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Shenandoah FC Elite

Emerging Talent Academy



WHAT:
   SFCE's Emerging Talent Academy
WHERE: The Sportsplex Indoor Sports Center, 221 Commonwealth Court, Winchester, Virginia 22601
WHEN:  January 8th through February 28th (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
TIME:  Tuesdays: 7:00pm-8:00pm & Thursdays: 5:00pm-6:00pm
WHO: Children born in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014
COST:  FREE for the first 40 kids.


Shenandoah FC Elite offers the Emerging Talent Academy program to boys and girls ages U5 and U8 that are ready to move from recreational soccer into a curriculum focused on the development of skills and techniques.  The program, as recommended by US Soccer and the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, stresses player development over winning.  SFC strongly believes that the Emerging Talent Academy is the best development option for children leaving recreational level programs. The training program is unmatched for preparing the youth player for higher level competitive programs.   Interested players must participate in an evaluation process that occurs in August and again in December of each year. Once a player has accepted a position in the Emerging Talent  Academy, they are committed to participating for the entire session.

The Emerging Talent  Academy players train two nights per week.  SFC Emerging Talent Academy coaches specialize in developing the youngest players and sharing their love of the game. The Emerging Talent Academy will play in festivals against Academy teams from other clubs in Northern Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, and surrounding counties. 

Emerging Talent Academy (E.T.A)

Ages: Players who are born between 1/1/11-12/31/14

Program Focus
: The E.T.A. offers our players the opportunity to be exposed to a soccer environment that will enhance their skills and their approach to the game. The objective of the E.T.A. training is to provide our players with an environment that promotes learning, creative thinking, problem-solving, skill development and a love for the game in an age-appropriate, soccer environment. 

Coaches
: Dr. Desmond Lawless, Lauren Johnson.

Training Formats:
 The program offers our players the opportunity to be exposed to a soccer environment that will enhance their skills and their approach to the game. 

We have an age-appropriate curriculum in place that will equip our players with the fundamental skills that they will carry with them as they grow and develop.  For this reason, our focus for these ages is to develop the individual and small group skills of our players. 

The 3 main components of our age-appropriate curriculum are: 
1. Technical 
2. Agility, Balance, and Coordination 
3. Simple decisions – using games to teach format.  Smaller sided games, under differing conditions, promote the qualities that we are looking for in our youth players by allowing for more touches on the ball, more creativity with the ball and more individual problem-solving in the game environment. 

Training Dates
:  The sessions will begin:


Jan. 8th - Feb 28th (Tuesdays: 7:00pm-8:00pm & Thursdays: 5:00pm-6:00pm)


Fee Structure: 

FREE for the 2018-2019 calendar year for the 8-week sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1)        Who is eligible for the Academy? 

           Any players who are born between  1/1/11-12/31/014.  Players can be on other teams (BRYSA or other competitive teams and still participate in the E.T.A.)

2)        Is there a cap on the size of the Academy class? 

Yes, in order to ensure high-quality instruction to all participants, the initial E.T.A class will be limited to 20 players, with as close to an equal balance between male and female players as possible. 

3)        Why the Academy program

The Academy approach is recommended by both the US Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer, the national organizations governing youth soccer in the United States. At the youth level, according to US Youth Soccer, the two biggest factors in influencing the early development of soccer players are the quality of coaching and the “culture” of the soccer program. The Academy program ensures *all* players are exposed to coaches with the appropriate level of experience and qualifications and given the same training curriculum. Also, the Academy places priority on the individual development of players and seeks to remove the unintended pressures that a focus on “winning games” can have on young players. In order to develop confidence in their abilities, players need an environment to take risks and apply what they are learning in a match-like setting. A focus purely on team results tends to inhibit, not increase, player development. 

4)        So what about teams like in the past? 

The E.T.A. program is NOT a refusal to recognize the social benefit of team identity or team-building that can be a great childhood experience. The E.T.A. program is a larger TEAM that enables players to train, compete and socialize with a larger group of players; build more friendships and increase their group of friends; compete with and learn from the other players that comprise the E.T.A. Program. 


5)        Can my child play in the Emerging Talent Academy program AND the Recreational or Competitive program at the same time? 

Yes, if your child wishes to participate in BOTH the Emerging Talent Academy program AND the Recreational program or the Emerging Talent Academy program AND the competitive program.  This is highly encouraged by our coaching staff. 

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