The D.C. United Academy's first residential camps in conjunction with the team's landmark partnership with The Calverton School highlight the club's annual series of residential summer camps beginning this month.
On June 22, players from three continents and six different countries will converge on eastern Maryland to develop their soccer skills with some of D.C. United's best academy coaches and receive top-notch athletic development training in an ideal setting just outside of Washington, D.C.
"The combination of our best academy coaches, a professional athletic development regimen and the pristine location and housing services at The Calverton School is what truly sets our residential camps apart from others," Dan Walsh said, manager of D.C. United's camps and training programs. "We are striving to be different and at the same time the best in terms of developing elite soccer players in our area. That is our goal, not only within our overall youth development department, but with our residential camps as well."
D.C. United residential camps at The Calverton School will utilize the school's state-of-the-art facilities located on the campus in Huntingtown, Md., less than an hour from Washington, D.C. Players will be housed in one of five buildings that will act as dormitories but look and feel more like a three-story home on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac, complete with a fire pit. Along with housing, all meals are provided for the players for the entire week by The Calverton School. Airport shuttle service is available for players who are flying in from out of town.
On the soccer field, players will participate in an intense week of training, including three training sessions each day by D.C. United Academy coaches, athletic training from professional trainers, futsal tournaments, and a day of beach soccer.
"It will be a very active, intense week," Walsh said of the five-day, six-night camp. "But we will incorporate elements of fun into the week as well."
Sixty players have already registered for this summer, with more being added each day. The first of two residential camps -- running the week of June 22-26 -- is nearing full capacity, while the second residential camp -- July 20-24 -- still has space available.
To learn more about one of D.C. United's residential camps, please visit //www.dcunited.com/camps/residential. To check out other D.C. camps this summer, please visit //www.dcunited.com/camps/summer.
