As the outdoor temperatures soar, Dubai Sports World (DSW) – the region’s largest indoor sports venue – has partnered with an exhilarating roster of academies for its biggest-ever schedule of indoor summer camps for children between 2-and-16 years of age. In addition to long-term returning academies, the eight edition of DSW will boast an exciting new set of sports clinics for football, basketball, badminton, and dedicated coaching for gymnastics and rugby.

Proving to be hugely popular in 2017, Just Play Multisport Camp returns to DSW for the second consecutive year. Kids can enjoy a multitude of games and sports challenges including football, rugby, arts and crafts, and dance. Just Play will also be introducing gymnastics for the first time with a dedicated area boasting bars, beams, vault and a tumble track. Ninja Warriors will also return this year, this time with two courses – one for adults and another for young warriors.

The Just Play Rugby Academy will make a debut, training kids aged 4–14. Former international rugby star Mike Phillips, who will be coaching the kids said, “I set up the Mike Phillips Just Play Rugby Academy to give as many children as possible the opportunity to play and enjoy the game I love. I was fortunate to be able to make a professional career from rugby, and now I can apply my experience to coach the next generation here in Dubai.”

He added, “We welcome boys and girls of all ages and abilities, and teach them not only the skills of the game, but also the values of respect, teamwork, enjoyment and hard work. Dubai Sports World gives us the ideal opportunity to offer our professional coaching sessions to children, whether they are just starting out or want to improve their game. I’m looking forward to personally meeting and coaching all the children that come along to my academy through the summer.”

Prestige Star Sports Academy (PSSA) will be joining as the official basketball academy for this year’s DSW. Offering high level coaching services and specialising in harnessing and nurturing talent, the academy has specially designed practices for young athletes from the age of 2 to 15+ years old. During DSW, PSSA will be scouting for a junior team to take on a once in a lifetime trip to Las Vegas, to partake in the prestigious Amateur Athletic Union Tournament this August.

Founder of PSSA, Dejan Kamenjasevic said, “The region holds so much unbelievable basketball talent that for the first time ever, we are looking for a junior team to join us in Las Vegas for a three-week tour. This will be an amazing opportunity for home grown talent, to play against the best teams in the US, and also have the opportunity to win a scholarship in America.”

For a chance to be part of the trip to Las Vegas and rub shoulders with the NBA stars, PSSA will be scouting for the last few spaces at DSW from 22-25 May.

Also new to DSW this year is LaLiga Academy, the one and only scouting Spanish football academy in the nation, supervised by famous ex-footballer Fernando Sanz and a group of UEFA pro-certified LaLiga club coaches. Open for youth from 6 – 16 years of age, the academy offers a clear pathway to a pro-football career, and a chance to earn a place on a 3-week intensive training camp in Spain this August.