. I am really appreciative of what you have done to get this program to where it is.  We are looking forward to having her, and her sister be part of it next year! - Marcos O.

I'm writing to tell you THANK YOU! My son had an amazing time and would've happily stayed another week. He didn't want to leave! We've been home for around 5 hours and he's spent most of that time juggling his new soccer ball. From a parents' perspective, the camp was organized and ran smoothly. And there's nothing better than a happy kid! - Melanie H.

Just wanted to send a quick thank you for a great week of camp. My son had a fantastic time! Wonderful counselors, coaches and incredibly organized. Thanks again! - Pam T.

My daughter had an amazing experience at MSYSA Summer Soccer Academy last year. What made the experience particularly special was that her many of her teammates were able to participate together. The training she received taught her new skills and helped develop the team as a whole. She loved building strong friendships and making lasting memories, all on a campus which was beautiful and peaceful. As a parent I was impressed with the structure of the days and quality of the coaching. My daughter can't wait to return again this summer! - Heather L.

 

Please contact Gandalf French the SSA Technical Director with any questions!

 

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