Cal Boys Soccer Camp - Youth Academy Camp I

Cal's Youth Academy Camp I is a four-day day clinic for boys ages 6–13 held at Maxwell Family Field in Berkeley from June 1–4, 2026. The camp costs $549 and is run by the University of California Berkeley men's soccer coaching staff. This is a development and skills-focused camp, not a college recruiting event.

This camp is designed for youth players in elementary and early middle school exploring soccer fundamentals and enjoying quality instruction in a collegiate environment. The age range (6–13) and clinic format indicate this is a pre-recruitment exposure event. Families are not sending high school recruits here to generate D1 interest; rather, younger players use it to develop their game and experience a strong D1 program's coaching. If your athlete is in middle school or younger and interested in college soccer eventually, this camp offers early exposure to a competitive program, but recruiting conversations and serious evaluation happen years later at age-appropriate ID camps.

The absence of the head coach's direct involvement means evaluation is minimal—this is a teaching clinic, not a scouting event. The four-day format gives more instruction time than a single-day session, which can benefit younger players working on technique and tactical understanding. At $549, the cost is moderate for a multi-day residential program, though this is a day camp, so families cover only tuition, not lodging. Berkeley's most-selective academic profile may appeal to families who view college soccer fit through an academic lens from the start, but academics are not an evaluation focus at the youth level.

This camp serves families with elementary and early middle school boys who want quality coaching and exposure to a strong D1 program in a low-pressure environment. Skip it if your athlete is a high school recruit seeking active D1 evaluation—they need an ID camp with head-coach presence. If your younger player enjoys soccer and you're open to UC Berkeley as a long-term possibility, this is a reasonable introduction to the program.