HOW TO CHOOSE A SUMMER CAMP

By Eva Pascual, Marketing department, Sánchez-Casal Academy.

After the winter holidays, we begin to think about the next summer vacation. And, those of us who are parents, are already thinking about how we are going to fill our children’s long summer holidays.

If our children love sport, summer is the ideal time for them to dedicate themselves to their favorite sport and take a step forward in their level.

There is an almost endless selection of intensive tennis, soccer, basketball or other sports camp options. Choosing the right camp for each child can be tricky. In Academia Sánchez-Casal we have been organizing Summer Camps for almost 20 years and we know very well what parents, players and even coaches from other clubs are looking for when they entrust their children in us.

 


 

First of all, when selecting a sports camp, we should look at the program content. The main objective is that young athletes, tennis players in our case, take advantage of their stay and get a boost to their technique, their tactical resources and their physical performance. In addition, they must acquire habits and behaviors that help them improve their game.

Therefore, it’s important to look at the details of each sports program. How many hours do they spend training on court each day? What is the ratio of players per court and per coach? Does the program include physical training? If so, how many hours? In addition, it is not only a question of hours, but it is also important to see if the program is well structured, has defined objectives, is implemented with a clear and concrete methodology, and is carried out by competent, trained coaches.

At Sánchez-Casal we work with an exclusive training system, unique in the world, and with proven effectiveness: Murray, Kuznetsova, Dimitrov, Hantuchova, and others have been athletes in our Academy and have been formed with our training system. All our coaches are qualified by the RPT and the USPTA, and train with a ratio of two players per court.

 

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In addition to the sports program contents, there are other important factors that parents and athletes should take into consideration:

The player must be well looked after, receive adequate care, and should feel at home. We achieve this with good organization and good management between all the different departments. The staff in Admissions, Accommodation, Restaurant, Reception, and Transportation, for example, must all work together and coordinate well to ensure the welfare and safety of our young athletes.

Fun is also an important factor. It is summer, the kids are on vacation and they should be enjoying their time. A complete program of leisure activities for their free time ensures that there are no tedious or boring moments. Other factors to consider are the facilities of the academy and the possibility of participating in other activities. The Sanchez-Casal facilities include a swimming pool, soccer field, basketball and beach volleyball courts, ping-pong tables, gardens, and terraces, to help facilitate a diversity of activities.

Having comfortable spaces and organized entertainment provides players with opportunities to interact with other players and gain an important benefit from our Summer Camps: by interacting with other players from around the world, players experience cultural enrichment and become more open minded, as well as having authentic opportunities to practice different languages.

 

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Languages are, in fact, one of the key factors that parents take into account when sending their children to a Summer Camp abroad: it is a great opportunity to learn a foreign language. Being able to combine an intensive and professional tennis training program with English or Spanish classes is an important added factor. Furthermore, parents want to make sure that these classes are taught by native and competent teachers. This is something parents should always prioritize.

Last but not least, we should take into consideration all aspects related to logistics, accommodation and other secondary services. Is it safe to send my child alone? Who will pick him/her up at the airport? Who will accompany my child back to the airport and provide help with the boarding process? Where will my child be housed? Can my child keep his/her passport and money in a safe place? Will my child be able to wash his/her clothes? Where and what will my child eat? Who will take care of my child if he/she gets sick or injured?

 

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As parents, our children are the most important thing in our world and we want to guarantee that they will be well taken care of and will enjoy their summer experience. Aspects such as accommodation, shuttle service, medical insurance and adequate medical attention, laundry, bank service, restaurant, and shopping may seem minor, but they cannot be taken for granted and should be well coordinated.

High performance training, fun, comfort and safety are key factors that a Summer Camp should provide to any child. These are the key factors that will make our children learn and, at the same time, enjoy an unforgettable summer.

You can find all of these key factors in the Academia Sánchez-Casal Summer Camps. Let your children live the “ASC Experience” this summer. They will never forget it!

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Eva Pascual
Marketing department, Sánchez-Casal Academy

10 thoughts on “HOW TO CHOOSE A SUMMER CAMP

  1. ILKE HOMRIS says:

    HELLO.
    I HAVE A 13 YR OLD DAUGHTER AND 11YR OLD SON, BOTH OF WHOM HAVE BEEN PLAYING TENNIS FOR OVER 5-6 YEARS. THEY PLAY 5-6 TIMES/WEEK AT OPTIMUM, WHICH IS A MAJOR TENNIS ACADEMY IN ISTANBUL. I’D LIKE THEM TO HAVE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING AS WELL. WHEN DOES THE SUMMER CAMP START? HOW MANY WEEKS MIN SHOULD THEY ATTEND? WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES CAN THEY HAVE? HOW DO YOU SEPARATE THE KIDS INTO GROUPS? THANKS AND REGARDS,

  2. Thanks for the great tips for finding a good summer camp. I want me boys to go out and do something this summer, and camp is a great option. Like you mentioned, I want them to have a ton of fun!

    • Eva Pascual says:

      Thanks Ridley. We are glad you enjoyed our post. Our Admissions Department will contact you to give you further information about the ASC Summer Camps. I hope to see you and your boys soon.

  3. A very informative post. Opting according to your child’s skill set is important for every camp. This is especially true of team sports camps, since it ensures that child’s caliber matches that of their team mates. For example, while choosing a basketball camp, you must consider whether your child needs help with ball handling, shooting, point guard training or something else.

  4. I totally agree when you said that the camp should have areas where they can learn new skills and have fun. I will share this information with my best friend so that we can both send our kids to camps in the summer. This is to help them become confident. They are both shy kids. Like when we brought them to the park, they just stuck together and didn’t make new friends.

    • Eva Pascual says:

      Thank you for your comment. Please, if we can help you, please don’t hesitate to contact us again. Best regards.

  5. Thanks for pointing out that a summer camp should be comfortable for the kids to help them interact with others easily. I will share this tip with my best friend since she told me that she wanted to send her child to a summer camp. It appears that it is for his improvement since he has been really shy which he might have gotten from his father who is my close friend as well.

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