Camp Info
| Ages: | 5–12 |
| Type: | Day |
| Month: | Summer |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | City |
| Sports: | Sports, Team Sports, Soccer |
[email protected]
Encinitas, CA, USA
Encinitas Express First Touch Camps are designed to introduce younger players to the technical foundations of soccer in an encouraging, active setting. The club describes its summer First Touch Camps as being for competitive players up to 10 years old and recreational players up to 12 years old. This makes the program particularly relevant to elementary-school-age players who want to improve their comfort with the ball.
The club's broader development philosophy emphasizes skill-building, player development, sportsmanship, and a positive environment. For younger players, that means spending time developing the basic skills that form the foundation for more advanced soccer later on. The program is especially useful for players who need more repetition with the ball, since frequent touches help children become quicker and more confident in possession.
First Touch Camps can also provide a useful bridge between recreational and competitive soccer. Encinitas Express explains that children can begin competitive soccer at around age 6, while ages 7–10 can be a particularly manageable period for making the transition from recreational play.
The overall atmosphere is centered on learning the game while enjoying it. Rather than focusing only on winning, the club's recreational philosophy emphasizes fun, skill development, and sportsmanship. That approach makes the camp suitable for young players who want to become more capable on the field while keeping soccer enjoyable.
| Ages: | 5–12 |
| Type: | Day |
| Month: | Summer |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | City |
| Sports: | Sports, Team Sports, Soccer |
You won’t be charged yet. The camp will contact you to confirm all terms first.
You can still submit a quick request to let the camp know you’re interested.
Encinitas Express First Touch Camps are day camps, so participants do not stay overnight.
Campers attend their scheduled soccer sessions and return home afterward. This format allows younger players to experience a structured soccer camp without the commitment of a residential program.
For children who are still relatively new to organized soccer, a day-camp format can also make the experience more approachable. They can focus on learning new skills and interacting with other players while keeping their normal evening routine at home.
Encinitas Express places an emphasis on player development within a positive, supportive environment. The club's coaching philosophy highlights team building, commitment, sportsmanship, and creating a setting where young athletes can grow.
The club also uses trained and licensed coaches across its programs. Its coaching staff includes professionals with US Soccer Federation and other recognized coaching qualifications.
For recreational soccer, the club states that coaches have gone through a licensing process and risk management. Officially trained referees are also used for most recreational divisions, with referees licensed by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
The First Touch Camps focus on helping young players become more comfortable with the ball and develop the technical foundation needed for soccer. The club's approach to younger-player development favors small-sided play and frequent touches, because more contact with the ball gives children more chances to practice passing, movement, control, and decision-making.
The training environment is designed to be active and engaging rather than centered only on formal instruction. Players can work on their individual skills while learning how to use those skills around teammates and opponents. For younger children, small-sided formats also mean more involvement instead of waiting for long periods away from the action.
First Touch Camps can be particularly useful for players considering the next step in their soccer development. Encinitas Express has both recreational and competitive pathways, and the club notes that children around ages 7–10 can find the transition to competitive soccer easier than older beginners.
