Jr. Academy

Jr. Academy (U08s) 2015s

Changes to Junior Academy
There are many changes coming to the Junior Academy program coming this spring. Pursuant to parental feedback and careful deliberation, we spoke with coaches and decided to make changes this spring.

Junior Academy (U8 – Birth year 2015) Season runs March 9, 2023 – May 20, 2023. There will be no games Easter weekend April 8th .

Training will now be on Thursday nights on Field B and the option to train the 2nd and 4th Friday on turf with Premiere coaches.

Training sessions will follow a new curriculum demonstrated by our professional coaches and Premiere coaches with the assistance of volunteer coaches to manage teams. Professional coaches will be assigned to teams to help volunteer coaches and provide more individualized instruction.

To form even teams, our professional and premiere coaches will evaluate the players during the training session on March 9 th and small sided scrimmages in place of games on March 11th . Teams will be announced on March 13th.

This season we will play 5v5 including a goalkeeper.

Training session times will be:
Girls: 5:30-6:30pm
Boys: 6:40- 7:40pm

Games will be on Field B Saturday mornings. The first 4 weeks games will consist of 4-12 minute quarters aligning to US Soccer guidelines. The last 5 weeks games will consist of 2 – 25 minute halves to help prepare players for the next year.

Girls games will start promptly at 9am.
Boys games will start promptly at 10:15am.

Boys teams will be named after MLS teams and girls teams will be named after NWSLteams.

Jr. Academy

5v5 games

Local Games

Professional Training

We recognize that there are many talented U08 players who would benefit from a more focused soccer learning environment, which continues to nurture their development and prepare them for either recreational or competitive soccer.

Our program provides players a professional environment with professional coaches utilizing the Play, Practice, Play (PPP) model championed by the United States Soccer Federation. "For me, a good training session, a youth training session, is organized chaos." Lisa Cole, Washington Spirit Pro Scout and Development Academy.

The program focuses on individual skills and small group play, which are essential for good personal and team performances. Games will be played both in-house and possibly against other local clubs with the emphasis being on effort and development, not outcome.

Our professional coaches will not only educate the players about the game, but give players and parents a view of the skills and techniques necessary for long-term soccer success. Training topics will focus on dribbling, receiving, passing, ball striking, and principles of attacking and defending in a 1v1 and 2v2 situations, as well as a continued effort to expand each players own coordination, balance, body movement and confidence.

The program is designed to inspire young players to learn and develop a passion for the game of soccer. The program is designed to bridge the gap between our World Cup and U09 County or Premier soccer.

Players will receive written evaluations at the end of each season and a recommendation for either recreational or competitive soccer.

JR. ACADEMY PRESENTATION