Overview
Coaching is delivered by Chelsea FC's Football Development team and follows a curriculum inspired by the club's Academy. Players are assessed when they arrive and grouped by age and ability, then train twice a day — up to 24 hours a week. Once a week the whole group spends a Talent ID Day at Chelsea's own training centre in Cobham, benchmarking themselves against current Academy players and learning what scouts look for.
The Development Camp is the starting point for younger boys. Each day focuses on the skills and strengths of a different Chelsea first-team player, built around the club's fast, attacking style — ball mastery, passing, finishing and 1v1s, with plenty of small-sided games. It's open to all abilities, and for many boys it's their first time staying away from home.
What's included
A day at camp
- Morning Breakfast, then the first football session of the day in coaching groups
- Midday Lunch and a break
- Afternoon Second football session, plus workshops (Total option) or English lessons (Football + English option)
- Evening Dinner and an evening snack, then the evening activities programme and the players' lounge
Where campers stay
This camp uses 2 schools, depending on the week you book.
Charterhouse School, Surrey · Jul 5 – Aug 15
Campers live in Charterhouse's boarding houses around the main school buildings — a historic school set in 240 acres of grounds, with a long football history of its own. Bedrooms are a mix of single and shared rooms with shared bathrooms, allocated by sport, age, gender and room-share requests (a particular room can't be guaranteed). On site: extensive grass football pitches, all-weather astro pitches, indoor volleyball courts, a players' lounge, free Wi-Fi and laundry; the sports centre, 25 m pool and squash courts can be used when available.
Bradfield College, Reading · Aug 16 – Aug 22
Campers live in Bradfield's boarding houses around the main school buildings, in the Berkshire countryside. Bedrooms are a mix of single and shared rooms, and most bathrooms are shared; rooms are allocated by sport, age, gender and room-share requests (a particular room can't be guaranteed). The school has an LTA-approved tennis centre with three indoor acrylic courts plus outdoor clay and hard courts, a 9-hole golf course with a TrackMan 4 performance studio, two full-size indoor basketball courts, grass football pitches, a 25 m pool and a grand dining hall in the main school building.
Meals
Three meals a day plus an evening snack, served in the school's dining hall, with vegetarian options at every meal. Most dietary requirements can be catered for if you let us know in advance.
Excursions
More photos
Frequently asked questions
What level does my son need to be?
Any level — the Development Camp welcomes all abilities aged 10–12. Training is twice a day, so it suits boys who genuinely love playing; coaches group players by age and ability on day one.
Can my child stay for two weeks?
Yes. Each camp week is 6 nights, arriving on a Monday and leaving on the Sunday, and any two consecutive weeks can be combined into a 13-night stay — campers stay on site over the middle weekend. The 2027 two-week price hasn't been published yet — in 2026 it was exactly double the one-week price. We'll confirm it when you enquire.
What's the difference between Total Football and Football + English?
The coaching is identical — up to 24 hours a week either way. Total Football adds up to 8 hours a week of sport workshops (things like nutrition, teamwork, goal-setting and match analysis); Football + English swaps those for up to 13 hours of English lessons built around the sport. If your child's English is still basic, the English option is the one we'd suggest.
Is every week at the same school?
No — most weeks run at Charterhouse School, Surrey, but the final week (Aug 16–22) is at Bradfield College, Reading. If you book two weeks across that change, the first week is at Charterhouse School and the second at Bradfield College; the camp moves players between sites.
How do we get there?
Fly into London Heathrow or Gatwick. The camp runs shared airport transfers on arrival and departure days as an optional extra — £140 on the 2027 price list, or £170 with the unaccompanied-minor service, booked after registration. Flights aren't included.
Who looks after the kids?
Welfare staff are on site 24/7 alongside the coaches, there's on-site medical care, and travel insurance is included in the price.
Can they get one-to-one coaching?
Yes — optional 1-to-1 Pro Sessions with a camp coach can be added for £195 each (2027 price). Places are limited, so it's worth asking early.