Neenah SC’s Academy the club’s pre-cursor to and preparation for our Classic (competitive) program. It is generally the first time players will be asked to commit more to soccer and begin traveling for games, including tournaments. It is overseen by our Academy Director (and Director of Coaching) Sean Breitzman, and players within the program are coached by a combination of staff and volunteer coaches.

Ranging from 7U-10U, Neenah SC’s Academy program looks to build upon and instill in players the club’s core values: Teamwork, Leadership, Integrity, Perseverance, Respect, Excellence and Community. These are the cornerstones in our player development pathway which is further supported by our Player Development Framework (see below).

Throughout their time in Academy, coaches will work to develop players’ technical ability, tactical knowledge, and their desire to play and learn the game. The youngest ages (7U-8U) play 4v4 with no goalkeepers and the oldest Academy groups (9U-10U) play 7v7 with goalkeepers.

There are higher expectations and more opportunities for players than recreational and Launchpad, but we will never force a player to participate or play if they choose not to, and we understand children are involved in many other activities. Playing time is not determined by a player’s attendance or participation at practice. All players will receive opportunities based on their attitude and willingness to learn from their coaches.

To best serve our players in terms of development as players and people, Academy is set-up as a pool training environment defined by ages and gender. Training sessions are one hour to an hour-and-a-half and consist of technical and tactical training with a scrimmage at the end. These pools will train together every training session throughout the season. When it comes to league/tournament games, the Academy Director will separate pools into relatively even teams based on player availability for those events. Teams will change from week to week. In a continuing theme from Launchpad, we are looking to develop entire age groups, based on data from US Soccer on the development of children at this age and stage. Below is a more concise description of pools:

Player Pools

• Players are separated into pools based on their age and gender
• 7U/8U (2016/2017 birth years) boys and girls
• 9U (2015 birth year) boys and girls
• 10U (2014 birth year) boys and girls
• All players in an age group train together on practice days
• Age groups all have consistent volunteer and staff coaches
• During the week prior to a playdate, Directors will make teams based on availability for the upcoming weekend 
• This will go out mid week (Tuesday evening after training) through Playmetrics
• If you set your child as attending the playdate in Playmetrics, they will be placed on at least one team
• If you set your child as not attending or don’t select anything for a Playdate, they will not be considered for a team
• We will make as many teams as we are able to; so we can match up with the other club(s) we’re playing and ensure as much playing time for players as possible, while still allowing substitutions (an important part of learning)

Academy is broken up into three seasons: Fall, Winter and Spring. You are able to sign-up for a whole year (all three seasons included), Fall only (Winter included), or Spring only.

While we are not looking to develop individual teams at this point at Neenah SC in Academy (even while many other clubs are), we are looking to provide an opportunity for every player in every age group to develop at their pace. In allowing players to play with everyone, instead of separating based on individual skill and talent, every player gets a chance to play and develop at their own pace. Instead of players worrying about what team they are on and their friend is on, they can worry more about having fun together.

Academy Player Development Framework

US Youth Soccer consulted experts in the fields of psychology, sociology, and physical education to understand what children are capable of at different ages and built their soccer model around those findings.  Young children are not developed yet physically, socially, and psychologically to play adult soccer at these ages.  They encourage playing small-sided games (4v4, 7v7) with multiple different children to develop successfully and we modeled Academy based on this philosophy. 

Using these findings from US Youth Soccer, we have developed our Academy program focusing on individual young player growth, initial team dynamics, continuing to grow their love of the game of soccer and most importantly, have fun!  Below are our age group goals for individual players:

7U/8U:

• Focus on age-appropriate fundamental movement skills with ball that were introduced during U5 & U6 programs (in practice session only, no throw in or goalies during games)
• Explore dribbling, short passing and shooting.
• Players are introduced to cooperative play without structured team play utilizing short ball-oriented activities challenging the players' movements focused on power, speed, agility and mobility.
• These are completed through a focus of spontaneous experience games and activities along with unstructured play focusing on players choice.  All practice portions of sessions will be a game to allow for fundamental skills with a ball and introduction of 1v0, 1v1, 2v0 activities led by staff coaches with assistance of volunteer coaches.
• Goal for coaches and parents:  Encourage players to participate, give their best and have fun.

9U/10U

• Develop individual coordinated movements (efficiency, quality, quickness)
• Continue to develop reaction speed and acceleration speed, agility
• Develop fundamental player actions with a high focus on both attacking and defending actions
• Develop skill acquisition (application of technique): mid-range passing/shooting (20-yards)
• Develop spatial awareness (SCANNING) and coordinated movements with teammates
• Cooperate with others as a team to solve problems within game
• Developing formations with specific roles and responsibilities including GK
• Introduce age-appropriate individual and collective team tactical principles/player actions in attacking and defending and both transition moments
• Experience playing in multiple positions
• Introduce the concept of a warm-up routine
• Develop reflection skills: about the game; build self-esteem and self confidence