Recap of the Nobody Offside Junior Camp 2024
The Nobody Offside Junior Camp 2024, Organised by the Club Brugge Foundation was held in Blankenberge, Belgium, from July 18th to 22nd. The camp was a great success and provided a memorable experience for all involved. Training sessions took place at ‘Sport Vlaanderen Blankenberge’, with participants staying in both the sports facility and a nearby hotel (700 meters away).
The evening concluded with a welcome drink event, setting a positive tone for the days ahead. With over 240 participants, including more than 120 athletes from 13 different countries, the camp gave the opportunity to participants to meet people from a lot of different cultures and also test their skills against players from abroad.
Thursday, July 18th (Day 1)
Participants arrived and were assigned to their rooms. After settling in, they gathered for dinner before heading to the municipal building for the opening ceremony. The ceremony featured a speech from coaches, hosts and also by the city’s mayor, who emphasized the importance of such initiatives. Athletes and coaches had the opportunity to meet, introduce themselves, and receive their sports gear.
Friday, July 19th (Day 2)
The day began with breakfast, followed by a welcome session hosted by the European Football for Development Network (EFDN) and Nobody Offside (NBO). An icebreaker activity led by Sander from EFDN encouraged participants who were seated in a circle to say “My name is …” in their own language, the person next had to repeat the phrase and also say it in his native language. This activity created a sense of unity and created a positive atmosphere for the players. Another activity had participants stand in groups based on their country’s location on a map. The session concluded with an interactive mobile quiz with multiple choice questions regarding the camp and sports in general.
Following the session, NBO players headed for their first training session. After training, they enjoyed lunch and rested before their afternoon session from 17:00 to 19:00. During this time, three Club Brugge players visited, allowing participants to take photos and ask questions. The day ended with dinner and free time in the evening.
Saturday, July 20th (Day 3)
Saturday started with breakfast at 9:00 am. The morning training session began at 11:45 and ended at 13:15. After a rest and lunch at 14:00, participants prepared to head to the stadium. They had the opportunity to watch the Belgian Supercup final between Club Brugge and Union Saint-Gilloise FC. Buses departed at 17:30, and upon arrival, participants enjoyed a VIP lounge experience. In a special initiative by the Club Brugge Foundation, all participants were invited onto the field before the game, receiving applause from the entire stadium. Dinner consisted of sandwiches provided in the lounge. After the game, everyone returned to their accommodations by bus.
Sunday, July 21st (Day 4)
The day began with breakfast at 9:00 am, followed by a card game created by an EFDN member. Participants then proceeded to their training sessions. Lunch was served at 14:00. The final training session took place from 16:30 to 18:30. During the last training, players had the opportunity to play a match between each other. After training, all participants gathered in the pitch for the closing ceremony, which featured speeches from hosts and coaches, and all participants received a participation gift. The evening ended with a final dinner in the cafeteria. While some participants began their journey home, others enjoyed their last night in town.
Monday, July 22nd (Day 5)
The camp concluded with breakfast, after which participants began their journeys back home.
