School's Out... I Need A Camp!

So your child's school has a holiday, teacher convention or a break, and you have to find something to keep them entertained. Good news folks! The US Sports Institute runs School's Out Camps on most major holidays, spring break, and all through the summer!

We provide fun, educational and exciting sports camps for your 5 to 14 year old, whether they are keen to play lots of different sports, or just soccer.

What's better than sending your child to one of our camps, to run around, play sport, make friends and have the time of their lives? Nothing!

For more information on our School's Out Camps, click here and discover what your child could be playing next time he or she are out of class!

Sport Classes for Preschoolers

"My child is in preschool and wants to learn sport, what classes do you offer for 2, 3, 4 or 5 year olds?"

This is a question we get asked a lot! Most children love to run around and play from a very young age, but sometimes just playing sport with their big brother or sister in the back yard isn’t enough.

Here at the US Sports Institute, we offer a fun, safe and educational environment where your two, three, four or five year old can play sport with other children, and be taught the FUNdamentals of soccer, lacrosse, hockey, basketball, golf and T-Ball by qualified and enthusiastic coaches!

Our Squirts programs are offered all over New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania all year round, and many more States in the summer. Designed specifically for preschoolers, these classes are the best introduction to sport for your little one.

But don’t just take our word for it, have a look for yourselves!

How To Pick The Perfect Summer Sports Camp

Are you confused as to what summer camp will be best for your child? Too many different sports on offer? Well the US Sports Institute is here to help!

We have created a 'How To' guide to help you select the perfect summer camp for your child. If your child is aged 2 to 14, and wants to learn or play a variety of sports, then USSI has a wide range of summer camps open to you.

Our sport camps are week long, and typically run Monday through Friday during the summer. But how do you know which one is is the one for you?

We have devised an easy step-by-step system to guide you towards the summer camp that best suits you and your child. No more scrolling, no more searching, just a simple way to choose the best USSI summer camp experience possible!

Click here to pick your perfect camp!

Making Sport Fun for 3-5 Year Olds

Regardless of age, we all indulge in activities and hobbies based on our interests, based on things that we enjoy. More over, those who choose to participate in sport throughout their lives do so because they have had positive experiences within sport. Therefore, it is a common acknowledgement amongst coaches and professionals alike that the primary focus for youth sport should be fun. So how do we make sport enjoyable for young children; how do we make it fun?

Before introducing any sport to a young child, the equipment they play with should be considered. Using developmentally appropriate equipment will make it easier for children to be successful in sport. Many sporting organizations and departments now recognize the need for specially designed equipment for kids, and are utilizing it within their programs. For example, in soccer smaller balls, fields and nets are all used; in basketball backboards lowered; and in baseball young children use a tee. Ultimately, if children experience greater success and less frustration, it will lead to greater enjoyment!

An Introduction to SNAG Golf

SNAG stands for ‘Starting New At Golf’. It’s a really cool and fun game that allows children to learn golf easily in a safe, controlled and fun environment.

All of the elements of golf are included in SNAG, but in a modified form. It has all the fun of mini golf, but implements the use of all the golf shots; chipping, pitching, and putting.

SNAG golf enables the children to develop golfing ability instantly, this keeps the children motivated, and with this instant success naturally comes enjoyment, and a desire to continue playing golf.

Australian Open: Federer, Murray, Djokovic & Ferrer reach Semi Finals

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

So my passion for the underdog was my downfall again, but it could have been all very different if Janko Tipsarevic hadn’t retired through injury, undoing my predictions once more. I was hoping for more than just the Nos. 1 through 4 seeds to reach a rather predictable semi-final match up. But I guess they are the top four in the world for a reason. Andy Murray will face Roger Federer in a semi final for the umpteenth time, and Novak Djokovic will have to squeeze past David Ferrer to reach the Australian Open final for a fourth time.

Australian Open: Sharapova, Azarenka, Stephens & Li Na reach Semi Final

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

So my predictions for the semis would have gone three-quarters of the way to plan had Serena Williams not been injured in her loss to 19-year-old Sloane Stephens. My Angelique Kerber prediction was more in hope of an upset than anything, but after watching Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens and Li Na play, they undoubtedly deserved their places in the final four. So here comes the tricky part. Who will win? These are my predictions (or what some may call “educated guesses”).

Predicting the Final Four of the Australian Open: The Men

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

We’re starting to get to the most interesting section of the Australian Open; the deadwood has dropped out, and the contenders have been showing their tennis prowess. But because I am usually very bad at making predictions before a tournament starts, I have refrained from claiming I could work out who may make the semi-finals down under. However with the Round 3 draw now set, and more of a grasp of player’s form and fitness, here are my predictions for the men.

Novak Djokovic has a fairly easy 3rd Round match against 33-year-old Radek Stepanek. The Czech struggled in his first round match, with the game going to 5 sets, but I don’t think he will pose too much of a problem for Novak. This means a 4th Round meeting with either Sam Querrey or Stanislas Wawrinka – and I think the American Querrey will be Djokovic’s opposition. But again, Novak should steam through that round easily, setting up a probable quarter-final with Tomas Berdych, which he will again, win.

Predicting the Final Four of the Australian Open: The Women

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

We’re starting to get to the most interesting section of the Australian Open; the deadwood has dropped out, and the contenders have been showing their tennis prowess. But because I am usually very bad at making predictions before a tournament starts, I have refrained from claiming I could work out who may make the semi-finals down under. However with the Round 3 draw now set, and more of a grasp of player’s form and fitness, here are my predictions for the women.

This women’s draw is looking very interesting indeed, with the second half of the draw a lot more competitive than the first. In the top block, the world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka is currently looking to power through to Round 4 with a match up against USA’s Jamie Hampton. Azarenka should stroll through to meet (and probably defeat) Roberta Vinci from Italy, where she will then face 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki in the quarter-finals. This should be a very interesting match, and will be one of the toughest to call. I personally would like to see the Dane reach the semi-finals, but with Azarenka having had such a strong year last year, she looks likely to continue her purple patch and set up a semi-final against Serena Williams. That is, if the American manages to reach that far. And the way she is playing, she should – dropping just 2 games in her first two matches.