Arsenal Football Development UK Summer Camps Location & Details
Self check-in is on Sunday afternoons from 15:00 pm – 16:30 pm and self check-out is on Saturday mornings from 09:00 am – 11:00 am.
The Arsenal Soccer Camps are located at Four Locations:
Seaford College (10 – 17 years old)
Seaford College (Near London) sits in nearly 400 acres of “outstanding natural beauty” in the shadow of the South Downs. The Facilities, some from the 12th and 18th Centuries, include 7 hard tennis courts (4 of which are used for the tennis camp), 9 hole golf course, golf practice facilities including driving range, water-based artificial hockey pitch, soccer pitches, squash courts, sports hall, and an outdoor swimming pool.
FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION
- Student accommodation consists of rooms with 2 or 3 beds and larger dormitories for younger students (Shared bathrooms)
- A choice of nutritious food is served three times a day in the dining room
- Indoor swimming pool
- There are two full-time medical officers on site and a doctor, dentist, and hospital nearby
Click the image above to view site locations larger
Worth School (9 – 16 years old)
Worth School (South of London) is one of the great historic schools of England and among the most beautiful. The school is situated in 500 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside, within the grounds of Worth Abbey. Located in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Worth has housed the Benedictine School since the early 1930s. It is within easy reach of London and Brighton and close from Gatwick Airport. With exceptional facilities and boarding houses which have won architectural design awards, it provides a wonderful, safe environment for campers to experience and enjoy.
FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION
- 2 and 3 bed dormitories (Shared bathrooms)
- Soccer pitches and an artificial pitch
- Sports hall
- A choice of nutritious food is served three times a day in the dining room
Oundle School (11 – 17 years old)
Oundle School (North of London) has a long history dating back to 1556. Its campus is spread throughout the picturesque and typically English market town of Oundle, near Peterborough. Local facilities include an extensive array of sports pitches and courts and an indoor pool.
FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION
Comfortably and suitably equipped accommodation consists of:
- 2 and 3 person bedrooms (Shared bathrooms)
- Larger dormitories for younger students
- Individual storage for each child
- State of the art language center and all sports facilities are on site
- Indoor swimming pool
- Sports hall
- A choice of nutritious food is served three times a day in the dining room
Ardingly College (9 – 15 years old) (boys only and girls only training sessions)
Ardingly College (South-East of London) is set in 250 acres of countryside that includes forests as well as a lake while being located near the town of Haywards Heath and also close to Brighton on England’s South Coast. Ardingly College is one of England’s famous independent boarding schools and it was originally founded in 1858 but moved to its present location in the 1870s. Facilities have been built and upgraded over the years but the location still retains an impressive air of tradition and quality while being viewed as one of the best soccer schools in the UK for boys and girls. Facilities include extensive soccer fields, an indoor heated swimming pool, and two full size astroturf fields in addition to the school itself having spacious classrooms with interactive whiteboards as well as space for both indoor and outdoor activities.
FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION
- 2 to 4 bed dormitories and larger rooms may be available (Shared bathrooms)
- Soccer pitches and astroturf fields
- Indoor swimming pool
- Sports hall
- A choice of nutritious food is served three times a day in the dining room
Ratio educators / children at all sites: 1 / 10
Camp Details
Camp self check-in is on Sunday afternoons from 15:00 pm – 16:30 pm and self check-out is on Saturday mornings from 09:00 am – 11:00 am.
Boys and Girls will train together in Coed training sessions at the Seaford College, Worth School, and Oundle School locations while Boys and Girls will train separately from each other in non-coed Separate training sessions at the Ardingly College location only. Field Player training and goalkeeper training is available for all of the sessions at each location. Goalkeeper training will consist of a half day of goalkeeper training daily during the week. There is a very limited number of girl participants during the summer for the soccer camp and although the percentage of girls attending the soccer camp usually increases year after year, we cannot guarantee that girls will be attending your child’s soccer camp session but girls will be present at all of the locations since each location also offers other sports camps which have many girl participants attending them.
Arsenal Football Development’s coaching philosophy focuses on providing holistic experiences and development in each of the areas identified by The FA (technical/tactical, social, psychological and physical) that can translate into everyday life, helping students become better players and better people. Campers are group together based on their skill level and motivation. The camp has seen how this builds confidence, creates a mutually beneficial atmosphere, breaks down age and cultural barriers and enhances both soccer performance and soccer enjoyment levels for boys and girls.
The Arsenal Football Development program is designed for players of all abilities – from serious players to those who just love to play. We are proud to offer soccer in association with Arsenal Football Development coaching.
The Arsenal Football Development coaching philosophy matches the camp’s own – to bring out the best in every individual. The program offers boys and girls of all abilities the opportunity to enhance their football skills while learning to “Play the Arsenal Way”. Arsenal Football Development has designed a philosophy and training program that recreates the experiences of the Arsenal Academy players.
The program, designed by the Arsenal Football Development Head Coach, focuses on a range of skills and drills, tactics and match play as well as other elements including sport science, nutrition, physical conditioning and building confidence. There is also a standardized skills test enabling players to identify their own performance goals and areas for improvement. The camp provides a multi ability soccer program to ensure that it addresses the needs of every level of player. On the first day of the camp, all campers are given a skills assessment and placed into the appropriate group or program. The skills test is age group specific and all players will have the opportunity to do the test and compare themselves to all players attending Exsportise Arsenal Football Development. Each player will receive an official Arsenal Football Development end of course certificate.
All of the activities and coaching are conducted in English and the camp multinational environment means that students will primarily communicate in English throughout their stay. Students are also offered a varied selection of evening entertainment and cultural experiences with other sports camps attendees on site through weekend excursions.
JUNIOR GUNNERS Age Group (9 to 13 Years Old):
The Junior Gunners Development program is a training program aimed for 9 – 13 years old which will allow them to improve the fundamental aspects of the game. The Junior Gunners Development program uses Arsenal Football Club’s long-term player development model which is at the core of the club’s player and development philosophy. Our young players are encouraged to express themselves without the fear of failure and are free to try new things. The Juniors Gunners program gives our young players the opportunity to develop and grow at their own pace and become more confident players.
INVINCIBLES Age Group (14 to 17 Years Old):
The Invincibles Development program delivers the ultimate soccer coaching experience for any hard-working, dedicated player. Players on the Invincibles program gain a unique insight into how Arsenal FC train their young players at their renowned Academy. Players take part in the same sessions as Arsenal academy players, covering topics such as passing and receiving, counter-attacking, playing out from the back and also small-sided games all delivered by an excellent team of Arsenal FC coaches. Player workshops and analysis sessions provide further insight into the life of an Arsenal player. Within the development curriculum model, we aim to progress each player in the technical, tactical, physical, mental and social aspects of soccer. The program is the perfect environment for younger players to develop and grow at their own pace and become more confident players.
GOALKEEPERS Age Group (9 to 17 Years Old):
Goalkeeper training is available for all sessions at each location. The goalkeeper training option consists of a half day of goalkeeper training daily during the week. Goalkeepers joining the summer camp immerse themselves into the life of a professional goalkeeper with daily sessions focusing on all aspects of the position. Coaching sessions cover goalkeeping techniques from footwork and handling, positioning, diving saves, possession support and distribution, 1 v 1 and taking crosses. The Arsenal Football Club International Academy goalkeeper coaching syllabus also develops the physical and psychological characteristics that are required to make an effective modern-day goalkeeper.
Girls Only Sessions for Girls from 9 to 15 Years Old at Ardingly College Only:
Reflecting the growing popularity and rapid development of women’s soccer, there are four sessions of Girls Only soccer for Arsenal Football Development which are only offered at Ardingly College for girls from 9 to 14 years old. The camp organizes these sessions to encourage more girls to participate and experience the Exsportise and Arsenal Football Development collaborative approach to soccer.
Arsenal Football Development Coaches:
Arsenal Football Development Head Coaches are UEFA B qualified and all other coaches hold a minimum of an UEFA licence coaching qualification along with the English Football Association Youth coaching certification. There is a rigorous selection process and only a small percentage of coaches make it through to becoming an Arsenal Football Development Coach. All successful coaches undergo internal Club training which gives them the knowledge and understanding of how to implement the Arsenal Football Development Philosophy and Playing the Arsenal Way. The coaches training continues with the Club as they participate in continuous professional development events, improving their skills at conducting sessions and developing youth players’ talents in The Arsenal Way.
Arsenal Football Development in exclusive partnership with Exsportise Summer Schools in the UK
The Exsportise ethos is learning by experiencing so, depending on an individual’s level of English and language goals, students can choose from the following options:
Sports and/or language day:
- 6 hours per day (Monday thru Friday) of coaching led by an Arsenal Football Development Coach (morning (3h) and afternoon (3h) for Soccer Only Camp) OR
- 3 hours of English per day as Foreign Language (EFL for foreign participants learning English as a second language)) (morning or afternoon for Soccer and English classes option)
AND - 3 hours per day (Monday thru Friday) of coaching led by an Arsenal Football Development Coach (morning or afternoon)
Boys and Girls will train together in Coed training sessions at the Seaford College, Worth School, and Oundle School locations while Boys and Girls will train separately from each other in non-coed Separate training sessions at the Ardingly College location only.
Goalkeeper training is available for all sessions at each location. The goalkeeper training option consists of a half day of goalkeeper training daily during the week.
The programs are overseen by Arsenal Football Development Head Coaches and a team of accomplished assistant coaches. All camp staff are police checked and have received Child Protection training with many staff members returning year after year to Exsportise.
Overall staff to student ratio on campus is 1:4.
Average soccer coaching ratio is 1:10.
All staff are residential and live on site, sleeping in the same houses as the campers. Each student is allocated a House Parent and a Welfare Staff member upon arrival, who will take care of their welfare and happiness for the duration of their stay.
Each venue has two on-site Medical Officers, as well as trained First Aiders, and is within easy reach of hospitals and medical centres. It is important that the camp receives accurate medical information before camp.
NATIONALITY MIX:
Exsportise welcomes students from all over the world although limits the number of students from any one country at any one course. This ensures that the courses are multi-national and include native speaking English children too. Exsportise do try their best to accommodate all room share and non-room share requests.
KEY POINTS:
- Learn to ‘Play the Arsenal Way’
- Program designed by Arsenal Football Development and delivered by an Arsenal Football Development head coach
- 3 hours (soccer and English) or 6 hours (soccer only) of soccer coaching each day
- Suitable for children of all soccer ability levels from 9 to 17 years old (but please be aware that the soccer only camp is only recommended for children who are at least 12 years old)
- Skills and drills aimed at improving physical agility, dribbling, turning, passing and receiving, defending, shooting and finishing
- Tactical sessions on patterns of play, phases of play, team shape, counter attacking and pressing
- Players will receive an Arsenal Football Development shirt and drinking bottle
- Average soccer coaching ratio is 1:10
FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS:
- More intensive coaching and technical assistance
- Nutrition, fitness, strength, and injury prevention
- Opportunity to be selected to play against a local development team
Excursions
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES ONLY FOR CAMPERS STAYING TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS
(NOT AVAILABLE FOR CAMPERS STAYING ONE WEEK)
Campers staying two consecutive weeks will be offered two full day excursions during the weekend between the two sessions.
One excursion is either a visit to a nearby city of historical and cultural significance such as Bath, Brighton, Oxford, or Cambridge or a visit to a theme park/other attraction such as THORPE PARK or Chessington World of Adventures while the second excursion is a visit to the home of Arsenal Football Club – The Emirates Stadium.
One of the highlights of the camp for campers staying two consecutive weeks is a visit to the home of Arsenal Football Club – The Emirates Stadium in London. Campers may be taken on Arsenal’s new state of the art audio-visual tour where a host of Arsenal stars share their match-day experiences. Campers will get to explore behind-the-scenes, take their place in the changing room, listen to the roar of the crowd and walk down the tunnel. The tour will also include a trip to the spectacular interactive Arsenal Museum which houses exclusive exhibits including Michael Thomas’ boots from Anfield ’89, Charlie George’s 1971 FA Cup final shirt and Alan Smith’s shirt from 1994’s European Cup Winners Cup Final. Campers will also get the opportunity to visit the Arsenal store.
Please note that in some exceptional circumstances, England soccer clubs close their stadia in the summer months with very little notice and therefore exact destinations and availability may need to change without prior warning.
Social Activities
LEISURE TIME
Seaford College, Oundle School, and Ardingly College all have swimming pools. Other facilities include table tennis, table football, short tennis, volleyball and television, and Exsportise offers students supervised internet access.
EVENING ACTIVITIES
A special program of evening activities is available to Arsenal Football Development campers. The camp entertainment team plan lots of activities including talent shows, movie nights, team games, scavenger hunts, dodgeball, disco nights, and race nights. This offers everyone at camp a chance to mix and get to know each other better, outside of their English classes or soccer training. Soccer campers will also be able to join in with campers from other sports programs on site.
Arsenal Football Development – Sample Typical Day at Camp (Subject to Change):
