February 2026: The winter break is coming to an end, the second half of the season is just around the corner – and many teams are now looking forward to their long-awaited training camp.
For us at SOCCATOURS, February is also the busiest time of the year: peak season.
While teams go through their packing lists and make training plans, our team is working flat out in the background. Intensive support, constant availability and spontaneous problem solving are part of everyday life during these weeks.
Things get particularly busy around Carnival week, which is one of the most popular travel times of the year. During this phase, more than 250 teams are sometimes on the road at the same time – in different countries, hotels and training destinations.
And this is exactly when it becomes clear what really makes a good training camp organisation: not only perfect conditions on site, but also the feeling of being well looked after in every situation.
A training camp begins long before arrival
A training camp does not start on the day of departure. Details often change weeks in advance: a player gets injured, a coach decides to come after all, training times still need to be coordinated.
To ensure that teams have a clear point of contact during this phase, SOCCATOURS assigns a permanent contact person from the outset. No anonymous hotlines, no constant transfers – just someone who knows the trip, keeps track of everything and remains available.
This is often a great relief, especially for organisers. After all, their heads are already full during the preparation phase: planning training, organising the squad, managing expectations. This makes it all the more important to know that someone is thinking along with you in the background.
The day of arrival: when planning becomes reality
The moment everyone has been waiting for has arrived: departure for the training camp.
But no matter how much you plan, something can always happen on the way. Whether travelling by bus, car or plane, travel remains dynamic.
Traffic jams on the motorway, changes in the weather or sudden changes to flight times are among the situations that cannot always be predicted.
A current example is the strike at Lufthansa. Flights may be cancelled or postponed at short notice. For teams, this means stress and uncertainty – sometimes even the worry that the training camp cannot start as planned.
In such moments, quick solutions are essential: alternatives are examined, rebookings organised, new connections sought and all parties involved closely coordinated. It is precisely then that the true meaning of support becomes apparent – not just sending travel documents, but also being there when something does not go according to plan.
Arrive – and have someone at your side right away
Arrival at the hotel – what now?
In addition to the contact person before the start of the trip, SOCCATOURS also has contact persons directly at the destination. Usually, you meet shortly after arrival, clarify the most important points and provide orientation:
What are the training times?
Where are the pitches located?
What are the special features of the hotel?
The aim is to ensure that teams don't have to search for a long time or improvise, but can get off to a good start right away. And sometimes it's not the big questions, but the little things that make the difference:
‘Where can we sit together tonight?’
‘Is there a supermarket nearby?’
‘Can we rent a meeting room?’
The contact persons are also there for this – not to control, but to provide support in everyday life on site.
If something does go wrong: our rescue chain
Of course, the goal is always to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Good hotels, well-maintained facilities and clear structures are the basis of every training camp.
Nevertheless, even with careful planning, situations can arise that require quick coordination: a facility is not prepared as expected, a room is not suitable, a transfer is delayed.
For such cases, SOCCATOURS has an internal ‘rescue chain’.
It starts with the local contact person, continues with the Product & Sales Managers at headquarters and includes other teams and managers who can provide immediate support in an emergency.
This ensures that problems are not left unresolved, but are solved together – with the aim of finding a viable solution for every eventuality.
High season in the office means teamwork
For us in-house, this phase of the year means one thing above all else: teamwork.
When more than 250 teams are on the road at the same time, clear agreements, fast communication and the confidence that everyone will do their part are essential.
Many things happen simultaneously:
- Queries from teams
- Last-minute changes
- Coordination with hotels and training venues
- On-site support
These are weeks in which every employee is challenged – not only in their own area, but as part of a larger whole.
Because in the end, it's all about one simple goal: teams should be able to concentrate on the essentials at training camp. On training, preparation and community.
Our claim: service when it matters
For many teams, training camps are a highlight of their pre-season preparations. For us, they are a responsibility.
The high season in particular shows how important reliability, availability and a good network are – before the trip, during the journey and on site.
And that is exactly what characterises these intensive weeks at SOCCATOURS: support that not only organises, but also accompanies – so that teams can concentrate on what they are there for.
