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Academies

The Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association will be offering a South East Classic Boy's League starting in the fall of 2011. The league design will be similar to the structure of the state leagues and South East Classic Girls with the focus being on South East Wisconsin teams. Read More>>

• Provide soccer players, who have aspirations of becoming a more accomplished player, an avenue to test and enhance their skills.
• Provide soccer players an opportunity to train with experienced coaches.
• Provide soccer players an opportunity to investigate the level of play with which they are comfortable, how they fit in with other teams, and for which coaches they would like to play.

Academy players must register with their home club.  Clubs that develop academy teams must comply with the rules of the league(s) in which they participate.  Other affiliate members may develop academy programs but would be subject to policy and guidelines developed by the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA).  Generally, clubs will develop academy teams in the U8 to U12 age groups.  

Clubs should be clear that the young players within their own academy are those who desire to learn and play at a higher level. Clubs should help parents and players recognize that an academy program is available for players wishing to participate in high level soccer training and playing opportunities. Soccer academies are to be used for training not recruiting. No formal contract or written commitment may be signed by or on behalf of a player to commit a player to an academy team. Clubs should be committed to the concept of player development by in an academy environment; proof of their commitment will be overseen by the WYSA Director of Coaching for a two year period.  The State Association will monitor those who maybe only designating teams as academy teams in order to obtain more competitive placements for their teams. 

Soccer academy teams may desire the ability to utilize flexible rostering (club passes, or rostering “across” age groups) which allows for the movement of players based on the changing dynamics of team competitiveness and player development. A club’s academy team may participate in league play (pending that league’s approval), may coordinate with other clubs to participate in “friendly” game formats or group play events with other soccer academy programs.

Academies are to be certified by the WYSA Director of Coaching or designee.  Coaches, trainers, administrators, etc., of soccer academies are subject to the WYSA risk management policy and must satisfactorily pass a criminal background check.

In order for clubs to certify their academy program they must submit a written request to the WYSA Director of Coaching or their designee for certification. WYSA will use the following criteria to assess the quality of the club’s academy programs:  

• an assessment of the structure of their current or potential academy program that includes the coaching education level of the director of coaching, trainers, and other coaches associated with the program
• an assessment of the academy’s training program(s) and methods (sessions per week, training calendar, coaching methods and environments)
• observation of player development methods and team training sessions with post observation assessment meeting(s) aimed at providing quality feedback to enhance current or projected academy programs
• WYSA coaching staff will provide ongoing development and support designed to enhance player develop and improve programming for clubs interested in developing academy programs.

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