Soccer at The Docks in Toronto
I signed my 10 year son up for one week of soccer and fun at Soccerworld @ The Docks. I registered online on April 19, 2006. My payment was processed that day for $267.50. The website shows its last update Feb 1 2006 and is still that current.
It promised:
- Outstanding instruction for girls/boys
- Ages 6-16 from Conquest Coaching Staff
- Official Soccerworld Camp t-shirt and ball
- Personal “Skills Evaluation” (Written by camper’s Coach) and workout calender
- Emphasis on fundamentals, sportsmanship
- And team play
The list of Coaching staff was impressive, the director is the Head of women’s soccer program at UofT. The other coaches were also from UofT. This is what was delivered:
- Campers were to be dropped of at Spike’s Clubhouse … it’s a bar!
- NONE of the coaches were in attendance during the week.
- No “official” camp t-shirt. My son received an adult sized shirt with two company names on it that meant nothing and just advertising them.
- No ball.
- No personal skills evaluation.
- AND on the last day some children received a ball or hat for ‘good sportsmanship’ or ‘participation’.
- No mention had been made the first day that some prizes would be given for these things.
I complained via email on Day 2 as my son had come home Monday night with a severe burn on his face and body from swimming without a shirt and sunscreen. There is no shelter at the docks and the counsellors did not enforce that sunscreen be applied to shirtless bodies. I had a telephone promptly after my complaint email. We discussed the burn. We discussed that when our son was dropped off to a young cousellor in flip flops that there wasn’t a sign in sheet. All other camps we attend duly mark off the name and we can leave with assurance that he is accounted for especially next to Lake Ontario.
On Friday after a disappointing week learning that nary one coach was ever in attendance during the week and that his most fun he had was go-karting in the week… I marched over to the trailer to speak in person to the director of the camp. He thought my expectations for the camp were too high. My expectations were what they printed online and what I paid for online. I feel they were misrepresenting the camp and false advertising.
My son was disappointed that we did not get a new soccer ball as we expected. I feel I paid too much and received too little. I’m glad I only took my son for one week and I will tell my friends not to make the same mistake. I should have called and asked more questions instead I believed what I read online.
I hope this might help others.
Signed,
janet joy wilson
Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.