Ava's Summer Camps - A Complete List + Reviews

Ava’s Summer Soccer Camps 2019

This post includes a complete list of Ava’s summer soccer camps for 2019. If you have questions about any of these camps or would like additional information, please contact us.

Ava’s Summer Camp Stats:

During the summer of 2019, Ava attended six soccer camps, accumulating 84 training hours over 28 days and more than $800 in registration fees. Along the way, she collected:

5 T-shirts (1 was not given out. 1 was autographed by Kim Crabbe)
2 Soccer bags (1 was a prize)
2 Size 4 soccer balls
3 Certificates/Evaluations
1 water bottle and
1 Puma jersey (prize).

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Camp Reviews & Ratings

Each camp includes a Soccer Mom review and an overall rating out of five stars. In addition, every camp receives individual scores for fun, technical training, coaching, and value.

For example, camps that provided an outstanding experience earned higher scores for fun. On the other hand, more expensive camps received lower value scores. This system helped us compare camps from several different perspectives.

While Ava rated every camp herself, getting detailed explanations from a seven-year-old proved challenging. She definitely had two favorites, though. Keep reading to find out which camps stood out the most!

Challenger Sports – August 5, Sneads Ferry, NC

This camp exceeded my expectations. In particular, I was impressed by Coach Matteo from Italy. He brought both talent and skill to the field while maintaining a kind and caring approach with the players. Throughout the week, he emphasized respect, discipline, and teamwork.

In addition, the soccer instruction was strong, and the campers appeared to learn a great deal while having fun. As a parent, I enjoyed watching the activities just as much as Ava enjoyed participating.

However, the camp got off to a rocky start. The night before camp began, I received an email announcing a change in both the location and start time. That felt somewhat unprofessional. Furthermore, the camp included players ranging from ages 3 to 14, yet only one coach managed the entire group. Challenger Sports could have improved the experience by adding a second coach to better separate age groups and provide additional supervision.

Despite those concerns, the overall experience was positive. Campers received a high-quality soccer ball, a t-shirt, and a certificate of completion that included a personal message from the coach.

Soccer Mom Rating – 4/5.

JATA Soccer – July 29, Beulaville, NC

The level of organization and preparation at JATA Soccer is truly impressive. From the excellent pre-camp communication to the quick and efficient check-in process, everything ran smoothly. In fact, camp rarely started more than a few minutes behind schedule.

Another highlight was the warm-up activity, which was both unique and entertaining. More importantly, the camp focused heavily on technical development through the Moves Like Jata program. That emphasis on skill-building is one of the primary reasons Ava returns each year.

While younger players often prefer camps filled with games and free play, technical training remains essential for long-term growth. As a result, a camp that challenges players with skill work and competitions may not always rank highest on a child’s “fun” scale, even though it provides tremendous value.

Fortunately, the week also included plenty of enjoyable moments. Campers cooled off with a water-balloon party, enjoyed daily popsicles, and received a super-soft t-shirt, awards, prizes, and a certificate that included an evaluation.

One feature that stood out was the assistant coach award. Campers voted for their favorite assistant coach, and the winner received a bonus. Although no other camp publicly recognized staff in this way, it perfectly reflected Coach Jata’s thoughtful leadership and appreciation for his team.

Soccer Mom Rating: 5/5.(Soccer Mom Favorite)

Related Review

Jata Soccer Camp Review – A more detailed review of the 2018 camp, much of which still applies to the 2019 experience.

Hammerheads Wrightsville Beach – July 22, Wilmington, NC

Of all the camps Ava attended this summer, this one offered the most beautiful setting. Located near the beach, it created a fun and relaxed atmosphere that the kids thoroughly enjoyed.

Although the camp focused more on fun than technical development, the activities kept players engaged throughout the week. One of the biggest highlights was a visit from the Hammerheads mascot, Sledge. Not only did he entertain the campers, but he also joined in the scrimmages, creating plenty of laughs.

Another memorable aspect of the camp was the coaching staff. Kim Crabbe, a Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and the first African American player to represent the USWNT in 1986, worked directly with the players. She was interactive, encouraging, and genuinely invested in the campers’ experience.

On the other hand, the camp consistently started 15–20 minutes late each day, which became frustrating over the course of the week.

To wrap up the experience, campers visited the local fire station and cooled off under the spray of a fire truck. Everyone received a camp t-shirt, and Ava was fortunate enough to have hers signed by Kim Crabbe. Additionally, several campers received signed Sports Illustrated covers.

Soccer Mom Rating: 4/5

Hammerheads YMCA – July 25, Wilmington, NC

Similar to the Wrightsville Beach camp, the YMCA camp focused more on fun and participation than technical development. Nevertheless, the coaching staff deserves a great deal of credit. They remained positive, attentive, encouraging, and highly interactive throughout the week.

Unfortunately, camp started approximately 30 minutes late each day. When combined with the long commute and premium registration fee, that became difficult to overlook. After all, when you’re paying top dollar and driving an hour each way, punctuality matters.

On a positive note, campers received a t-shirt, and the YMCA provided my family with two complimentary guest passes valid for two weeks. Although I never had an opportunity to use them, I appreciated the thoughtful gesture.

Soccer Mom Rating: 3/5

Runnin’ Bulldog Soccer Academy – July 8, Beulaville, NC

From a coaching standpoint, this camp was excellent. The instructors created a strong balance between technical skill development, competitive activities, and scrimmages. As a result, players remained challenged while still having plenty of fun.

One of the campers’ favorite activities was a game called “OUCH.” The objective was simple: kick your soccer ball at the coach and laugh as he dramatically shouted “OUCH!” every time he was hit. Needless to say, the kids loved it.

The biggest drawback involved communication. Unfortunately, the website contained outdated information, which made it difficult to confirm important camp details before the event.

Fortunately, the value more than made up for that inconvenience. Campers received daily popsicles, a soccer ball, a t-shirt, a ball bag, a water bottle, and a certificate that included an evaluation.

Soccer Mom Rating: 4.5/5

Coastal Area Soccer Academy – June 21, Holly Ridge, NC.

Ava enjoyed many of the games and activities offered throughout the week. For example, one session focused on relay races and competitions, while another featured a 4v4 tournament.

However, several organizational issues affected the overall experience. Camp consistently started late, ended early, and included more unsupervised downtime than I would have preferred.

Unfortunately, campers never received the t-shirts that were included with registration. At the conclusion of camp, organizers promised to distribute them later. Since then, I have attempted multiple times to arrange delivery or pickup. Unfortunately, those efforts have resulted in little more than unanswered messages and conflicting information.

Because of those ongoing issues, this camp earned a lower overall rating despite offering several enjoyable activities.

Soccer Mom Rating: 3/5

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The Bottom Line

Overall, I highly recommend JATA Soccer, Hammerheads Wrightsville Beach, and Runnin’ Bulldog Soccer Academy. Meanwhile, Challenger Sports remains more difficult to evaluate because the experience may vary significantly depending on the coaching staff and organization. As for CASA, I would need to see meaningful improvements before attending another camp.

As for Ava, her two favorite camps were Wrightsville Beach and Challenger Sports. According to her, those camps offered the most exciting activities and introduced several games that were completely new to us.

While technical training may not always be the most exciting part of camp for younger players, it remains a critical component of player development. Therefore, I have a great deal of respect for camps that challenge players to improve their skills while still creating an enjoyable experience.

One of the biggest lessons from this summer was realizing that a camp doesn’t need to be highly competitive or technically demanding to be valuable. In Ava’s case, spending time with friends, learning new games, and simply enjoying soccer proved just as important as skill development.

Thank you for taking the time to read our reviews. We hope they help you choose the right summer soccer camp in Eastern North Carolina.

Thank you for considering our opinions and recommendations for your future Summer Soccer Camp in Eastern NC.