Say you’re a proud parent standing on the sidelines, your child standing tall in defense. In your mind’s eye, you see the next Kolo Touré, but the coach sees only Pascal Cygan. Or maybe you wish to nourish your daughter’s dream of someday playing for the most successful club in English women’s football, Arsenal Ladies Football Club. Or perhaps, you’re a youngster who just wants to play the game.

Whatever the motivation, you’ll be excited to hear our beloved Arsenal is launching their first ever co-ed Summer Soccer academies in the USA in Summer 2009 for 11 – 16 year olds. Arsenal Soccer School coaches will work with participants on developing individual players’ skills, and learning to “play the Arsenal way”.

Arsenal-trained coaches will lead sessions focusing on technical and tactical player development with high intensity tournaments to improve passing, speed of movement, technique and game understanding. They will also provide nutritional and physiological advice to improve players’ fitness levels so that young Gunners can reach their full potential and become better players.

This five-day intensive soccer program will take place in three U.S. cities this summer:

• Denver, Colorado: Monday, June 29 – Friday, July 03
• Amherst, Massachusetts: Monday, July 06 – Friday, July 10
• Atlanta, Georgia: Monday, July 13 – Friday July 17