U8 Academy
CiTY U8 Academy 2024-25 season
The CiTY U8 Academy is designed for soccer players and families that are looking for a challenging and positive environment focused on player development. The U8 Academy serves as a bridge between our REC program and competitive CiTY travel teams where players will be trained by professional CiTY coaches using a structured, age-appropriate curriculum designed to challenge players while still making practices and games fun.
The CiTY U8 Academy is a fall and spring program that runs late August - early November and March - May. The 2024-25 program is open to players born in 2017 and 2018 that are looking for a challenging, age-appropriate training environment that will develop technical skills and help players better prepare for travel soccer. Practices are 2x/week with a weekend game/scrimmage. See program overview below for details.
Tryouts and player evaluations will be held for the CiTY U8 Academy in May. Please see CiTY Tryouts for dates/times and location. Please contact Rob Ryerson, CiTY General Manager at rob@ellicottcitysc.org with questions and to see if the CiTY U8 Academy is the right fit for your player and family.
Program Goals
- Create a positive, fun, learning environment
- Focus on individual skill development, ball mastery, agility, balance and coordination
- Introduce basic, age-appropriate tactical and team concepts
- Identify and develop future CiTY travel players and families
- Familiarize players and families to the demands of travel soccer without the pressure
- Help players develop a passion for the game!
u8 academy Program Overview
Fall/Spring Program
With Summer and Winter kickarounds scheduled during these months
Eligibility -Boys and Girls born in 2017 & 2018
Structured, age appropriate training curriculum and activity calendar
Practices - 2x/week run by CiTY staff coaches
Games - 6-8 small-sides game dates per season
U8 Academy players will play 7v7 games on weekends
U8 Academy players will play 4v4 scrimmages during practices
Games will focus on player development and not scores or results
All players will receive a customized CiTY size 4 soccer ball included in the program fee
Advantages of Small-sided games
Players get more touches on the ball
Players make more soccer decisions
Allows focus on age-appropriate technique and tactics
Smaller field improves agility, coordination, and fitness
Creates a challenging and fun, age-appropriate environment
Easier communication between coaches and players
U8 Academy Fees 2024-25
| AGE | Birth Year | Club Dues | Team Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| U8 Academy | 2016/17 | $175 | $750 |
u8 academy Uniforms
CiTY U8 Academy uniforms are not included in the program fees. All U8 Academy participants will receive a separate uniform ordering link through soccer.com. U8 Academy uniform includes 2 shirts, shorts, socks and a sack pack. Additional CiTY gear can be orderedseparately.
Please contact Rob Ryerson, CiTY General Manager at rob@elliottcitysc.org with any questions.
Please contact Tim Lane, U8 Academy Director at u8academy@ellicottcitysc.org with any questions.