RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, February 19, 2015) – The Richmond Kickers are proud to announce that world renowned soccer club AFC Ajax will return to Ukrop Park to host the second annual Ajax Academy summer camp June 27-30. This unique, invitation-only summer camp experience will help further the development of accomplished youth players from around the region.
“We are delighted to bring AFC Ajax Academy back to RVA this summer,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “The camp was a resounding success last year and will provide a proven player development opportunity for Richmond’s best soccer talent to be coached the Ajax way by Holland’s finest youth coaches.”
The non-residential summer camp will be staffed by current coaches from the Ajax Academy at De Toekomst in Amsterdam, Holland, including Jan de Koning (former AFC Ajax player and Assistant Technical Director at Liverpool FC), Maarten Stekelenburg (former Ajax Capetown Head of Youth Development and head coach of Ajax Capetown Pro team), Eddie Van Schaick (current AFC Ajax Youth Consultant and former Richmond Kickers Technical Director) and Mark van Lith (AFC Ajax youth coach and coordinator for the younger age groups at Almere City, an affiliate club of AFC Ajax). Richmond Kickers full time technical staff members will serve as assistant coaches for this exclusive event.
The camp is designed for accomplished male youth soccer players ages U10 to U14. Space is limited to 18 field players and two goalkeepers per age division, to ensure appropriate coach to player ratios. The registration fee of $445 will include two training sessions per day from 9:00am – 11:00am and 5:30pm – 7:30pm as well as official Ajax training attire.
“The Ajax youth development system is recognized as one of the best in the world and we are fortunate that Ajax will return to Richmond so local players can take advantage of this once in a life time learning experience,” added Cowlishaw.
The goal of the world famous Ajax youth academy, named De Toekomst, which literally translates as The Future, is to transform talented young players into top professional soccer players. Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Wim Kieft, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Kluivert are but a few of the international stars that have successfully completed the training at the youth academy.
Central within the club is the style of play (4-3-3), training, behavior, and house rules. Ajax strives to keep the way of playing soccer recognizable, attractive, offensive-minded, creative, fast and fair through the development of the 40-criteria TIPS model, which stands for Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed.
