Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock on the playing field at the Zell am See commercial college. 'Train like the pros’ is on a black and red banner at the entrance. There is plenty of action on the pitch with the first drills already underway. There are 22 children at this year’s fifth Soccer School summer camp in Salzburger Land. Seven of them are from the local region and the capital Vienna with the other kids having travelled from Leverkusen to the Alps last weekend accompanied by five coaches.
The Black and Red youngsters train twice a day from Monday to Friday. In between the sessions, they either visit the Werkself training sessions or go to the lido on Zeller See, which is a few minutes walk away from the commercial college. The kids can try out stand-up paddle boarding. And there is plenty to do in the evenings too: From a foam party at the accommodation, the Club Kitzsteinhorn youth hostel, through to visiting the Gorgeous Lights event.
Another highlight at the training camp: Watching Lukas Hradecky and Co. play top-flight Italian club Udinese in Thursday's friendly at the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See. They have already had a group photo with the whole squad.
The passing and shooting drills certainly put the kids at the Soccer School through their paces in the summer temperatures of over 30 degrees in Salzburger Land. But that doesn't bother Ida from Leichlingen: "I like the training sessions best. When we finish we usually go to the lake. A chance to cool off," said the 12-year-old who is taking part in the camp with her two-years younger brother Leif. Everybody heads home on Saturday after five days of training.
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