San Francisco Vikings Soccer Club

Registration is now open for summer camp 2012! 

Detailed information and link to registration can be found below.

San Francisco Vikings Summer Camp has been around for nearly 40 years, but we understand that for many of our soccer players it is their first camp experience. Our staff includes nationally licensed coaches as well as former professional and college players who were selected for their ability to teach and their passion for the game.

Our coaches ensure that players of every age and ability level will have fun learning the game of soccer. The low player-to-coach ratio enables the coaches to provide continuous attention and individual skills training. The camp also provides a variety of group exercises, small-sided games, and full field matches. In addition to this first-class training, every player will receive an official camp shirt, soccer ball, and bag. At the end of the week every player will also get a personal evaluation from the coaching staff.

We specialize in coaching players aged 5 through 14; players aged 5 through 7 may find opportunities at Viking Soccer Camp not available anywhere else.

All profits from the San Francisco Vikings Summer Camp support our other program activities and scholarship fund.

Summer 2012 Camp Information
Location: South Sunset Fields, 40th Avenue and Wawona Street

Dates:
•    Session 1: July 9th - July 13th
•    Session 2: July 16th - July 20th
•    Session 3: July 23rd - July 27th
•    Session 4: July 30th - August 3rd
•    Session 5: August 6th - August 10th
•    Session 6: August 13th - August 17th

Fee Structure
•    Full Day (9am - 4pm):  Early registration discount - $275 - after April 15 it will be  $300
•    Half Day (9am - 12pm or 1pm - 4pm): Early registration discount - $175 - after April 15 it will be $200
•    Extended Care (8:30am - 9am and 4pm - 6pm): $50
•    Sibling discount is 10%

What to Bring to Camp
•    Lunch
•    Snack
•    Water
•    Hat
•    Sunscreen
•    Shinguards
•    Cleats or athletic shoes

The San Francisco Vikings Club Soccer Camp is designed to instruct boys and girls ages 5 through 14 in individual skills while improving techniques and tactics. The Vikings Soccer Club will develop, enhance, and increase the skills of each soccer player regardless of level or playing ability. Finally, the Club will provide an atmosphere that is welcoming, engaging, and FUN.

 San Francisco Vikings Soccer Club Phone Number
415-753-3111 Mailbox #2

Director: Toby Rappolt

Email: toby@sunsetsoccer.com

Camp Emergency Phone Number/
Camp Director's Phone Number
415-846-6446

At San Francisco Vikings Soccer Camp, players are introduced to a wide variety of soccer games, soccer-like games and play-based games.

As director of the camp I hire a staff that is great at coaching children and adolescents, but the  opportunities we provide for the 5, 6 and  7-years-olds are unique. We understand that it takes a special kind of coach to work with each age group: What works for 10 to 12-year-olds doesn’t necessarily work for 5 to 7-year-olds. At older age levels, coaches have higher coaching licenses and concentrate on soccer techniques and tactics. For the younger ages, we concentrate on finding the best teachers of children.

Of course, the game of soccer itself is what we focus on at camp, especially with the older age groups. But we also do a lot of functional movement training through play-based games (obstacles course, hopscotch, Tai Chi, tag games, flag football, lacrosse, and even, at times, basketball and gymnastics) that are sometimes soccer-like and sometime aren't. The goal of these games is to increase strength, speed, and agility, to reduce injuries for the long term, to develop healthy, happy players. Functional movement training increases performance on the field.

Below is an example of a game that is played at the camp primarily by the 5, 6 and 7-year-olds.

Tigers in the Jungle

Purpose of the Game: To encourage children to look up while dribbling at speed.

Story: Each child chooses to be a type of animal that lives in the jungle and makes the sound of that animal. Only tigers are not allowed. The tiger is the most feared animal in the jungle and is going to attempt to kick the other animals' soccer balls into the
surrounding alligator-infested swamp. If the tiger kicks a ball into the swamp, the child can dodge the alligators and bring the ball back into the jungle again. The child then stands with legs apart and the ball in the air making the animal's noise. When another animal/child dribbles the ball through this child's legs, they are free to continue the game. Beware of the Tiger!

Result: A drill such as Tigers in the Jungle encourages children to dribble the ball at speed while using their peripheral vision in a controlled, pressurized and fun situation.

Below is an example of a game played by 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 year olds.

Cross and Finish, Crossing Under Pressure, Finishing Under Pressure

Setup: This drill will require the attacking third of the field with a
full-size goal and a goalkeeper.

Instructions: Player 1 plays a firm ball into the corner of the field for player 3 to run onto. As player 3 leaves his cone, player 4 also leaves his cone to put pressure on player 3, in attempt to deny the cross. Player 2 also leaves to defend player 1 on the cross. Player 3 crosses the ball into player 1 who attempts to finish on goal. Rotate players so that they play both offense and defense on all of the spots.

Coaching Points: For attackers: Firm ball to get the ball deep towards the end line; quick prep touch and cross from the wingers; good timing on the runs and anticipate the cross. Defenders: Sprint to close down the crosser quickly while getting the inside position; track runners and get inside position; clear balls up and outside.

Current research says that playing soccer, or any single physical activity for that matter, for 3 to 6 hours a day for 5 days consecutively is not necessarily a physically and emotionally good thing for children.

At Vikings Camp, we add variety to better serve the children physically and psychologically, by offering schoolyard/physical education games and new types of play equipment to the camp. This allows the kids to have fun while also practicing valuable movement skills that will carry over to higher movement quality. It is our goal through this training to give kids an enjoyable experience while also being a valuable insurance policy against future injuries, to develop habits for lifelong physical activity, and make them better, more efficient athletes.