What is the best trip for our team?

One of my daily challenges is to advise teams on the best trip for them. My first question to the coach or team representative is usually, "What are the goals of your trip"? There are many factors to making this decision and it is important that you think through each of these factors. An under 13 girls mid-level travel team taking 47 people to Europe has very different needs than a state champion under 16 boys team taking 22 people.

Issues to think through include:
1. When? - What time of year works best for the players and the parents? Think about school vacation, family vacations, state cups, high school try-outs, ODP try-outs, college start dates and regional/national championships.
2. Why? - Decide, as a team, what the goals of the trip are? Is this part cultural, part soccer, part fun? Is this an 'intense soccer experience" with some sightseeing? Is this 100% soccer? Is this all about winning a trophy? Do you want to participate in a tournament, in friendly games, or both?
3. Where? - What locations work best for your team based on the age, quality and gender of your team? For example, Spain and Italy close down for soccer from the second week in July through the third week in August.

My suggestion is to seek suggestions from team parents as well as the head coach. Then contact our office and we can discuss the options available, your trip goals, and see if we can point you in the right direction!