Two Rivers Soccer Camp: Helping Players Recharge, Focus, and Grow

Soccer Tip

Two Rivers Soccer Camp: Helping Players Recharge, Focus, and Grow

When was the last time your soccer player really unplugged? If their schedule looks like many young athletes’, they’re balancing school commitments, club practices, tournament weekends, social commitments, and a not-insignificant amount of screen time.

Even if they love their sport, this grind can start to make parents wonder: Is all the activity helping them grow, or just keeping them busy?

Two Rivers Soccer Camp is like a “pause” button, offering athletes a different kind of experience. Founded in 1971 by educators Dick and Pat Schwendiger, it started with a straightforward belief: young athletes develop best when they're genuinely challenged, fully present, and given space to grow on their own terms. With 43 acres nestled in the Sierra Mountains, the camp setting alone does something special, replacing noise and activity with calm and focus.

More than fifty years later (and after the invention of tablets and cell phones), we think this vision is more relevant than ever! In the years since, lots of research has emerged on the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of time in nature.

And as youth soccer schedules grow more hectic and young athletes balance schoolwork, on-the-field pressures, and distractions from their devices, there’s something extra-special about an overnight camp that combines soccer training at the highest level and the restorative fun of a traditional camp experience.

This is why we love partnering with Two Rivers. Read on to learn more about this special camp!

Elite Soccer Coaching

Two Rivers is an all-levels camp, so your child doesn’t need to be an elite player to attend. The coaching staff will adapt instruction to each player’s experience, whether they’re learning the fundamentals or prepping for high-level competition.

>> Learn about the different Two Rivers programs.

Campers receive instruction from coaches around the world, giving them exposure to diverse international playing styles. Here’s a little about the team that heads up the coaching staff:

Senior Soccer Director Dave Haley

Dave Haley has served as Two Rivers’s Soccer Director for nearly three decades. A former coach at Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, and Leeds United, he has more than two decades of experience coaching in professional academies. During his career, Haley has had the pleasure of coaching six youth international players, including for England, Wales, and Ireland. He holds a BA in sports management and a UEFA A Advanced Coaching License. At camp, he focuses on creating a supportive, player-first environment that emphasizes skill mastery, game IQ, and genuine passion for the sport.

Youth Soccer Director Thiago Pereira

Thiago Pereira spent more than two decades as a professional soccer player, including competing in Brazil and Portugal’s first and second divisions. He holds his UEFA B Coaching License and has served as a U14 team head coach and a workplace exercise instructor. This is his third season at Two Rivers, where he focuses on technical skill development and supporting players’ emotional intelligence. He’s all about promoting a high-energy atmosphere where campers are challenged, supported, and inspired to grow as players and people.

A Traditional Camp Experience

Of course, there’s plenty of time for off-the-field fun at camp, too. When campers aren’t playing soccer, they get to take full advantage of the natural setting. A few of the activities offered include tubing, river swims, survival hut construction, hiking, fishing, arts and crafts, and even gold panning.

While they’re at camp, athletes live in cabins of four to twelve campers, with smaller cabins generally reserved for younger campers. Cabin assignments are based on age, and each cabin has a private bathroom and shower, providing a traditional rustic camp setting while still allowing campers adequate privacy and rest.

Developing the Whole Athlete

Parents who've sent kids to Two Rivers talk about the same things year after year: a child who came home more confident, more coachable, and already asking to go back.

We think what makes Two Rivers really special is that from the start, they’ve been a values-driven camp. The coaches are also mentors, focusing as much on players’ off-the-field emotional intelligence as they do on footwork or defensive positioning. They believe that young people grow the most when they’re challenged and supported, and they bring that attitude to their work each day.

Soccer Camp Resources

Interested in learning more about soccer camp? Check out our best resources to help you find the perfect camp for your child.

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