The Pre-Travel Academy is for U7 and U8 players who aspire to join the full Warriors FC travel program at the U9 level. It will establish a strong foundation for future competitive play with Warriors teams in the Northern Counties Soccer Association. The Academy offers an opportunity for players to immerse themselves in the game while having fun and being challenged. Training sessions are run by experienced Red Bulls coaches, and are player centered to challenge players technically, tactically, and cognitively. Each session is designed to maximize ball contact and repetition which will increase skill over time.
Session Format
Based on the age and skill level, each session will vary in complexity, ranging from individual tactics to more complex group tactics. Each session is broken down into four sections:
- Introduction: An introduction to the training theme of the day.
- Main Activity: Challenging environments are created with lots of decision making, repetition and problem solving.
- Conditioned Game: The theme of the practice is built into a game-like activity where players can begin to link the concepts of the training session into the context of the game.
- Match: Using the rules of the game to create a realistic match environment in which prior learning is tied into the context of the match. These games will be conducted in small numbers, being 2v2, 3v3 or 4v4.
Program Structure
The Pre-Travel Academy is comprised of two 10–12-week seasons, Fall and Spring.
Players participate in two 1-hour practices each week. Games will be played every weekend during the season, and all games will be played in the 4v4 format, in compliance with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) small-sided standards for U7/U8 players. These games may take one of four formats:
- Intra-Warriors FC scrimmages
- Scrimmages with travel soccer clubs from neighboring towns
- League games in the Northern Counties Soccer Association
- Festivals or tournaments
Warriors FC staff, in consultation with our Red Bulls trainers, will determine which of these options is best for each group of players based on an assessment of their maturity and skill level. Not every team and every season will use the same format. The goal is to strike a balance between challenging the players but not pushing them along too fast.
As with the Mini Warriors program, the Pre-Travel Academy should not be seen as a replacement for a recreational soccer program in the fall. Playing “rec” provides young players with increased touches on the ball in a fun environment with their friends. So, if your schedules allow it, Warriors FC encourages continued participation in “rec” soccer for players at this age level. The Pre-Travel Academy is for players who want to take their training to the next level and continue that training into the spring. The cost for the program is $275.00 for the fall season and $275.00 for the spring season.
