How much does a football training camp cost?

Before your team or club starts organising a football training camp, one question usually comes up: how much should you budget for the trip?

Whether you are planning a long weekend in Germany or a full week at another destination, the cost of a football training camp depends on where you go, how long you stay and what your package includes. Accommodation and training are only part of the picture. Travel, meals and any additional services also affect your team’s overall budget.

Using examples from our SOCCATOURS packages, we show you what a football training camp costs per person, how to calculate your team budget and where you can save money.

The total cost of a football training camp consists of several elements. While accommodation, meals and training sessions are included in the package price, travel and additional services may involve separate expenses.

To put together a realistic budget, you should consider four main cost factors:

The costs that apply to your trip will depend on your chosen destination, the package you book and your individual travel arrangements.

The package price forms the basis of your training camp budget. At SOCCATOURS, we combine different services into a training camp package, depending on the destination.

Accommodation and room occupancy

Your accommodation might be a guesthouse, sports hotel or resort. The number of people sharing each room can affect the price per person.

Players often share multi-bed rooms, while coaches and support staff may stay in single or double rooms. Depending on the accommodation, different rates or room supplements may apply.

The length of your stay and your chosen travel dates also influence the price.

Meals

Different meal options are available depending on the accommodation. Many training camp packages include half board or full board.

With full board, your main meals are already included in the package price. However, the drinks included vary between packages. Before booking, check which meals and drinks are covered and whether you need to budget for anything extra.

Training pitches and sessions

Our SOCCATOURS training camp packages generally include a set number of training sessions on natural grass or artificial turf. The number of sessions depends on the length of your stay and the package you choose.

Depending on the venue, training equipment, meeting rooms and additional sports and recovery facilities may also be included. When comparing prices, look at what the package includes, not just the amount per person.

Travel to your training camp is another important part of the budget.

For European training camp destinations that are easy to reach from your starting point, such as Germany, Italy or Croatia, you may arrange your own transport. Options include private vehicles or a coach for the whole team.

Alongside the journey itself, remember to account for possible tolls, parking charges and other transport costs.

Depending on your destination, you can also choose a training camp with flights, for example to Spain or Turkey. Flights are already included in our flight-inclusive training camp packages. Airport transfers are not automatically included in every package. Always check which transport services are covered, or ask us for details.

You can also arrange your flights independently. Simply let us know when requesting a quote, and we will price your package without flights.

Depending on the accommodation and the services you book, additional costs may apply beyond the package price.

Possible security deposit

Some training camp accommodation providers require a security deposit at check-in to cover any damage during your stay. The amount varies between properties. The deposit may be charged per player or as a fixed amount for the entire team.

If the deposit is returned in full after your stay, it is not part of the final trip cost. However, you still need to include it in your financial planning, as the money must be available temporarily.

Referee fees for friendly matches

Many football teams use their training camp as an opportunity to play a friendly against suitable opposition. Most SOCCATOURS packages include the organisation of a friendly match, subject to availability. However, referee fees may be charged separately and are usually paid locally.

Spa and wellness facilities

Access to spa and wellness facilities may also involve additional costs. Some hotels charge a fee for using these facilities. Check in advance whether access is included and which services carry an extra charge.

Alongside the shared costs of the trip, players may incur individual expenses during the training camp.

These might include drinks at the hotel bar, restaurant visits outside your included meals or personal shopping. Group activities such as go-karting, a stadium tour or a team-building programme can also add to the cost. Consider which activities you would like to organise alongside your training sessions while planning the trip.

It is important to distinguish between shared team expenses and personal costs that each player pays individually. This makes it clear to everyone which expenses are covered by their contribution to the team budget.

Using a specific package, we show you how to bring the four cost factors together in a team budget.

Our example is a four-day football training camp at the Parc Hotel PREMIUM at Lake Garda.

The team consists of 22 people: 20 players and two coaches. We assume that the 20 players cover the shared costs of the trip and that the two coaches do not make a personal contribution.

We use a starting price of €349 per person for four days and three nights as the basis for the calculation.

Package A includes accommodation, full board, five 90-minute training sessions on natural grass and additional services.

For our group of 22, the calculation is:

22 participants × €349 = €7,678

The calculated package cost for accommodation, meals and the booked services is therefore €7,678.

This calculation assumes that the starting price applies equally to all participants. The actual group price may vary depending on room occupancy or travel dates.

Our example team travels to Lake Garda in the club’s minibuses. In this calculation, the club covers the cost of fuel and tolls.

Many teams choose to travel by coach instead. The cost depends on factors such as the departure point, journey time and transport company. The actual cost of the return journey needs to be included in the team’s overall budget.

At the Parc Hotel PREMIUM, a security deposit of €50 per person is required at check-in. 

For our example team, this amounts to:

22 participants × €50 = €1,100 security deposit

If the deposit is refunded in full, it does not count towards the final trip cost. However, the team needs to have the €1,100 available temporarily.

If you would like to play a friendly during your training camp, you also need to establish whether referee fees apply. Referee fees vary by destination and are usually shared between the two teams.

Access to the spa and wellness facilities at the Parc Hotel PREMIUM is included in the package, so there is no additional charge for this in our example.

Additional expenses may arise during your stay, for example for group activities, restaurant visits or extra drinks.

The amount depends on the activities your team plans outside training.

We therefore do not include a fixed amount for these expenses in this example. If excursions or activities are paid for from the team fund, they need to be included in the shared budget.
Personal expenses paid by individual players are not part of the shared team budget.

Combining the four cost factors gives us the following overview:

The calculated package cost for our team is therefore €7,678. Any referee fees and jointly funded leisure activities are added to this amount. In our example, the club provides the security deposit.

As the 20 players also cover the package costs for the two coaches, we calculate:

€7,678 ÷ 20 players = €383.90 per player

The calculated contribution towards the booked package is therefore €383.90 per paying player.

Contributions from the team fund, the club or sponsors can then reduce the amount each player needs to pay for the football training camp.

To make the trip financially manageable for everyone, agree early on how much the team can spend overall. Setting a maximum amount per player before you start comparing packages is particularly helpful.

Also consider whether the costs of coaches and support staff will be shared, and how much funding is available from the club or team fund.

Use the following formula for your final calculation:

Contribution per player = (total trip costs − funding contributions) ÷ number of paying players

Funding contributions might include money from the team fund, support from the club or sponsorship income.

Only include amounts that are already available or firmly committed.

Team fund

If you regularly set money aside for team activities during the season, you can use some of it towards the training camp.

Club contributions

Depending on the club and its financial resources, a contribution from club funds may help cover the cost. Establish early on how much support is available for your team.

Sponsorship

Local businesses may be willing to support your training camp financially. Whether they contribute, and how much, depends on the arrangements you agree with them.

Fundraising activities

Joint fundraising activities can help some teams build up their funds before the trip. For youth teams in particular, it is sensible to inform parents early about the expected costs and available funding options.

A good training camp does not have to come with a particularly high price tag. Your choice of destination and the way you organise the trip can influence the overall cost.

1. Choose room arrangements that suit your budget.

If your team is happy to share multi-bed rooms, this may be cheaper than booking single or double rooms, depending on the accommodation.

2. Organise transport together.

Compare the total cost of coach travel with other transport options. The most economical choice will depend on the number of participants and your departure point.

3. Enquire early.

Planning ahead generally gives you more choice of accommodation, travel dates and room types. However, it does not guarantee a lower price.

4. Choose additional activities carefully.

Decide which leisure activities are genuinely important to your team. This helps prevent unplanned spending from unnecessarily increasing the trip budget.

5. Make use of available funding.

If the club, sponsors or team fund cover part of the cost, the contribution required from each player will be lower.

Whether you are looking for a short training camp in Germany, a long weekend at Lake Garda in Italy or an intensive training week in Spain, the trip should suit both your sporting objectives and your budget.

At SOCCATOURS, we help you compare suitable packages and build a realistic picture of what your football training camp will cost.

Get in touch with your preferred travel dates, group size and planned budget. We will use these details to prepare a tailored training camp quote for your team.

Football training camp costs: frequently asked questions