Assessments:
Players interested in the Academy Program must participate in an Academy Player Assessment. This is not a "tryout" process resulting in a player being cut. Rather, it is an opportunity for players, parents, and coaches to assess the suitability of the program to the player's stage of development and to determine if Academy placement is suitable.
The Initial Assessments will be hosted in May of each year, however, we will also host Supplemental Assessments in August (for the Fall Season) and February (for the Spring Season) for those that missed the Initial Assessments in May. **If your player has missing both Initial and Supplemental Assessments, we will have an Individual Assessment on a case by case basis**
After the Initial Assessments, we will send out "Acceptance Emails" into the VFA Youth Academy Program. This will include all of the paperwork for the full year. Specific Team Assignments will be announced after the Second Assessment in August.
Fees:
Assessment fee: Online $30.00
Registration: Full season $250.00
Club Fee: $1,000.00 (Monthly payments plans are available) **Our 7/8U Teams Total Cost for the full year is $500; plus $30 for uniforms.**
Players and their families are responsible for their own uniforms (9U and 10U age groups), travel costs and Lodging if necessary. Uniform information is given to you once you’re placed on a team.
Commitment level:
Commitment for the Villarreal Force Academy program is a mutual one-year commitment. Assessments for the Youth Academy are evaluated by our coaching staff.
Training:
The teams practice schedule, by age group, is below:
10U & 9U Teams - Three times a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (6:00 - 7:15pm)
7/8U Teams - Twice a week: Tuesday and Thursday (6:00 - 7:15pm)
**All training's will be at the Jordan Soccer Complex; 445 Treetop Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28311.**
Games:
We split the 9U and 10U Youth Academy into teams for training/games based on age and development. Depending on the development of the players, we have the unique ability to move players up to challenge them on more competitive teams.
- In Youth Academy, we have "Festivals" where the 9U and 10U teams have at least 2 matches at each "Festival"; Youth Academy Teams play on Saturdays only for these "Festivals"; there will be at least 5 Festivals a season (8-10 matches a season). Home "Festivals" are played at the Jordan Soccer Complex, and Away games are typically played no more than an hour to two hours drive away at various locations such as Sampson county, Wilson, Clayton etc.
- Festivals will be sent out at the beginning of each season, Fall and Spring, so you will have those dates for planning purposes. Specific match times will be sent out 1-2 weeks prior to the Festival date as each Hosting Club has to manage all teams attending with coaching conflicts (as the arise).
- 9U and 10U team will also have the opportunity to attend other events such as an End-of-Season “Festival/tournament”. This will give them 3-4 more competitive matches outside of the normal “festival” schedule.
- The 7/8U age group will have matches in our In-House Recreational League (at 7/8U age group or 9/10U age group depending on the development of the players) on Saturday's. This will give the 7/8U age group at least 7-8 Home matches for each season. With them being in the Youth Academy, when VFA hosts a home "festival" event, these teams will get the opportunity to play against other clubs at the 7/8U age group as well as travel to a Festival (usually to Wilmington) for additional experience.
Dates:
The Youth Academy program is a one-year commitment (Fall and Spring):
Fall Season: August – November & Spring Season: Late January – April
Coaches:
As we strive for personal growth out of our players, our paid coaching staff has an extremely unique opportunity for their own coaching development. Our staff works directly with our affiliate club, Villarreal C.F. in Spain, to create age appropriate and challenging training sessions. They have coaching meetings with Villarreal C.F. International Academy Directors as an individual and group, at least once a month.
For more information on the Villarreal Force Youth Academy program, please contact our Assistant Coaching Director and Youth Academy Director, Tyler Hudson, [email protected].