Spring 2025 Academy

ACADEMY PROGRAMS:

For ages U3-U6 (Pre-school, Pre-K and K),  we will provide clinics on weekdays and weekends which will focus on age appropriate learning for young players with their first steps in the game, while developing fundamental movement skills in a fun learning environment. These practices involve a lot of learning through fun games, and for Kindergarteners, will involve an introduction to small sided scrimmages at the end of sessions. Players are welcome to do multiple sessions.

For U7-U9 we provide a weekday skills clinic for individual technical development and then games on a Saturday morning for players to explore their skills and learn in a game environment. Game formats will differ with age, from 4v4 to 7v7, to maximize player involvement while preparing players to graduate into the Travel program at U9 and above.

It is recommended players U7 and older participate in both the clinic and game days

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM:  

Alongside our Wednesday and Saturday Clinics/Game Day we also offer After-School clinics at each elementary school (Katonah, Meadowpond, Increase Miller) for K-5th Grades to make access to practices more convenient for families. Again it is recommended grades 1-5 (U7+) also participate in Saturday game days.

Registrations for this are taken through the school and you will receive notifications from your PTA.   Please ensure you check in with your school's PTA and register when their programs open.    If you have any questions on the registration or schedule please contact Coach Gareth.

 

Academy Program: Pre-Travel

Lil Jays / Tots (U3 & U4)

Our Lil' Jay's who are our youngest group will have sessions led by our Coaching Staff and supported by current High School athletes to support players engagement, instruction and play.

This is the entry point to soccer for our players and we offer multiple sessions per week, including weekends and a mid-day session on Thursdays to accommodate your busy schedule. At this age it is all about engagement and enjoyment in sport through games and story telling, there are no scrimmages. The main focus areas are;

  • Fundamental motor skill development

  • Introduction to the ball and kicking

  • Orientation and Awareness - moving, identifying and reacting to things within a game area

Pre-K and K (U5 & U6)

This program builds on and progresses from our players first experience in Lil Jay’s. Players will have the option of multiple clinics per week either midweek or on Saturday mornings. All sessions are clinic based with age appropriate training as kids at these ages are not ready for extended scrimmages. Sessions will involve fun games involving basic skill introduction and familiarisation, and motor skill development while keeping kids enagaged, active and most importantly on the ball more often! Sessions will finish with small sided 3v3 games to introduce players to a basic game environment assisted by coaches with the focus to let them play, explore and enjoy the game!

The main focuses at these age are;

  • Continued motor skill development including dodging and changing direction (e.g. tag style games)

  • Balance and coordination Development

  • Implementation of basic soccer skills through games (dribbling, kicking, turning with the ball, toe taps/foundations/sole rolls)

  • Orientation and Awareness - moving, identifying and reacting to things within a game area

1st Grade (U7)

Our program progresses by first grade to midweek practices (afterschool sessions or skills clinics available) based around skill development through fun games with Saturday game days, which at U7 will be shorter 4v4 style games. For these ages and above we highly recommend participation in both the midweek skills practices and Saturday game days.

The focus for this age is to build on the previous stages while not including:

  • A progression of basic skills

  • Continued development of Fundamental Movement (Motor) skills for long term athletic development

  • Games which encouraging a lot of movement and attack and defend

  • Small sided games to maximise engagement and individual touches on the ball at weekends

2nd Grade (U8) - Development Academy

At 2nd grade or U8 we will progress to a more formalized setting with expectations players try attend midweek practice (afterschool session or skills clinic) focusing on footwork and skill development while having more structured Saturday games in a 5v5 model with goalkeepers and age appropriate goals.

For U8 our goal is to have enough players within the age group to break into multiple assigned teams in-town for the season to play a more organized 5v5 game to learn the basic rules and prepare to progress into Travel Development at U9, but staying in town for games with the exception of potential jamborees.

  • Development of footwork and skills on the ball

  • Building confidence in game like situations

  • Basic game understanding and rules (boundaries, throw ins, corners and goal kicks)

  • Basic team shape (attackers and defenders) and involvement of Goalkeepers at U8

3rd Grade+ (U9+) - Pre-Travel

For player’s who are U9 and older and either not quite ready for Travel Team competitions, or do not want that commitment of travel for games we have our in house Academy program for Grade 3+.

This program focuses on skill development through fun and engaging games to help players progress with their skills, with in-house pickup style games on a Saturday for players.

This program is co-ed with an optional midweek clinic and Saturday games which will all be at Fox Valley Park in Goldens Bridge.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM - K-5th

Beginning in the Fall of 2023 we have begun to offering Academy practices for K-5th ages directly after school ends at each individual elementary school within our district (Katonah, Meadow Pond and Increase Miller). The goal for this change is to provide more accessibility to our Professional Coaching Staff for younger players to participate and experience soccer as well as ensure you have as much scheduling flexibility as possible. These sessions compliment well with our Academy Wednesday and Saturday Game programs.

The After-School Programs are aligned with each PTA's After-School Curriculum, therefore these sessions will start and end on dates that are determined by the PTA.  WE DO NOT TAKE REGISTRATIONS FOR THESE PROGRAMS.  To participate, you are required to register through your school's PTA program. Each school opens up their registration at different times, and may follow a different schedule than our Academy Program.  Please contact your school's PTA for the links to register and their start/end dates. If you have any questions on the registration or schedule please contact Coach Gareth.