Train With the Pros – Dante & Rafinha Join GFL Soccer Camps
So many youth soccer camps – it is hard to chose … Here is one for elite soccer players who want to take their game to the next level and learn from real professionals players who are playing pro soccer today — not retired pros from decades ago.
SPECIAL HIGH LEVEL, ELITE YOUTH SOCCER CAMP
American youth soccer has made huge strides recently and has been looking abroad to Germany, Spain and France for information on player development. The Bundesliga is possibly the world’s most competitive soccer league and FC Bayern Munich is on the top of the table with the most goal scored of any German pro soccer club. This is a team that beat FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Why not learn from top professional defenders who beat Messi and Ronaldo?
Pro players Dante and Rafinha were both on FC Bayern when their team beat FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Both Dante and Rafinha want to help develop elite players and will be training at GFL’s Play With the Stars Camp.
Learning from highly successful, professional defenders will provide campers of all positions with invaluable, practical training.
This is a very special and unique chance to learn from two European soccer stars in GFL’s five-day residential camp. Dante, who now plays for OGC Nice and Rafinha, who is still with FC Bayern Munich will be on hand to share stories, provide advice and train everyday of the camp.
Related Article: Exploring Youth Soccer in Germany – GFL’S Eddie Loewen
When GFL Soccer announced its “Play With The Stars Camp” Series to provide aspiring elite soccer players the opportunity to be trained by real professional players, they knew bringing top pros over to America to train youth soccer players was special.
Eddie Loewen, GFL CEO, says, “Learning from a professional who is at the top of his game is unique. Most soccer camp coaches never made it as a professional player — this is a really special chance to learn what it takes to become a pro and learn from defenders who stopped Messi and Ronaldo from scoring goals on the soccer field.
What does it take to play with the top clubs in Europe? How did these soccer pros make it from being a dreaming youth player to a highly paid professional soccer player? What is it like to hold the real trophy?
“We encourage elite soccer players to come the camp and ask these questions,” says Lowen who played himself in the Bundesliga.
FC Bayern has won numerous encounters with Barcelona. Imagine what youth players can learn.
“This is a priceless opportunity — and we have done everything to make it affordable,” adds Lowen who is a UEFA “A” licensed soccer coach. “The camp offers a tremendous value and is priced similar to other elite programs that lack any star power with experience.”
Who are the soccer professionals Dante and Rafinha?
Dante, a Brazilian international, also played for Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga.
Rafinha played for Brazilian club Coritiba as well as highly respected Schalke 04 in Germany. Both were members of the squad that hosted the Champions League Final in 2012 and won the prestigious title together with FC Bayern in 2013 under coach Jupp Heynckes
The chance to ask these high level pros questions and receive really honest answers back is really unique. Loewen promises that these pros will be on the field with players, training and answering questions — not just doing a quick autograph session and leaving the field.
Dante says, “Never give up on your dreams.” Players will learn his struggle to become a professional.
“For advanced youth soccer players who want to spend a week improving their skills and take their game to the next level, learning from these two Brazilian players is soccer at its best,” says Lowen.
Dante and Rafinha will also share advice they have learned along the road to becoming a pro — such as, “The hardest thing in soccer is to keep it simple.”
The camp is offered for both residential players as well as commuters who come for the day — the camp program goes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Held in beautiful, picturesque Florida at Eckerd College, the youth soccer camps covers:
- Nutrition guidelines for soccer players
- Leadership on and off the field
- Mental and Physical Conditioning
- Technical and Tactical Skill Training
- Physical Conditioning for Maximum Core Strength
- Position specific training for Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders and Strikers
- Players will also have time to enjoy swimming and the facilities at the college
2017 Play With The Stars Camp Details:
- June 18-23, 2017 at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL.
- Top Licensed coaches with player ratio of 1/10.
- College ID opportunities for players U15-U19, with College Coaches in attendance
- Residential: $1,559.00 – accommodation at Eckerd College
- Commuter: $1,419.00
- Both packages include three athletically balanced meals per day.
- Players need to also purchase the VIP Uniform camp package –ordered separately. Cost: $94.19 plus shipping and handling – Link available after camp reservation.
- Parents can stay at nearby hotels, if they wish.
