A Great Finish to the Year - Union Holiday Camp →
Why Our Holiday Camps Look the Way They Do
As we wrapped up our final Union holiday camp of the year, it was a good opportunity to reflect on why our camps are designed the way they are and not just what happens across the four days.
At Union, our focus is on creating a personal, positive and learning environment, not simply running football sessions. We start every camp by clearly setting the values of the space: respect, inclusiveness, effort, and responsibility - for ourselves, each other, and the environment. When these foundations are established early, they create psychological safety and connection, which are essential for learning and intrinsic motivation.
On the pitch, we intentionally pair football challenges with physical qualities (for example, first touch with agility, or decision-making with speed). Rather than separating “technical” and “physical” work, we help players understand how the two are connected. Sessions are built as games with constraints that require players to think, communicate, and problem-solve together. This shifts learning away from being coach-led and towards player ownership.
Each day also includes a mindset component, where we explore ideas such as discipline, resilience, and long-term growth. A consistent theme throughout the camp was that motivation comes and goes, but discipline. Small actions repeated over time is what lead to meaningful progress. These conversations are always linked back to real experiences on the pitch and in life.
A key feature of the camp is the Union Cup, where teams are mixed across age, gender, and ability. This is deliberate. Rather than separating players by level, we challenge them to adapt, communicate, and bring others along with them. Learning to navigate difference is a skill, not something to avoid.
One of the strongest learning moments came when players were given autonomy over their schedule on Day Three. They chose to play more games instead of following a structured energy-management plan. We supported that choice and later helped them reflect on the consequences, including fatigue and emotional regulation. This is a core part of our environment: players are given choices, but they also learn that responsibility comes with those choices.
We finished the camp by shifting focus to movement and recovery through a strength and movement workshop, before closing the week together with shared lunch, a swim and a light-hearted “Silly” awards session, reinforcing that learning and enjoyment can coexist.
Every decision in our camps has intent behind it. The goal is not just better footballers, but young people who can think, reflect, connect, and take ownership of their development.
Thank you to all our families for your trust throughout 2025. We wish you a Merry Christmas and look forward to continuing the journey in 2026.
We are always “Better Together”
Team Union
