Winter break is coming, your player has nearly three weeks off, and you’d like them back in January still sharp without giving up the holidays to get there. The 2026 TNT Futbol Christmas Soccer Camp in Irvine, CA runs Monday to Wednesday, December 21-23, 2026, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Oak Creek Community Park. That’s three coached mornings, and it’s all done before Christmas Eve. You can register on the 2026 Christmas Soccer Camp in Irvine event page.
- Dates: December 21-23, 2026, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm each morning
- Where: Oak Creek Community Park, Irvine, CA
- Who: boys and girls, from beginners to club players. Our past holiday camps were open to ages 9-17. The event page lists this year’s range.
- Price: one flat fee covers all three mornings. The current fee is on the event page.
- Coach: Elmer Chacon, USSF B Licensed
Why three mornings beats three weeks off
Most families plan around the holidays, not around soccer. A morning-only camp gets around that problem. Drop-off is before 9:00 and pickup is at noon, so afternoons stay free for family and travel, and the camp ends before Christmas Eve.
The common belief is that a short break doesn’t matter. In practice, players who stop touching the ball for weeks come back rusty. Three straight mornings give your child a lot of touches in a short window, and coaching builds on the previous day each time. Every holiday camp we run is listed with our other seasonal dates on the upcoming soccer camps in Irvine page.
What a camp morning looks like
Each morning follows the same order, and the challenge goes up from one day to the next:
- Warm-up and ball work to get everyone moving and on the ball
- Technical stations: ball control, first touch, passing
- Attacking and defending concepts, coached in small groups
- Game situations that put the day’s skill under pressure
- Competitive play to finish the morning
Coach Elmer’s approach is “I teach the game so it becomes natural.” In practice, that means positioning and decision-making get coached while the kids are playing, not while they wait in a line.
What to bring
- Cleats suited to grass fields
- Shin guards (required for every activity)
- A full water bottle, plus a snack
- A ball in the correct size for your child’s age group, labeled with their name
- Layers, since December mornings can start cool
Not just for elite players
A lot of parents think a holiday camp is really a tryout. It isn’t. Beginners and competitive players train together, and each activity is adjusted to the player’s level. We don’t promise team placement or any particular result. What your child gets is focused work, honest feedback and a chance to show effort and coachability.
Wherever you sign up, ask one question: how many players does each coach work with at each station? The answer tells you whether a camp is coached or just supervised. For more on how camps compare with weekly and private training, see how to pick the right youth soccer format in Irvine.
Who coaches the camp
Elmer Chacon is USSF B Licensed and has coached at the MLS Next 2 Academy Division (U17 and U19) at Strikers FC Irvine since 2022. He is also Head Coach at Fairmont Preparatory Academy and was named 2025-26 Western Athletic Conference Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year. Over nearly 20 years he has trained more than 800 youth, club and high school players.
Marco and Lisa Joca’s son Nick trained with Elmer in private sessions, small groups and camps. They wrote that Elmer “takes the time to understand each player individually.” You can read more on the about page.
Christmas soccer camp FAQ
Is there a Christmas soccer camp near me in Orange County?
Our Christmas camp is held in Irvine at Oak Creek Community Park. Families come from across Orange County because the camp only runs in the mornings. To see how other local options are set up, read our Orange County youth soccer guide.
How much is the Christmas soccer camp in Irvine?
One fee covers all three mornings. There’s no per-day charge. The current fee is shown on the event registration page.
Can my child attend just one day?
The camp is built as a three-day block, with each morning building on the one before. If you need a single day, ask us before you register.
What if we miss the Christmas camp?
We run camps during other school breaks, plus weekday group trainings and private or small-group sessions all year. Upcoming dates are on the camps page.
When January comes, the goal is a player who walks back into practice confident instead of catching up.
Reviewed by Elmer Chacon, USSF B Licensed; MLS Next 2 Academy Division coach (U17 and U19) at Strikers FC Irvine since 2022; Head Coach at Fairmont Preparatory Academy; 2025-26 Western Athletic Conference Boys' Soccer Coach of the Year - last updated October 31, 2026.
Sources for this article
- Event listing: Dec 21-23, 2026, 9-12, Oak Creek Community Park
- Past holiday camps ages 6-16, boys and girls
- Camp content: technical, attacking/defending, game situations, competitive play
- Author profile credentials and 800+ players
- Joca testimonial
Facts drawn from this site's own documented knowledge and first-hand experience.
