U7/U8 (2017 & 2018) Academy Program

The academy will provide professional technical coaching while cultivating a fun learning environment with the specific goal of producing competitive young players with a passion for the game. The academy is a transitional platform between recreational soccer and travel soccer by incorporating and combining the technical approach of the latter with the fun approach of the former.

Academy players will attend practices where their individual technical development will be guided and nurtured by members of Gunston's professional coaching staff. Practices will be technique-focused but game-driven to ensure the players' enthusiasm for the game is developed in unison with their technical ability.

To further prepare academy players for their transition to travel soccer, the academy will participate in a combination of scrimmages against other Gunston Academy players, and cross-over scrimmages against the academy programs of other Northern Virginia youth soccer clubs. The cost for the academy program will cover Fall & Spring training (16 sessions each season), matches and tournaments, 8 Winter indoor training sessions, coaching, insurance, and field expenses. Seasonal enrollment is also available.

FALL SEASON

Practices will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and games will be held on select Saturdays to mirror the schedule of a typical travel program. Sessions will begin in early September and end with tournament play in October.

WINTER SEASON (JANUARY 6TH)

**EMAIL chudler@gunstonsoccer.com for availability** Practices will take place on Monday evenings at Bucknell Elementary School. BOYS training will take place from 5:30-6:30PM. GIRLS training will take place from 6:30-7:30PM.

SPRING SEASON (BEGINNING MARCH 11)

Practices will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and games will be held on select Saturdays to mirror the schedule of a typical travel program. Sessions will begin in March and end with tournament play on May 17th.

Questions? Please contact Chris Hudler, Academy Director at chudler@gunstonsoccer.com