Camp Programs

VCU Men's Soccer along with Own Touch and FutsalRVA will host the 2024 Tiki-Taka Training Camp

Unique Camp Staff and Special Guests
VCU Men's Head Coach Dave Giffard, will once again provide an incredible camp experience for boys and girls ages 8-14. Players can expect to be joined by VCU players current and past, as well as Own Touch Mentors and coaches.

With National Championship appearances and titles, these coaches are soccer and futsal experts and know how to develop the technical game of Richmond's players. 

The 2024 Tiki-Taka Training Camp will uniquely combine both aspects of traditional outdoor soccer and the fast-paced futsal you see all across the world. During the morning session, players will be split into age-appropriate groups to train on the training fields and courts. Players will focus on soccer-specific techniques such as shooting, passing, technical control of the ball, defensive positioning, offensive attacking, juggling, and so much more! After lunch, players will pick up the pace a bit and start rotating through futsal games and training. Players will participate in training designed to help develop fast/accurate passing, proper movement off the ball, and better knowledge of defending and attacking in man-down and equal-sided situations.

The Functional Training Academy is designed for elite-level players looking for position-specific high-level training that players don’t typically get exposed to within the youth game. 

Working with the VCU staff and a handful of top guest coaches, including Own Touch director Greg Simmonds, players attending the Functional Training Academy will experience intense and detailed training sessions specific to your role within the team. Off-field video and chalkboard sessions and small-sided games will be utilized to put those lessons into realistic practice. 

“For years, I have been amazed at how ill-prepared top players are when they arrive on campus in terms of the small details that make the difference in the various positions on the field at the highest levels of the game. With this in mind, we created this one-of-a-kind opportunity for serious soccer players in our community to learn from our staff and a handful of top guest coaches. Many of our players will be in attendance to train with you every day as demonstrators and to help share their experiences with you as you reach towards your goals.” 

Coach Giffard 

Who:
This camp is designed for boys and girls ages 10-18 whose goals are to play in a high-level college or as a professional player. 
Players will be divided by age and position for intensive training and analysis of their play. 

Where and When:
The camp will be held at St. Christopher’s school from July 31st- August 3rd from 9am–11:30 am each day.

It's the ultimate college ID camp.  At most ID camp's player's play with and against other campers to essentially tryout for the coaches in attendance.  Although this is an effective tool in the college recruiting process, there isn't much learning or developing occurring.  

For the last 14  years, our college prep camp has given campers an unique insight into what it's like to compete and train within a top college soccer program.  For two days, you will train with and against many of our current players who are employed by the camp as demonstrators and to help with camp setup.  You will be trained by our staff who will have the same level of expectations for you as they will for our current team.  At the end of the weekend, you will know exactly where you fall within a top college soccer team, where you are weak and need to work and where you are strong.  We've had a ton of  positive feedback over the years and have added more than 20 players to our team who we identified through this unique experience.  

Who:

Camp is geared towards boys aged 15 and up who have aspirations to play in college and beyond. Enrollment is extremely limited and typically fills up very quickly.

When and Where:

August 3-4, 2024

Housing and meals are not included and below is the event schedule

Saturday August 3rd 

9-11am, 2-4pm, 6-8pm

Sunday August 4th  9-11am