AC Cugini's Award Winning Play Soccer in Italy Program
In 2001, Cugini developed an international athletic and educational program, Play Soccer in Italy, to further expose American players to Italian player development; allow players the opportunity to add international playing and training experience to their soccer background; offer the most talented players access to Italian talent scouts, and have American youth and their families experience the countless wonders of the Italian culture and history. This highly successful program was an important element of the special recognition Cugini received in 2004 from the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).
In 2010, Cugini members and nonmembers can take advantage of three exciting summer programs in Italy detailed below. Entire families are always welcome. Program 1 will take place during the 2010 World Cup. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to be in Italy when the Azzurri, the Italian national team, defends its World Cup title!
Special Discounts & Free Travel Options
Fully understanding that overseas travel is costly, particularly in these challenging economic times, our partner, Italia Soccer Tours, and Cugini sponsor, Eurosportsgear, are now offering special travel bonuses:
- Option 1: For every 14 people registered from outside Cugini (including family members), the 15th person may participate free of charge in any Play Soccer in Italy program, to include the land package - training, hotels, meals, ground transportation. No other tour operator offers a travel incentive like this!
- Option 2: For those looking for a uniform vendor with great prices and unbeatable customer service - consider purchasing from Chicago-based Eurosportsgear, which represents Italian manufacturers MASS and Legea (hugely popular in Italy). Eurosportsgear is now offering exciting purchase incentives - unlike any other uniform vendor - including discounts for any Play Soccer in Italy tour. To discuss your club's uniform needs and discounts for Play Soccer in Italy tours, contact Franco Sepede: 630.930.9056; fsepede@eurosportsgear.com; www.eurosportsgear.com www.massportusa.com
For more information on the 2010 Play Soccer in Italy programs or to request a brochure:
To guest play on a Cugini Play Soccer in Italy team or to have a full team participate:
To review photos from previous Play Soccer in Italy programs, visit Cugini's Photo Gallery.
To view videos of the regions and cities to be visited, click on links to right under "Videos".
Play Soccer in Italy Program 1
June 23-July 7, 2010
Boys & Girls, Ages 9-17
Highlights: Training camp, tournament, and friendly matches. Italian talent scouts will observe all players during the tournament and the training camp.
Locations: 5 days in Rome and 9 days in San Benedetto del Tronto (beach resort on the Adriatic coast in the Marche region). Day trips to Assisi, Ascoli Piceno, Acquavia Piceno.
Program fees: $3,100 per person; Plus player fees: $250 Cugini members; $450 non-Cugini travel team members.
Includes:
- Tournament play on the Italian Adriatic against all Italian boys teams
- Review by talent scouts for professional Italian teams
- Training camp (2-3 days) in San Benedetto or Rome with UEFA-licensed instructors from the Italian National Olympic Committee
- Uniforms for games
- Roundtrip flight on Air France from Washington Dulles to Rome
- Hotel accommodations at 3 and 4 star hotels, and all taxes
- Breakfast daily; 9 dinners (at hotel in San Benedetto)
- Group ground transport: airport and hotel transfers; transport to games
- Bilingual tour guides.
Notes:
- Open to all players in the USA and Canada. Non-Cugini members are welcome to participate as guest players on Cugini teams. Entire teams welcome.
- The training camp is free for Cugini players.
- Training December 2009 - June 2010 in Virginia for non-Cugini team members with Cugini President Fabio Diletti included at no additional cost.
- Fees will be prorated for anyone not using the group airfare or for anyone not participating in the entire trip.
Play Soccer in Italy Program 2
July 4-12, 2010
Boys & Girls, Ages 9-16
Highlights:
- 5 full-day training camps with professional Italian club FC Esperia Viareggio
- Friendly matches against local Italian teams
- Talent scouts from professional Italian clubs review players during all training and friendly matches.
Locations: 10 days in Tuscany on the Versilian coast in Viareggio (nea Pisa)
Program Fees: $2,100 per player; $1,700 per non-player
Notes: Open to any players in the USA and Canada: single players or entire teams; family members welcome! Airfare not included; Assistance obtaining airfares can be provided.
Includes:
- 5 full days of training
- Friendly matches with Italian youth teams
- 9 nights hotel accommodations
- Breakfast daily, 9 dinners; 5 lunches for players during training camps
- Group transport - to all training camps and friendly matches
- Camp kit: 2 sets of uniforms, socks, backpack
- Day trips to Florence and Pisa
- Bilingual tour guides
Notes:
- Open to all players in the USA and Canada. Single players or full teams welcome. Chaperones available.
- Airfare not included; Assistance obtaining airfares can be provided.
Play Soccer in Italy Program 3
July 17-24, 2010
Men & Women, Age 18 & older
Highlights: 5 tournament matches for adult players in Bellagio on Lake Como in Northern Italy
Location: Bellagio, Lake Como (north of Milan)
Program fees: $1400 per person Plus player fees: $150 for uniforms, tournament registration
Includes: - Tournament play in Bellagio, the pearl of Lake Como, against local Italian teams. Minimum 5 games (1 per evening)
- 7 nights hotel accommodations
- Breakfast daily, 7 dinners
- Airport and hotel transfers from/to Milan Malpensa airport (July 17 and 24 only)
- Use of Sporting Club pool, lounge chair, towels
- Two sets of uniforms; tournament registration fees
- Bilingual tour guides.
Notes:
- Open to all players in the USA and Canada. Single players or full teams welcome
- Airfare not included; Upon request, assistance obtaining airfares will be provided; Closest airports: Milan Malpensa or Milan Linate.
- Games are played 8 v 8 in the evening on lit turf field in Bellagio. The level of play is highly competitive for mens' teams; much less competitive for adult womens' teams but lots of fun for all.
- If adult players have children younger than age 18 interested in playing, we can arrange for some friendly matches with local youth teams ages 9-15.
Number of teams: Limited to 4-6 teams (9-10 players per team). These teams will be mixed age groups as this trip is intended for older players and adults. Teams will be formed based on age of registrants. Were currently focusing on male teams ages 18-45. Upon request, we can also create coed or female only teams.
Additional activities (extra fees apply): There will be plenty of free time to explore magnificent Lake Como, Milan, or nearby Switzerland, or take advantage of the countless sporting athletic activities this area offers: swimming, sailing, tennis, golf, windsurfing, cycling, walking in mountains, paragliding, water skiing, wake boarding, horseback riding. Motorcycle tours around the lake or to Switzerland with American guide can can also be arranged. Or plan a visit to the the unique Madonna di Ghisallo bicylce church and bicycle museum 15 minutes from Bellagio.