For several years, the NYSL has offered a week long Summer day camp for it's player's. The British Challenger Soccer Camp, run by coaches from Engand, runs from roughly 9:00am through 4:00pm with offerings for 1/2 days (9:00am through 12:00pm) and Mini Soccer (9:00am through 10:30am). The NYSL will be offering this camp again the week of July 21st through July 25th, 2008. Click here for a few more details.

In addition to the Challenger Camp, there are a number of week long soccer day camps that are available throughout the summer. The New Hampshire Phantoms, Rivier College, Camp Sargent (via the Nashua YMCA), John Rootes and Tom Poitras all offer camps.

Travel soccer is the next step up from the recreation league. For children who would like to advance their skills and play in a more competitive environment, there are a number of clubs that field teams playing in age groups from U-8 through U-16.

Players who want a higher level of competition and are willing to commit additional time and effort can join a travel team through tryouts. Tryouts generally take a couple hours over 2-3 days in the early summer. Clubs include World Cup, Nashua Girls Soccer Association, Nashua Soccer Club, Gate City Thunderbirds and more. And that's just in Nashua!

Travel soccer is a more competitive environment than recreational soccer and players improve by getting qualified instruction and playing games against the best local competition. Most games are played within a 1-hour drive of Nashua.

The commitment level for both players and parents is higher and the cost is higher than recreational soccer. The costs include player registration with the state, uniforms (shirt, shorts and socks) and tournament registration.

During the winter months, when outdoor soccer is prohibitive, indoor soccer is one way to help improve your child's soccer skills and keep them active.

The game is played on astroturf (sliding is prohibited except for goalkeepers) in a walled field much like a hockey rink. There are nets surrounding the field to keep the ball from leaving the field of play. Due to the small field of play and the fact that the ball moves much quicker on astroturf than on grass, indoor soccer can be a faster paced game than outdoor soccer and it can greatly help a player's ball control.

Your children can participate in indoor soccer at both Rising Stars Sports Complex in Bedford, NH (603-641-1313) or The Sports Zone in Derry, NH (603-537-9663). A number of different teams in different age groups are formed during late fall/early winter from many of the surrounding cities and towns.

Nashua Winter Soccer - something new in Nashua. For more information, click here.