The spring U8 program is designed to the bridge the gap between fall second grade soccer and the U9 fall travel program to better prepare young players for competitive soccer. The program operates under the guidance of the WSA Technical Director, Alex Schmidt with support from our professional training partners. Additionally high school soccer players involved in our “Players Helping Players” program will assist in working with all players.
The U8 pre-travel program consists of weekly technical clinics, small group activities, and small side games. The program focuses on teaching fundamental skill development while introducing participants to critical elements of competitive soccer – basic tactics, good sportsmanship and working with coaches and teammates.
During the initial weeks of the program, players are evaluated and sorted into balanced teams. This ensures that all participants receive a uniform curriculum when competitive and tactical elements are introduced through small-sided matches on Saturday mornings. Additionally the players will progress from 4 v 4 competition to 6 v 6 and finally ending in the 8 v 8 format they will be competing in during the fall season. There are two training sessions per week, on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning for 75 minutes, for each gender.
This program is intended for, but is not exclusive of, those who are considering trying out for travel soccer in the late spring. In order to maximize training efficiency the number of participants in the program may be limited. To be eligible for the program, players must either be born between 8/1/01 and 7/31/02 or who will be entering the third grade in the fall of 2010.
Please note, all players participating in the WSA U8 spring program and are interested in trying out for the 2010/2011 U9 travel program, will be evaluated throughout the 8 week program. Any players not participating in this program but interested in fall travel will be invited to two open training sessions during the last weeks of the U8 program. This new format will be utilized as the “WSA U9 Travel Try Outs” for players going into the fall 2010 season.
