Ottawa will discover a new flavor of soccer this summer as boys and girls take to the field in a week-long soccer camp played the Spanish way.
The Real Madrid Foundation Canada is hosting its full-day soccer clinic at the University of Ottawa’s sports field, in collaboration with the West Ottawa Soccer Club and Soccerworld in Toronto.
The camp runs from Aug. 11 to 15 and will give players the chance to train under the direction of professional coaches.
“This camp will offer local players an opportunity to train like the youth players of Real Madrid,” says Gord Macdonald, camp manager at the West Ottawa Soccer Club.
“It’s authentic. An opener so to speak and a chance to learn from those who’ve played and coached in the Real Madrid system.”
The youth soccer clinics were first launched in Toronto and Markham last summer. After a successful trial run, the camps expanded to new locations across Ontario and Quebec.
“We are really excited to bring Real Madrid’s methodology to the Ottawa market for the first time,” says Robert Babos, from the Soccerworld group.
“Spain’s dominance in global football has been remarkable of late. They don’t just have the world’s best players but perhaps the best system and youth development in place.”
So far, the training camp will be coached by former Real Madrid player Victor Torres Mestre and Roberto Tendero, a United European Football Association-certified intstructor.
Registered players will receive a jersey, shorts, socks and a ball, and will develop soccer techniques and tactics without having to travel to Spain.
“Players will glean new knowledge in both attack and defense, as well as individual and group solutions for a variety of situations in play,” says Babos.
“Our certified coaches will provide a level of training and experience rarely accessible in North America.”
Real Madrid is considered to be Spain’s most successful soccer clubs. The technique and style of their play is what the Real Madrid youth clinics aim to teach.
Players will have two hours that will be dedicated to one-on-one training with professional coaches, followed by organized fitness games, drills and video-learning sessions.
While youth soccer clinics give children the chance to train in the sport, the Real Madrid Foundation Canada also hopes to improve the level of programming in youth soccer.
Soccer is the most played sport in Canada, with almost 850,000 registered players, according to a 2012 report by the Canadian Soccer Association. More than 41 per cent of those players live in Ontario.
With a growing number of Canadian soccer players comes a higher demand for training programs, according to the Real Madrid official website.
Youth soccer clinics are a start in promoting higher-level soccer programs across the country.
“We need to continue to create an inspiring environment that allows players to develop and dream,” says Macdonald.
“Having more professional teams in Canada, international competitions and access to more global football information is only going to help our cause. Exciting times ahead. Especially here in Ottawa.”