There are experiences that do not resemble a holiday, a course, or even a tournament. They feel more like a small life condensed into a few days. The Easter Camp that we are holding from March 23 to April 11 at our facilities in Enguera was born precisely from that idea: to offer players an environment where football is not a punctual activity, but the axis around which everything in the day revolves.
During these three weeks, participants wake up, train, eat, rest and live together thinking like footballers. It does not matter whether they come from Spain or from other countries: they soon share routines, jokes, pre-match nerves and that feeling that every day matters. The Camp does not aim to manufacture stars in fifteen days, but to provoke a real change in the way players understand the game and effort.
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A natural setting to disconnect and focus
Enguera is not a big city, nor does it pretend to be. That is precisely why it works. Surrounded by nature, it allows players to concentrate without distractions, with training pitches just steps from the residence and common areas where coexistence emerges naturally. Time is organized around the ball, rest and recovery, just as it happens in any professional academy.
Those who arrive for the first time are usually surprised by the pace. Mornings start early, physical work is demanding, and afternoons alternate tactical sessions, recovery and educational activities. But there are also moments to disconnect, to talk with teammates or simply to let the body assimilate what has been learned.
“When a player moves away from their usual environment, they begin to discover who they really are on the pitch,” explains Frederico Pereira, sporting director of the academy. “That change of context is part of the learning process.”
Competing away from home: the challenge of the international tournament
One of the key moments of the Camp comes between April 2 and 5, when we travel to Salou to play in the Marenostrum Tournament 2026. There, youth teams from top academies gather, including historic clubs such as FC Barcelona and Ajax de Ámsterdam.
For many young players, it is the first time they face international opponents with very different playing styles. The speed of the game, physical intensity and competitive pressure force them to adapt quickly. It is not only about winning matches, but about learning how to compete when the context changes and the margin for error shrinks.
The trip includes accommodation in a four-star hotel and a visit to PortAventura, a recreational break after days of maximum demand. This combination of competitive tension and leisure time often becomes one of the most vivid memories of the Camp.
“In tournaments like this, players understand that football is universal, but each culture interprets it differently,” notes Pereira. “That exposure is fundamental for their development.”
Learning at the camp what is not always visible
The Easter Camp is not limited to training sessions. It also opens a window to everything that sustains athletic performance. Individual nutrition workshops with Cristóbal help players understand how diet influences energy, recovery and injury prevention. It is not about strict diets, but practical education.
At the same time, José Luis delivers sports psychology sessions focused on concentration, self-confidence and pressure management. Many young athletes discover here that the toughest opponent is not always across the field, but inside their own mind. Learning to control emotions and expectations can make the difference between performing and freezing.
Video analysis work, led by Alain, introduces players to interpreting the game from another perspective. Watching themselves on screen and detecting correct decisions or tactical mistakes changes how they understand every action. Meanwhile, Ximo leads injury prevention sessions, essential during growth years.
Training in a professional academy
On-field sessions are directed by coaches with UEFA Pro licenses and follow a structured plan. Each week includes technical, tactical and physical work, as well as internal matches where learned concepts are applied. The objective is not to accumulate hours, but to train with purpose and clear progression.
The program includes:
- Football activities from Monday at 8:30 a.m. until Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
- 16 training sessions
- 2 official training kits
- Full access to our facilities
- Tutors available 24 hours a day
- Certificate of completion
This sustained rhythm makes many players feel as if they have lived several months in just a few weeks.
Living together is also learning
Full-board accommodation in double rooms encourages coexistence. Sharing space means negotiating schedules, respecting routines and learning to live in a group. Five daily meals, laundry service and room cleaning allow players to focus exclusively on training and recovery.
Tutors supervise daily life but also provide emotional support, especially important for those traveling alone or from abroad. As days pass, bonds are formed that often continue long after the Camp ends.
What remains when it is over
At the end of the three weeks, each player takes something different home. Some return with evident technical improvements; others with greater confidence or a clearer idea of what competitive football demands. The Easter Camp functions as an immersion experience: brief on the calendar, intense in its effects.
When suitcases are packed again and silence returns to the facilities, there remains the feeling of having lived something difficult to explain from the outside. It has not been exactly a course or a holiday, but a compressed stage where football has served as the guiding thread for growth, coexistence and discovering new limits.
Because, in the end, that is what we try to build at SIA Academy: a place where each player can imagine how far they want to go… and start moving in that direction.
