2010 Camper Information (Printer Friendly)
Housing
Campers are housed on campus in air-conditioned dorms that are supervised 24 hours per day. Campers will be housed in the Burke dormitory. Rooms are equipped with twin beds and a small compact refrigerator. Dorms have community bathrooms, so please be prepared to bring toiletries, flip flops, and other necessities to/from showers.
Dorm rooms are equipped with a phone jack; however, most campers bring cell phones. Please limit phone calls to the following times when campers are off the field: 7:30-8:15 am, 11:30-1:45 pm, 4:30-6:15 pm, and 9:30-10:45 pm.
Supervision
Supervision is a top priority for our staff and we take pride in the level of security and supervision we are able to provide for our campers. Coaches and counselors are housed in the dorms with the campers at a rate of at least two staff rooms per floor. Staff rooms are marked so campers know where to go if any problems or concerns arise with any aspect of camp. We will have at least one room for medical trainers, so campers will have easy access to medical coverage 24 hrs/day. When a camper has been assessed as being too ill or injured to participate in a field session, he/she will accompany his/her group to the fields, so that a trainer stays within close proximity to monitor his/her illness/injury.
We strive to keep our staff-to-camper ratio at a maximum of 14:1, which allows us to have a constant presence with campers. Coaches take roll prior to leaving the dorms and field sessions and groups do not leave until all campers are accounted for. Campers are escorted to all functions with the coaches and/or counselors.
At lights out, the staff checks each room to ensure campers are in their rooms and in the morning will knock on all doors to ensure all campers are up for breakfast.
We believe that having our staff coaches and counselors around the campers at all times accomplishes two goals; supervision and establishing relationships that make learning fun.
Roommate Requests
Roommate assignments are made based on the exact match of the 1st choice request. Therefore, the only way to ensure you will be assigned with your requested roommate is to make sure he/she requested you as their 1st choice. Once a match is made, we will place your room next door or across the hall from the other camper/s you requested.
Please make your request assuming rooms are 2-person. There are a limited number of rooms that will accommodate more than 2 campers per room and we will make every effort to accommodate an odd number of campers attending as a group to ensure everyone is provided with a quality camp experience in the dorm as well as on the field. If no request is made, a roommate will be assigned to you based on your age.
If you wish to make a roommate change after you have submitted your registration information, you can log into your account with the UserID and password that is created during the registration process. Changes will be accepted until 2 weeks prior to your session. Since the week prior to your session is very busy for our staff, please refrain from calling the office to inquire about your roommate assignment. Assignments will be available at check-in.
Special Note for Teams – If you are attending camp with 10 or more team members, roommate assignments must be made by a coach or team manager and submitted to the camp office NO LATER THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR SESSION.
Team Discount
Teams of 11 or more attending a residential camp session will receive a team discount of $25 per player. Please be sure to have all 11 players list the same team name, so the discount can be applied when all 11 applications are received. Rooming assignments must be made by a team coordinator and submitted to the camp office two weeks prior to your session.
Team Groupings on the Field
Camp teams are organized prior to each camp session. You will be grouped with campers listed as your roommate request. If you would like to be placed on a camp team with campers not listed as roommate requests, please attach a list of those names to your application. If you are attending camp with your team, you will all be grouped together on the same camp team.
Goalkeeper Training
Specialized goalkeeper training will be offered at all residential sessions. A qualified goalkeeper coach will teach, train and evaluate goalkeepers. The majority of each camp day will be spent in training and the evening sessions will provide the opportunity for game play with continued coaching and evaluation. Training topics that will be covered are:
- catching
- deflecting
- diving
- breakaways
- footwork
- crosses
- distribution
Camp Soccer Ball
High quality, hand-stitched Nike camp balls may be purchased for the special price of $25. If you wish to purchase a ball, please mark the appropriate box on your application. Balls can be paid for and picked up at check-in.
Dining
Campers eat in the Burke Dining Hall, which is an on-campus cafeteria offering a variety of selections and unlimited portions. A snack bar is available each night to provide snacks and refreshments after the evening games.
Lost Keys
Campers will be provided a room key and a FOB, which provides access to the dorm. The University of Alabama Housing Department imposes a fee of $50 apiece for the key and FOB. In the event the items are lost, payment is required at check-out. Campers must inform their coach or a director as soon as a key is lost or misplaced so every effort can be made to locate it.
Camper Evaluation
Each camper will receive a 2-page, hand-written evaluation at the end of his/her session that will cover all aspects of the game. The evaluation is designed to be an honest assessment of both ability and attitude and is intended to provide the camper with a tool that can be used to continue improving their game after leaving camp. Campers will be informed at orientation that their evaluations will cover their attitude and ability on and off the field.
Shuttle Service
Complementary shuttle service is available to campers arriving at the Birmingham airport (BHM) on the first and last day of camp only. It is the camper’s responsibility to inform Alabama Soccer Academy of his/her arrival/departure dates and times. Ideal arrival/departure times are around Noon on the first day of camp and around 3:00 pm on the last day. Campers arriving the evening before camp begins are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.
Camp Bank
A camp bank will be available at check-in where money can be safely held for use at the snack bar. The bank will be accessible in the evenings when the snack bar is open. Please bring small bills to deposit into the camp bank. If a camper chooses to keep his/her money, please be sure they have a secure place to keep it.
Parent / Coach Visitation
All sessions are open to parents and coaches. The evening sessions are devoted to games and are generally the most popular with visitors. Don’t forget your digital camera. Email us a camp picture and we’ll post it on our website!
Camper Cars
Campers who drive to camp must obtain a parking placard, which will allow them to park in a designated area. For security purposes, campers must turn in their keys at check-in. Keys will be returned at check-out.
Personal Items
Alabama Soccer Academy is not liable for theft, loss or damage to a camper's personal property. It is the responsibility of the camper to keep his/her door locked when away from his/her room. We recommend that campers do not to bring valuable items such as portable electronic devices or a large sum of money to camp.
Inclement Weather
Camp will continue during rainy weather. The University of Alabama is equipped with a lightening alert system which alerts the camp directors via cell phone when there is lightening in the area. In the event of lightening, campers will be escorted off the fields to a safe location. The director will monitor the conditions; and if necessary, campers will be transported back to the dorms for a video session, indoor training, lecture, or similar soccer related activity.
Commuters
Campers who will be commuting to camp are expected to participate in all training sessions and games. Daily arrival time will be around 8:15 am at the dorm and departure time will be after the evening games (9:30-10:00 pm) from the fields. Lunch and dinner will be provided. Your coach will inform you of your exact arrival time for the morning session before you leave camp each evening. Campers are required to check-in/check-out with his/her coach each time he/she arrives/leaves.
A $50 discount will be given to commuters. Since you will not be moving your belongings into the dorm building, you may want to consider checking-in after 2:15 pm to reduce the amount of wait time you will have prior to Orientation.