ACADEMY

Soccer South Soccer Club U9 and U10 Academy Program 

The Iowa Soccer Association Academy is a state-initiated and state-led program which parents of U09 and U10 players, in a qualifying club have the option of registering their child for academy or recreational soccer. Qualifying clubs are Altoona Soccer Club, Ankeny Soccer Club, Dallas Center Grimes Soccer Club, Johnston Soccer Club, Urbandale Soccer Club, Soccer West Soccer Club, Soccer South Soccer Club, West Des Moines and Vision Soccer Academy of Waukee.

The impetus behind offering two levels of play at U9/U10 is to allow players to play with and against players of similar ability and at a level where they will experience the most success and have the most fun playing the sport.

Players registered for Academy soccer will play in an Iowa Soccer Association Academy League that is subject to a number of player developmental guidelines. Clubs must follow these guidelines to maintain their academy status.

Guidelines include following a set training curriculum, mixing training groups, mixing teams after each playing season, small roster sizes, mandatory coaching education for academy coaches, parent education and most importantly a focus on the individual player, not on the team.

Players registering for recreational soccer will follow the same format that they currently play in and will experience more consistency from season to season concerning coaching and team formation than an academy player would.

Academy clubs must still follow recreational play guidelines like 50% playing time in matches. However, the emphasis is placed on creating a playing environment that is more conducive to the individual as opposed to team development.

Academy v Recreational – How to Choose

The difference between participating in an Academy program or recreational program lies in the level of investment, commitment, and interest among 8 and 9 year olds and their parents/guardians.  The Academy is best suited for those who want a higher level of instruction and play. Academy players will tend to be more dedicated to the game, the ball, and their individual and collective development.

Listed below are the characteristics of typical players who would participate in an Academy Program.  If your child displays a majority of the characteristics listed they are probably more suited to that level of play.  However, it should be noted that during a player’s soccer development they may move back and forth between academy and recreational play.

• Demonstrates sound technical skills (control, dribbling, and shooting)
• Physically stronger than most players within their age group
• Athletically quicker than most players within their age group
• High level of coordination and good agility
• During games is aggressive in their attitude and approach to getting involved
• During games tends to dominate the play
• Demonstrates high level of focus and concentration during practices and games
• Started to narrow down the number of extra-curricular activities
• Soccer is a high priority
• Practices with a ball in their own time outside regular schedule of games & practices
• U9 player who will try-out for the U11 competitive age group in the following year

Why An Academy Program?

The U9 and U10 age groups are very important to the development of youth soccer players in Iowa and it is vital to create an appropriate developmental environment without making the environment too competitive or restrictive, resulting in players leaving the sport.

Many players in the U9 and U10 age group participate together irrespective of skill, athletic ability or physiological size and there are a number of positive and negative outcomes of organizing U9/U10 soccer this way.  

Positive:

• Recreational soccer is very inclusive and anyone can play.
• Participants can play with their friends or be grouped into neighborhood teams.
• Players are not labeled.
• Weaker players can learn from stronger players.

Negative:

• More athletic/skillful/physically mature players often dominate games, frustrating the weaker players and not giving them enough time with the ball to encourage improvement.
• More athletic/skillful players often become frustrated because the less athletic/skilled players do not offer the level of competition necessary in games and practice for effective player development.
• When the more skillful/athletic players move to a competitive team at U11 many of the less athletic/skillful or multi-sport athletes discontinue playing soccer because the team often breaks up.
• In many instances, the coach of a U10 team is often the parent of a more athletic/skillful player. When the coach’s son/daughter moves to a competitive team at U11, the recreational team is left without a coach, again leading to a greater chance of a team breaking up.   

ISA believes that the U9/U10 Academy Program accommodates different athletic abilities and levels of play and there are many benefits for U9/U10 players, such as:

• By grouping the less skillful/athletic players together they will experience more success and hopefully have more fun, which will create a better learning environment and potentially increase longevity in the sport.    
• If more skillful/athletic/physically mature players play and train together, regardless of coaching, it will create a better learning environment.
• If team members remain consistent and move from one age group to another as a team, the team is more likely to stay together.    
• If the coach remains consistent and moves from one age group to another with the team the team is more likely to stay together.    
• New players entering the sport at U9/U10 will be exposed to a more developmentally appropriate entry level of play.

Academy Team Formation

If a club offers an Academy program, players must have the option of registering for recreational or Academy play. Players registering for Academy play cannot be turned away and must be assigned to a team.

• Academy teams cannot be formed on the basis of talent and must be formed as true recreational teams. Randomly assigned at U9 and manipulated accordingly, to ensure equity in competition.
• Academy teams will be mixed each season by at least 50%. This will improve the developmental environment and continue to place the focus on the individual, not the team.
• Maximum roster size is 10 players, recommended roster size is 8 players. 
• Free movement of Academy players is allowed in Academy clubs to fulfill fixture commitments.
• Double rostering is not allowed for players registered to an Academy program.
• Guest playing is not permitted on non academy teams.
• Academy clubs must follow an 80/20 registration policy for their select U11 programs. Exceptions may be made if prior approval is received from the league director.