FORT MYERS, Fla. – The reigning ASUN Conference Champion FGCU women's soccer team and head coach Jim Blankenship announced less than 75 spots remain for the annual Summer Elite Camps this week. The Day Camp has only four spots remaining, while the Jr. Elite Camp has nine spots left and the Elite Camp has 49 openings. 
 
As winners of seven-straight regular season titles and five ASUN Tournament crowns, Blankenship and staff will lead a highly-competitive and informational camp atmosphere at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
 
Day Camp (4 Openings) - June 5 - 9, 2017
The FGCU Soccer Day Camp is designed for players wanting to learn the fundamental skills of soccer. Individual instruction emphasizes the use of correct techniques.
 
Ages: 6-14
Cost: $250 Full Day Campers - 9AM - 3PM
$150 Half Day Campers - 9AM - 11AM
$100 Deposit Required with Registration
Campers should arrive June 5th and check in at the FGCU Soccer Complex from 8:30AM - 9:00AM
 
Elite Junior Soccer Camp (9 Openings) - June 5 - 8, 2017
The Junior Elite residential camp focuses mainly on the technical education and development of players age 10-13. Tactical ideas will be introduced as well. The goal is to get young players to the next level as they prepare for all of their future successes in the game.
 
Ages: 10-13
Cost: $550 Overnight Campers - $425 Day Campers; 9AM - 8PM
$100 Deposit Required with Registration
Campers should arrive June 5th and check in at Alico Arena from 1:00PM - 3:00PM
 
Elite Camp (49 Openings) - July 20 - July 23, 2017
The Elite College Showcase residential camp is designed to improve the skill level and tactical understanding of players 14-18. Practice sessions will be intense and very competitive to challenge at every level of the player's ability. This camp is staffed exclusively with NCAA Division I and II collegiate coaches.
 
Ages: 14-18
Cost: $550 Overnight Campers - $425 Day Campers; 9AM - 8PM
$100 Deposit Required with Registration
Campers should arrive July 20th and check in at Alico Arena 1:00PM - 3:00PM
 
This fall, Blankenship led the Eagles yet another ASUN regular season title and a fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in six seasons. The Eagles finished 14-5-1 and 6-0-1 in ASUN play to earn its seventh-consecutive regular season title, the longest active streak in the country. As the No. 1 seed in the tournament, FGCU defended its home field to secure the tournament title and return to the NCAA Tournament.
 
In their fifth appearance in five seasons, the Eagles faced #9 Florida in the First Round, keeping the Gators scoreless through 65 minutes. FGCU's season would end however with a 3-0 defeat to Florida.
 
All three camps are currently accepting applications. A $100 non-refundable deposit as well as a medical release must accompany the application. The remaining balance is due before the first day of camp. Mail all three to:
 
Florida Gulf Coast University
Attn: Jim Blankenship
10501 FGCU Blvd South
Ft. Myers, FL 33965
 
Checks can be made out to Blankenship Elite Soccer. Prices are as follows: Elite Camp and Jr. Elite Camp are $550 for Overnight Campers and $425 for Day Campers. The Day camp is $250 for a Full-Day Campers (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) and $150 for a Half-Day Campers (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.). Teams or groups of 11 or more who send in their applications and deposits together are eligible for a $25 discount per camper. FGCU employees are eligible for a $25 discount and siblings will receive $10 per camper discount (only one discount per camper).
 
Please contact Scott Collins at scollins@fgcu.edu or visit fgcusoccer.com with questions.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the women's soccer team on Twitter @FGCU_WSoccer, on Instagram @FGCU_WSoccer or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUWSoccer. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.
 
COACH JIM BLANKENSHIP
A veteran of over two decades in collegiate coaching, head coach Jim Blankenship, who was named the ASUN Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, has built FGCU women's soccer into a yearly contender in the ASUN Conference and a rising program in the South Region in just 10 seasons. Blankenship started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to nine double-digit win seasons, culminating with ASUN Regular Season Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. In 2011 and 2012 he also led the Eagles to back-to-back ASUN Tournament titles and became the first team in the history of the university to make it to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles went on to win the 2014 ASUN Tournament and hosted the first NCAA Championship event on campus. The Eagles earned their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance with the 2015 ASUN Tournament Championship and won their first NCAA game at USF in 2015, while finishing 24th in the nation. In 2016, the Eagles made it three-consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament with a third-straight ASUN Tournament title. Blankenship has guided FGCU to a 129-47-20 (70.7 W%) overall record through the first 10 seasons of the program's existence, including a 66-10-11 (81.8 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 369-118-31 (74.3 W%) over 25 seasons has come while leading FGCU, the University of Miami, Lynn University and St. Thomas University.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.