Zemgale Camp

Zemgale Camp

Latvia, July 2025

In the region of Zemgale, Latvia, Slokas Stadium served as the setting for a week-long football camp focused on high performance and player development. Throughout the week, young athletes engaged in a carefully structured program that combined training, sport science, and development.


The camp officially began on Monday, but preparations were already in motion over the weekend. The coaching staff arrived in Riga on Friday and spent the weekend preparing for the upcoming week. Slokas Stadium was prepped and ready, setting the scene for an inspiring week of development and high performance. From the very first day the mindset and habits of High Performance was established and showcased. It was evident from the very first day when many players arrived way before the 9.00 on Monday, it was clear that this was not just another week of football.

Monday’s program was designed to introduce the central concept, High Performance, that would shape the rest of the camp. A great presentation from Owen Southgate ensured that both the coaching staff and the players were on the same page about High Performance. This message resonated strongly and remained visible in how the group carried itself through the week.
After the exciting first day (and a much-needed rest) everyone was excited to return on Tuesday, which brought a shift toward measurable performance. Connor Heeney and Ben Voyce from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) led the players through an introduction to Sport Science and Strength & Conditioning (S&C). Using state-of-the-art VALD equipment, they tested players on jump power, sprint speed, hamstring and groin strength, and agility. These assessments were not just about collecting data, they offered each athlete a detailed look at their current physical profile, helping them understand their strengths, identify areas for growth and create a baseline for long-term development, offering players the possibility to track their progression as they are growing up.
Upon Connor and Ben delivering a reflective session reviewing the results and experiences from testing, the day then split into two practical parts: a gym session led by Connor, and a pitch-based SAQ (Speed, Agility, Quickness) session led by Ben. Throughout these sessions, players got introduced to exercises in the gym as well as through some games they had the opportunity to improve their speed and agility. As the week progressed, the focus expanded from individual profiling to team-based play. The players worked on both attacking and defensive phase of the game, developing ideas and patterns that would later be important in match situations.
Another shift took place as we approached Matchday -1. On Thursday the group was split into two teams, one coached by Owen and Ben and the other by Simon and Geri. Instead of being handed tactics, the players were given the opportunity to create their own game plans, set-piece strategies, and team identity. Older players naturally stepped into leadership roles, guiding their teammates through planning discussions and taking initiative both in the dressing room and on the pitch.

By Friday Matchday had arrived. Both teams approached it with professionalism and it reflected in the quality of the game itself. Over the two 35-minute halves, the match was a great showcase of how the group developed throughout the week. Besides amazing individual performances in both teams where players defied differences in ages and sizes, also great goals were scored following patterns that were practiced beforehand. After a tight first half, where both teams had their momentums where they were the dominant sides ending in 1-1, the second half tipped the game in favor of the purple team coached by Simon and Geri resulting in a 4-1 win for them. However, neither team left the field unhappy as they were extremely proud of themselves for the work and effort they put in throughout the whole week.

The camp’s goal was not only to improve football skills, but also about High Performance mentally, physically, and collectively. Through sport science and tactical improvement, the week in Slokas Stadium offered players a look into a week of an academy football player and its demands in elite football and gave them the tools and mindset to keep moving forward in their own journeys.