A training camp is a central component of pre-season preparation in football. This guide shows you step by step how to organize a training camp professionally - from the initial planning to the definition of objectives and follow-up.
The content is based on the practical experience of SOCCATOURS, a specialized provider of football training camps with over 20 years of training camp experience.
This guide explains how to plan, run and follow up a football training camp in a structured way and is aimed at coaches, trainers and managers at amateur, youth and competitive level.
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A football training camp is planned by defining goals, setting a budget and time frame, choosing a suitable location and coordinating all organizational components at an early stage.
Important planning steps:
Goal definition (sporting & organizational)
Determine period & duration
Determine budget
Select accommodation & training locations
Plan arrival and departure
Create daily and training structure
Structured planning is the basis for a successful training camp.
Read on for more information about training camp planning.
The goals of a training camp can be of a sporting, tactical or social nature and should be clearly defined and realistically achievable.
Typical training camp goals:
Improvement of fitness fundamentals
tactical training & game systems
Team building & integration of new players
targeted preparation for the season or second half of the season
SOCCATOURS' experience shows that training camps are most successful when the focus is on a few clear objectives.
You can find out more about this on our training camp goals page.
The budget for a training camp includes all costs for accommodation, meals, training pitches, travel to and from the camp as well as additional services on site.
Typical cost items:
Accommodation & full board
Pitch hire & training times
Travel (bus, train, flight)
Transfers on site
Material & organization
Budget buffer for unforeseen expenses
Early budget planning prevents compromises in terms of quality or process later on.
You can find more input on clever training camp budget planning here.
The right training camp location offers suitable training conditions, short distances, suitable accommodation and an environment that supports the goals set.
Important criteria when choosing a location:
Quality & availability of the training pitches
Distance between accommodation and sports facility
Climate & season
Accessibility & travel time
Regeneration and leisure opportunities
Depending on your objectives, a training camp at home or abroad may be a good idea.
Here you can find an overview of our training camp destinations for direct inquiries or more detailed information on choosing the right training camp destination.
Preparations for a training camp include organizational arrangements, material checklists, participant information and a clear schedule.
Important preparation steps:
Determine list of participants & contact persons
Communicate training and daily schedules
Check material & equipment
Pass on information to players & coaches
Prepare emergency and contact plans
Good preparation ensures that everything runs smoothly on site.
The follow-up helps to secure sporting insights, evaluate organizational processes and make the training camp usable for future measures.
Contents of the follow-up:
sporting evaluation of the training sessions
Feedback from the coaching team & team
Evaluation of the organization & accommodation
Derivation of lessons learned for the season
Training camps only develop their full benefit through conscious training camp follow-up.
Common mistakes include unclear objectives, tight schedules, a lack of budget reserves and insufficient coordination between organization and training.
Typical mistakes made in practice:
too many training goals at the same time
too long distances between hotel & course
lack of regeneration times
last-minute or unplanned changes
Many of these mistakes can be avoided through experience and structured planning.
SOCCATOURS supports teams in the complete organization of football training camps - from consulting and planning to on-site implementation.
With experience from thousands of organized training camps, SOCCATOURS knows the requirements of different game and age groups and accompanies clubs personally through the entire process.
Click here for personal training camp advice.
The organization of a training camp usually takes several weeks to months, depending on the time, destination, group size and individual requirements. The earlier planning begins, the greater the choice of suitable accommodation and training locations.
In most cases, coaches take on the organization of a training camp, especially in the youth sector. Depending on the club, active players or officials may also get involved, for example when several teams travel to a training camp together. Regardless of your role in the club, you are not on your own: experienced training camp experts at SOCCATOURS provide support with planning, organization and all open questions.
Ideally, training camps with air travel should be planned and booked at least six months in advance. However, the booking phase also starts earlier and earlier for training camps with self-travel, meaning that many destinations are fully booked months in advance. Early planning is particularly worthwhile for popular locations.
Training camps are useful for teams of all ages and performance levels - from youth to amateur to performance-oriented teams. They offer the opportunity to deepen sporting content in a targeted manner, strengthen team cohesion and prepare for seasonal phases in a structured manner.
A training camp abroad can make sense if better climatic conditions, high-quality training facilities or a special training environment are desired. Whether a training camp abroad is the right choice depends on the sporting goals, the available budget and the time available.
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