SMU Soccer Camp: Not What it Used to Be?

I've now spoken with a total of 7 players (5 @ U9 and 2 @ U12) that have all told me the SMU Camp is a disappointment this year. The two U12's have been going three years in a row, so they definitely have a basis for comparison.

Is anyone else hearing this from their daughters? I have historically recommended this to girls for a week to hone their skills, but the message I'm getting is that it's all extremely "basic". Thanks for your input.

that stinks. I have heard that its a decent but not great. It seems most of these camps are roughly the same price. If we are going to be paying that much we should investigate what camp is the strongest year in year out. I've heard OU camp is regularly a top notch camp. This comes from an ODP coach who trains at several of the camps from texas, OU, Alabama and Mississippi. Also said A&M is losing a little bit of its reputation over last couple of years. I don't have anything to compare, but i am constantly looking for a good camp to send my daughter to.

flippinA wrote:that stinks.  I have heard that its a decent but not great.  It seems most of these camps are roughly the same price.  If we are going to be paying that much we should investigate what camp is the strongest year in year out.  I've heard OU camp is regularly a top notch camp.  This comes from an ODP coach who trains at several of the camps from texas, OU, Alabama and Mississippi.  Also said A&M is losing a little bit of its reputation over last couple of years.  I don't have anything to compare, but i am constantly looking for a good camp to send my daughter to.

Why would you not invest your money in a good skills trainer! Cheaper and better, plus better trainer to student ratio!

UEFA wrote:

flippinA wrote:that stinks.  I have heard that its a decent but not great.  It seems most of these camps are roughly the same price.  If we are going to be paying that much we should investigate what camp is the strongest year in year out.  I've heard OU camp is regularly a top notch camp.  This comes from an ODP coach who trains at several of the camps from texas, OU, Alabama and Mississippi.  Also said A&M is losing a little bit of its reputation over last couple of years.  I don't have anything to compare, but i am constantly looking for a good camp to send my daughter to.

Why would you not invest your money in a good skills trainer! Cheaper and better!

Cheaper? At $30-$60 per hour? The math doesn't support that. I was really looking for feedback on the SMU Camp... not a change of subject. Thanks.

What you getting ripped off brother! I'm sorry! A good skills coach doesn't cost that much!

I would never pay money for one of these money grab camps! Stupid !!!!!!

Jm23jm is a better choice and he won't over charge you, and that dude can skills train!

UEFA wrote:I would never pay money for one of these money grab camps! Stupid !!!!!!

Since you're obviously new to all of this - and have posted three times in a row in the span of 4 minutes - here's a news flash: It's all a money grab. Kicks is no longer an exception.

You keep throwing your money away! Pm me when your ready to be serious and I will give you plenty of options to choose that would be better than this!

JustaSport wrote:

UEFA wrote:I would never pay money for one of these money grab camps! Stupid !!!!!!

Since you're obviously new to all of this - and have posted three times in a row in the span of 4 minutes - here's a news flash:  It's all a money grab. Kicks is no longer an exception.

I am not affiliated with kick but he would be a better option than what your choosing!

UEFA wrote:

JustaSport wrote:

UEFA wrote:I would never pay money for one of these money grab camps! Stupid !!!!!!

Since you're obviously new to all of this - and have posted three times in a row in the span of 4 minutes - here's a news flash:  It's all a money grab. Kicks is no longer an exception.

I am not affiliated with kick but he would be a better option than what your choosing!

Plus, you have no idea what your saying! New to this! Sure what he said!

7 times in a row and you still don't get it!

UEFA wrote:

JustaSport wrote:

UEFA wrote:I would never pay money for one of these money grab camps! Stupid !!!!!!

Since you're obviously new to all of this - and have posted three times in a row in the span of 4 minutes - here's a news flash:  It's all a money grab. Kicks is no longer an exception.

I am not affiliated with kick but he would be a better option than what your choosing!

Sheesh...

Great thinking.  I don't know anything about soccer.  For the record, it's not me choosing SMU.  It's girls who play on the teams I coach.

Now, what license do you have again?

USSF "A" national renewed twice! Sorry I forgot to mention that!

UEFA wrote:USSF "A"  national renewed twice! Sorry I forgot to mention that!

That would mean I have held the license for 10 years!

UEFA wrote:USSF "A"  national renewed twice! Sorry I forgot to mention that!

I like your sense of humor. It's kind of like the schizophrenic drunks I see panhandling at the corners who think they are actually the president of the U.S. Very funny. More, please.

For those of you just joining this UEFA sponsored high-jacked thread, the subject is... or at least was:

"I've now spoken with a total of 7 players (5 @ U9 and 2 @ U12) that have all told me the SMU Camp is a disappointment this year. The two U12's have been going three years in a row, so they definitely have a basis for comparison.

Is anyone else hearing this from their daughters? I have historically recommended this to girls for a week to hone their skills, but the message I'm getting is that it's all extremely "basic". Thanks for your input."

(Justasport leaving the thread to find the "ignore" button).

JustaSport wrote:

UEFA wrote:USSF "A"  national renewed twice! Sorry I forgot to mention that!

I like your sense of humor.  It's kind of like the schizophrenic drunks I see panhandling at the corners who think they are actually the president of the U.S.  Very funny.  More, please.

I would be more than happy to show you the certificate since you have no idea what it looks like nor have the ability to achieve one!

JustaSport wrote:For those of you just joining this UEFA sponsored high-jacked thread, the subject is... or at least was:

"I've now spoken with a total of 7 players (5 @ U9 and 2 @ U12) that have all told me the SMU Camp is a disappointment this year. The two U12's have been going three years in a row, so they definitely have a basis for comparison.

Is anyone else hearing this from their daughters? I have historically recommended this to girls for a week to hone their skills, but the message I'm getting is that it's all extremely "basic". Thanks for your input."

(Justasport leaving the thread to find the "ignore" button).

Some body help this guy find the ignorant button!

Ok, so, my daughters go to camps for the experience not to just get skills. Sure, we could make our daughters all better by drilling the hell out of them, but for many soccer is an outlet for fun and life experiences.

so, to get back on topic - my oldest dd has done the smu camp and loved it, but this year she did odp camp at ou. Personally, I thought odp was a waste and she got much more from smu. Without me bringing it up, she said the same thing. Now, it would be sad if smu has fallen off - we will do it again though.

A lot of local college camps have been watered down over this last 5 years. I remember when TCU was a great soccer camp and when I took part we had a good level select curriculum then it got taken over by a certain group and the camp was like a rec playdate.

Unfortunately, providing a challenging camp environment has given way to a lets make it accessible for everybody to promote the bums on seats angle.

Sad, SMU and TCU let it slip big time. Not sure how A&Ms camp is now but that was as tough as could be about 4 or 5 years ago.

My dd attended the Next Level Goalkeeping camp at UTA.  She is 11 and it was her first residential camp so I can't compare to another.  Cost was about $600.  For her it was pretty intense, but again, she is 11 and one of the youngest there. I even felt guilty because she sounded sooo tired and worn out when I spoke to her on the phone. But as intense as it seemed, she said she really enjoyed it and wanted to do the second session..unfortunately...momma can't afford it twice in one summer . It was about a lot more than skills, she came back with a more mature outlook and a lot more focus.  I think it opened her eyes as to WHY she needed to work hard to be the best she could.  She has always been a "gamer", less effort at practice and turned it on during competition.  But I have noticed more intensity at practice & keeper training since she has been back.  Oh, and suddenly...she HAS to have a pair of Copa Mundials???

mommabear1 wrote:My dd attended the Next Level Goalkeeping camp at UTA.  She is 11 and it was her first residential camp so I can't compare to another.  Cost was about $600.  For her it was pretty intense, but again, she is 11 and one of the youngest there.  I even felt guilty because she sounded sooo tired and worn out when I spoke to her on the phone. But as intense as it seemed, she said she really enjoyed it and wanted to do the second session..unfortunately...momma can't afford it twice in one summer . It was about a lot more than skills, she came back with a more mature outlook and a lot more focus.  I think it opened her eyes as to WHY she needed to work hard to be the best she could.  She has always been a "gamer", less effort at practice and turned it on during competition.  But I have noticed more intensity at practice & keeper training since she has been back.  Oh, and suddenly...she HAS to have a pair of Copa Mundials???

Copa Mundials are excellent shoes.

Off the SMU topic (I think my 94 went long ago, but I'm not qualified to give an updated opinion), but on the camp in general topic: My 02 and 04 went to the residential No. 1 Strikers camp at the beginning of June--held at University of Dallas, but not affiliated with it. They both loved it and want to return next year. The two sessions we watched were not the run of the mill soccer camp drills--focus on this camp is truly striking the ball, ball placement, etc. (they also run a keeper camp at the same time, and I got tired watching the keepers' drills!). The girls said it was hard work, but they learned new things and enjoyed it. They've both attended the UNT residential camp two summers ago--which they swore never to return to the minute they came home--and several club day camps and a commuter camp at another college over their short soccer "careers" and this camp was the winner by far. They will be going to the UT residential camp in Austin this month, so I'll try to get back on for a synopsis of their thoughts on that one later. My 94 went to it once--in middle school or early high school--and I was not really thrilled with the level of it or the division of players, but we are trying again with the little girls.