Academy Program (U8-U12)

The UFA South Georgia academy program provides talented young players an opportunity to progress beyond recreational play into more competitive select soccer.

UFA South Georgia currently has four sites across the region: Albany; Thomasville; Tifton; Valdosta. Potential academy players are identified during the summer tryout and winter assessment process. Any player that misses tryouts may be given the opportunity of a two week trial during the season with the appropriate program. Interested players should contact the Academy Director. Academy Tryouts are usually held in late May, starting the Tuesday after Memorial Day.

Players in this program are exposed to a more intensive and competitive level of training. The focus is on developing the proper technical and tactical foundation that is crucial for the Select program. Young players with commitment, skills and an appropriate attitude, will find academy soccer to be an excellent introduction to the select level of play.

Highlights:

• Ages 7-11 (U8-U12)
• Teams are gender-based; Pool training is coed
• Selected through annual tryouts/assessments
• Professional training and coaching
• All teams will play a Fall and Spring schedule
• Additional tournaments may be attended
• Two 90 minute practices per week
• Additional team training sessions will be held centrally during each season.

All academy players will train locally twice a week at an Academy Center of Excellence using the pool concept; additional centralized team training dates will be set throughout the season. The Pool concept allows each player the opportunity to progress at the appropriate level. Players will be able to improve at their own speed while developing an appreciation of the game, while keeping winning and losing in proper perspective. Teams will be formed for playdates and players will be rotated through different positions to encourage a better understanding of the game. Each season consideration will be taken into forming tournament teams. This decision will be made by the Coaching Directors.

Academy Pool training groups will all receive similar training each session across all locations. A seasonal curriculum will be implemented so each session will mirror each other at each location. Groups at each location will be formed based on technical ability, taking into consideration the physical demands of the training and each player’s ability to meet those demands. Coaching Directors will review pool groupings throughout the season to ensure player development is optimized.

For More Information, email Ricky Zambrano  zambranorz6@hotmail.com