Football camps, European club experiences and gap years are a growing market in the US and Canada — and not everyone selling them is honest about what they deliver. This is the standard we hold ourselves to, and the questions you should put to any provider. Including us.
Every camp, clinic and club experience we organise or co-organise is sold on these terms. If we can't meet one of them for a programme, we tell you before you pay — not after.
Some club programmes are sold as a turnkey package at the club's own price. Package or not, you get a written list of exactly what's included — and what isn't.
We state exactly which club is involved and in what capacity — officially licensed camp, facility visit, or friendly fixture. "We have relationships" is not an answer.
You know which company runs the programme and holds the contract with you. Where we partner with another organiser, we say so on the page.
We sell training, coaching and experience. We never sell trials, contracts or "scouts will be watching" — and we'll put the realistic outcome in writing.
What cover is included, and what isn't, is stated before you book — so you know what you need to arrange yourself.
For every programme with under-18s, we tell you in writing who holds safeguarding responsibility on the ground.
It's a week of the club's own academy methodology, delivered by its own coaches. That's worth a lot — and it's exactly what's on the label. See the camp →
Ask all seven, ask for the answers by email, and keep them. A serious operator answers in a single reply. These work for any camp, academy experience or gap year — send them to us too.
Not "ex-professional". Actual licences, actual employer, actual names.
A licensed camp, a facility hire and a stadium tour are three very different things. So is a fixture that's booked versus one that's "being arranged".
A written refund or remedy clause — or none. Ask to see it. Ours is published.
A named organisation, a named person on the ground, and a child-protection policy you can read.
Insurer, what's covered and the limits. "Everyone is insured" is not an answer.
Not testimonials on a website. People you can call.
Anyone who promises a contract has just failed the test.
FIFA's Article 19 blocks international transfers of under-18s except in narrow cases — and a move from the US or Canada into a European federation isn't one of them. An EU passport doesn't change that. Why →
If selection is part of the offer, ask which club, which scout, and to put it in writing. It almost never survives the question.
Turnkey packages are normal; clubs sell them. What isn't normal is a package nobody will describe in writing. If "all-inclusive" can't be turned into a list, you don't know what you're buying.
US and Canadian citizens get 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen Area. For anything longer, a programme that isn't preparing a visa is asking you to overstay. More →
Player trials and gap years in Portugal and Spain run through Out of the Box Football, our dedicated brand for player pathways. Ask them the same seven questions — you should expect the same kind of answers.
Planning a camp, a club experience or a trip to Portugal for your players? Send us your questions — all seven if you like — and you'll get the answers by email.
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