The Bolzwerk was already a hive of activity on Monday morning. Footballs were rolling across the pitch, shirts were being adjusted and the first passes were being played. The children, aged between six and 13, waited eagerly for the start of VfL Wolfsburg’s summer holiday football camp. After a group warm-up, five varied days packed with football, exercise and new experiences got under way.
A successful start
The children got to know each other during the first training sessions at the start of the camp week. From the outset, it was clear that the holiday camp was about much more than just goals and dribbling. The training sessions were based on the game intelligence approach. Through a variety of exercises, the young players learned to recognise situations in matches, make quick decisions and work together as a team to find solutions on the pitch. Their level of ability was irrelevant. The first conversations and friendships developed over lunch together before training resumed in the afternoon. Alongside the footballing content, values such as fair play, respect, team spirit and mutual support were also a key focus throughout the camp week. The children learned to take responsibility, overcome challenges together and support one another both on and off the pitch.
Team spirit away from the football pitch
Wednesday brought a change from the usual training routine. After a morning on the pitch, the children swapped their football boots for bowling shoes and headed to B‘moovd together. It soon became clear that team spirit matters away from the football pitch too. Every strike was greeted with loud cheers, while wayward throws prompted plenty of shared laughter. In a relaxed atmosphere, the children chatted with each other, cheered one another on and enjoyed an afternoon together away from the football pitch. Ten-year-old Aryan was also thoroughly positive about the experience: “I’m having so much fun here at the summer holiday camp. I’ve already made friends and I’m really enjoying playing football too.”
