Some soccer trips are just holidays to watch a soccer match and visit a stadium tour, however, every so often a soccer team tour comes along, or sometimes once in a lifetime depending on the team and club your child plays soccer with. These tours are special, as the players get to bond, learn, develop and experience something very unique and not available on a soccer trip with family.
That’s exactly what happened with Utah Avalanche Under 12s, they got to experience Barcelona for six unforgettable nights. Coach Derek Dunn who has been travelling with DB Sports Tours since 2015 when he joined 20 other coaches from Utah State on a coach education soccer tour experience to Barcelona with Patrick Rennie, Jerry Pennock, Steve Magleby, Chris Marsden and others. Normally travelling with female soccer teams to Europe,
Soccer Tours to Barcelona, Salou.
The team stayed at Cambrils Park Resort, where DB Sports Tours are the exclusive partner for training camps for teams in Ireland. Cambrils Park Resort is the accommodation used in the Mediterranean Sports Village, which is one of the best soccer training camp destinations in Spain for youth soccer teams, high school soccer teams, college soccer tours and even ODP tours. It’s perfect for young players as it is comfortable, safe, and just a short walk from the pitches at Futbol Salou.
With multiple high-quality pitches (15 in total) which includes 12 7v7 soccer fields, which turns into 6 11v11 artificial turf fields, and 5 natural grass fields, 2 beach soccer fields and also 1 multi-purpose field. This environment gave the boys every chance to train and to bond as a team. And being only 70 minutes from Barcelona city and airport meant they could begin their adventure almost immediately.
A Dream Start to Any Soccer Tour: Watching Matches at La Masia
It is not often the general public get the opportunity to witness FC Barcelona youth teams in action, however on a DB Sports Tour Avalanche SC from Utah had the chance to stand inside the heartbeat of FC Barcelona’s academy, they got to witness FC Barcelona U12s in action on the first day of the tour.
The team visited La Masia, the world-famous home of Barcelona’s youth development system. For the boys, seeing young players who are only a few years older but already competing at such a high level was an inspiring moment.
Watching a La Liga Match at Camp Nou: Barça vs. Levante
Nothing beats visiting Barcelona and getting into the New Camp Nou Stadium! The boys got the chance to watch the La Liga march between FC Barcelona vs. Levante where Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners and an assist for goal number 3 for Lamine Yamal.c
Even though all sections of the stadium are still not open due to the reconstruction of Camp Nou, the whole stadium was filled with thousands of people cheering on some of their favourite players from the stands. Watching stars they normally see on TV felt surreal.
The energy, the noise, the colours everything came together to create a memory that will stay with them for years. For many, it was their first time in a major European stadium, and it didn’t disappoint.
High-Level Training Sessions in Spain
One of the major benefits of this tour was the quality of training sessions with Spanish Pro Licenses coaches and coaches at a professional academy. The team completed two sessions with the Catalan FA and Smartfootball, who are both renowned for their attention to technical skills and fast decision making.
The boys also received coaching from RCD Espanyol at its official first team and academy complex Dani Jarque. This was training by professional coaches whose work involves developing top Spanish players.
For young athletes still shaping their football identity, learning from coaches with such experience was invaluable.
Every training session was different from the other. They worked on techniques related to ball control and movement, as well as positioning and tactics. All of these gave the boys insight into how Spanish players approach the sport.
Three Matches, Three Wins
Of course, no soccer tour to Europe is complete without matches vs local oppositions. The Utah Avalanche U12s played three games during their stay and they won all three.
The victories were a great boost, but what mattered more was how they played. They adjusted to new styles of playing, they were able to manage pressure in new surroundings, and applied what they had learned in training sessions.
Each of the matches offered a chance to refine their skills and represent the club with distinction. The coaching staff noted how quickly the team adapted to the Spanish style of play, fast-paced, with rapid transitions and smart tactical awareness.
Tarragona, A City That Offers a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In addition, the team was also treated to the experience of a visit to Tarragona, a port city with Roman ruins and great architecture. As one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Tarragona provided the boys with a chance to relax and even learn something new other than football.
Walking through the city’s old streets and standing before some century-old buildings allowed the team to understand just how rich with history Spain is. This visit made many of them see Roman amphitheaters for the very first time.
More Than a Trip, A Life Experience
By the time it was time to leave ,they had gained more confidence, as well as a deeper understanding of the game they love.
The tour gave them moments they’ll talk about for the rest of their lives: standing inside La Masia, cheering at the Camp Nou, training with top Spanish coaches, winning all their matches, and even exploring a UNESCO World Heritage city. Every day brought something new, something fun, and something they will never forget.
