Star City Soccer Academy
FALL / WINTER / SPRING / SUMMER PROGRAMS
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Star City Soccer Academy provides the best environment possible through top level coaching and facilities at the foundational ages. As a "Zone 1" specialist in player development, we devote an unparalleled amount of resources to developing players within the critical 6-9 age range.
The Star City Soccer Academy has teamed up with Valley United to create a partnership that can provide the best experience possible for youth players of all ages. See below for information about our U8 and U10 programs.
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SEASON INFORMATION
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Season Length:
Our seasons generally go for nine to 11 weeks.
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Locations:
Star City Soccer Center (3624 Aerial Way Dr., Roanoke)
Vinyard East Soccer Complex (150 Berkley Rd., Vinton)
Valley United Soccer Complex (1700 Progress Dr., Roanoke)
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Age Groups:
U10 - born in 2013
U9 - born in 2014
U8 - born in 2015
U7 - born in 2016
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Training Schedule* (all sessions 5:30-7:00):
U7/U8 Boys - Tuesday / Thursday
U7/U8 Girls - Tuesday / Thursday
U9/U10 Boys - Monday / Wednesday
U9/U10 Girls - Tuesday / Thursday
* Can be flexible. Leave a note during registration.
* Subject to change depending on season.
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Sample Game Schedule:
See below for the spring game schedule. Final details for each game are communicated early during the week of. The U8 group will most likely have a couple of extra intra-squad games and less travel.
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3/21 - Intra-squad (tactical preview)
3/28 - Host: Christiansburg Soccer Club / SWVA Rush / SML Jets
4/4 - Host: VBR Star / New River United
4/11 - Off (Easter Weekend)
4/18 - @ Central Virginia United in Lynchburg
4/25 - @ VBR Star Festival in Roanoke
5/2 - Intra-squad (tactical review)
5/9 - @ New River United in Blacksburg
5/16 - Intrasquad Festival
5/23-24 - New River United Tournament (invitation -- extra cost)
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Cost:
The full cost per season is $275. That includes two nights of training, games on the weekend, and jersey. We offer a one night per week option for $220. SCS Academy is meant to be affordably priced, but we do offer partial and full scholarships to anyone who needs it (find application form on registration site).
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Curriculum:
During training, we use small sided scenarios to emphasize skill development and decision making capabilities. We believe that children between the ages 6-9 learn the game best through variations of 2v2 (U8) and 3v3 (U10) that present common situations in the game in a progressive and organized way. Certain activities are repeated almost every session moving from most basic in the beginning of the season and most complex at the end.
During competition, games of 5v5 at U8 and 7v7 at U10 are age appropriate numbers. Game environments represent another training format different from the weekly practice. We emphasize basic group tactics within specific principles of play while prioritizing each individual player's development.
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We push players to be their best. That means that we do not restrict them based on age. Integrating younger players with older groups at the appropriate time is a key aspect of player development. As mentors and educators, we measure player progress through the player's growth on and off the field over a very long term.
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Philosophy of Player Development:
The two symbols on the Star City Soccer Academy logo are a chess board and a queen's crown. Each of these symbols has significant meaning to us:
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Chess Board - Game intelligence is a vital part of the game for any player. Our training curriculum and game environments are set up to develop "thinking players" who learn to see and process the game at a high level.
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Queen's Crown - Continuing with the chess theme, our goal is to develop dynamic players who have great technical ability with the ball. Just as a queen has ranging mobility that allows her to dominate the chess board, we aim to develop players who are able to dominate on the soccer field with a dynamic range of dribbling, passing, and touch.
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