I.D. Camp Featuring Liverpool Academy Consultant Steve Heighway
Coach Jeff along with Liverpool Legend Steve Heighway and National Scout for the English Football Association Barry Whitbread, are offering once-in-a-lifetime Soccer I.D. Camps in California and Hawaii.
Soccer News: Internationally-known youth soccer coach and scout, Jeff Illingworth (Coach Jeff) has coached San Diego soccer teams since 1983 with unparalleled success. Coach Jeff knows the details that make soccer fun, exciting and successful for the player and parents.
Coach Jeff has given many coaching clinics nationwide, bringing humor and expertise to help coaches of all levels. Whatever level and ages the coaches are involved he can provide detailed drills, advice and planning.
Currently Coach Jeff is setting up local San Diego Futsal programs, authoring a new book and organizing a Spring 2016 tour to Manchester and Barcelona with access to venues and players most only dream about.
In addition, Coach Jeff along with Liverpool Legend Steve Heighway and National Scout for the English Football Association Barry Whitbread, are offering once-in-a-lifetime Soccer I.D. Camps. In addition to professional soccer training that gives players the understanding of what it takes to be a pro, the camp will allow coaches to identify individual players for possible college and pro play, including opportunities to play in England.
Players will receive 25 hours of professional coaching with the Liverpool training method – skills development and tactical awareness, small sided games, one-on-one coaching sessions and players will receive a written evaluation and the end of the camp.
Legends of Soccer I.D. Camps Information
Dates: July 25-29, 2016
Ages: Boys & Girls 5 to 18
Location: Hawaii Prep Academy – Kona, HI
Cost: $395 (10-18 year olds), $225 (5-9 year olds)
Players will also receive two camp t-shirts.
Register Now
Dates: August 1-5, 2016
Ages: Boys & Girls 5 to 18
Location: Horizon Prep Academy – Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Cost: $395 (10-18 year olds), $225 (5-9 year olds)
Players will also receive two camp t-shirts.
Register Now
Dates: August 8-12, 2016
Ages: Boys & Girls 5 to 18
Location: La Jolla Country Day – La Jolla, CA
Cost: $395 (10-18 year olds), $225 (5-9 year olds)
Players will also receive two camp t-shirts.
Register Now
SoccerToday spoke with Coach Jeff to learn more about the Legends of Soccer I.D. Camps.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is special about your Legends of Soccer I.D. Camp? Different from all the other elite soccer camps in the USA?
Coach Jeff: Firstly – Steve Heighway – I don’t believe any American Camp has a coach who has developed such stars as Steve Gerrard, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler while he was Director of the Liverpool Academy, supported by Barry Whitbread. As a player he was also a superstar in Liverpool’s greatest ever teams, winning the European Cup and English League titles over an incredible 10 year career.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the difference between American and European youth soccer?
Coach Jeff: Here youth soccer is the U.S. is based heavily on money, paid by parents and is a business — consequently there is too much parental interference. Despite this ongoing problem our development in the U.S. since I arrived in 1981 is incredible.
I joint ventured with Manchester City a couple of years ago in San Diego. Their aim was maybe finding one or two players with pro potential. In two weeks they recognized 11 players aged 8-14 who were invited to try out in Manchester, England. This is amazing, especially when soccer competes for talent with huge sports offering big salaries like baseball, basketball and football.
Diane Scavuzzo: How can this camp help a player’s development?
Coach Jeff: This is a rare opportunity for players to learn and understand their college potential, and what are the critical skills and knowledge professional clubs in England BPL expect from young players to succeed at a pro level.
Diane Scavuzzo: If you look back at your career, what is the one thing you would change, if you could?
Coach Jeff: In the early 1980’s I was honored to meet Charlie Cooke, a Chelsea Legend, now famous for the Coerver program. One day he offered a position as the West Coast Director of Sales for a brand new sports outfitting brand. I thanked Charlie for the offer but because the position was based in San Jose, and I wanted to continue to live in Mission Beach, I declined. The company was Nike!
