About U8 Academy

The U8 Academy is a Pre-Travel program designed to provide the highest quality development program for the area’s most motivated and committed Under-8-Year-Old (U8) soccer players. In the Fall 2022-Spring 2023 soccer calendar, players born in the year 2015 & 2016 (January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2016) are eligible for this program.  

It is intended for those children more seriously focused on soccer, and for players (and parents) who are willing to make a stronger commitment to prioritizing development above the social aspects of youth soccer.  It serves a “bridge” program to U9 Travel, although participation in U8 Academy does not guarantee or require participation in U9 Travel.

The U8 Academy is its own program, meaning players may participate in the U8 Academy or in the Rec 1 (Grades 1-2) program, but not both.

The program offers several unique benefits:

• A developmentally-appropriate curriculum with a heavy emphasis on individual technique
• Twice-per-week outdoor training in the Fall and Spring seasons
• Intra-Academy games on Saturday morning
• Potential crossover games vs. other clubs
• Exclusive access to U8 Academy Winter Foot Skills (optional; additional fee applies)
• Professional coaches

Training Mondays/Fridays Start date: March 17 (no training. Monday 3/13)
End date: May 13
No training April 3 and 7

Match Day Saturdays
March 25
April 1, 15, 22, 29 (no Match Day on 4/8)
May 6, 13

Times:
Girls
Mondays  5-6 PM
Fridays  5-6 PM
Saturdays  9-10 AM

Boys
Mondays  6-7 PM
Fridays  6-7 PM
Saturdays  10-11 AM

U8 Academy players may also participate in crossover friendlies with other clubs.

Location:
Loudoun Soccer Park
19798 Sycolin Road
Leesburg, Virginia 20176

**New players will be evaluated at one of the following: Free Play, 2015 Academy Team player placement session, u8 Academy Winter Indoor session or Winter Technical Training sessions. Information will be sent to families closer to these events.
**Players not selected will be transferred into their appropriate grade level and refunded the balance of the programs.

Uniforms:
Uniforms are NOT INCLUDED in the registration fee.  CLICK HERE to visit the U8 Academy page on the Loudoun Soccer Capelli Sport webshop. Families will be notified via email when uniform orders can be placed. Uniform order deadline:02/17/2023


Contact:
For questions regarding U8 Academy, please contact  our Director of Player Development, [email protected].


Registration Deadline: January 25, 2023 - Register Early!

Need help registering? Check out our Online Registration Guide. 

Click the link for answers to REC Soccer FAQs.

Curriculum

The curriculum features a heavy emphasis on individual ball mastery, allowing each player to become more comfortable, confident and creative with their foot skills, while nurturing their passion and enjoyment for soccer. Activities and games will follow the best practices of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. Each week of training will feature a theme, which will build off the themes from previous weeks, including:

• Dribbling for possession (changes of direction, shielding)
• Dribbling for penetration (attacking moves such as scissors, Matthews, step-overs, etc.)
• First touch
• Passing
• Finishing and ball-striking

The theme of each week will be encouraged and emphasized in the Intra-Academy matches on Saturdays, to allow players to practice their skills in a game environment.

Format

A pool of players will train and play together throughout the season. Small groups will be formed each week (approximately 12 players per group), who will train together during the week under the direction of one of our U8 Academy coaches. Each group will be organized into two squads (Red and White) to compete against each other on Saturday morning, with both squads managed by the players’ coach that week. Games will start with a 4v4 format, but will gradually expand to include new elements like additional players, larger space, the goalkeeper position, and throw-ins.

Groups are likely to change every week or two, which permits players to play with and against a variety of players while also working with each coach in the program. Families will receive notification each week in regards to their child’s assignment for that week, along with other updates.

Uniforms

U8 Academy uniforms are ordered through Capelli Sport. The kit includes:

• one numbered game jerseys (red)
• one numbered practice top
• one pair black shorts
• one pair red socks

Returning players may wear the same kit from the Fall season for the Spring season.

New players must place their order by February 17, 2023, and will be emailed instructions once numbers have been assigned and the webshop is ready to accept orders.

CLICK HERE to visit the U8 Academy page on the Loudoun Soccer Capelli Sport webshop.

Loudoun Soccer is pleased to announce its U8 Academy Winter Training program, available for players who participated in the Fall 2022 U8 Academy season and players enrolling in the Spring 2023 U8 Academy season.

The theme of the program is “Foot Skills and Futsal” – players will receive instruction from licensed, professional coaches to improve their technical skills (dribbling moves, passing, receiving, etc) for part of practice, and then will be organized into squads to play small-sided scrimmages using a futsal ball for the remaining practice time.

Futsal is a version of indoor soccer typically played on hard surfaces (like a basketball court) without walls. The game is played with a weighted, low bounce ball; the surface, the ball and the rules place an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and skill, which is great for young, developing players.

Your child’s participation in this program is not required, but it is strongly encouraged; players from previous U8 Academy classes experienced significant development over the Winter by participating.

Fee:
$160.00

Dates & Time:

Times:  
Boys:  1:30 PM or 3:30 PM
Girls: 2:30 PM or 4:30 PM

Dates:
Sundays 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26

Location:

Loudoun Country Day School
20600 Red Cedar Dr
Leesburg, VA 20175

The session will be inside their gymnasium, which is a separate building from their school.

Due to LCDS events policies, no spectators are permitted inside the gym for these sessions. Parents may wait in their cars during the session.

What to Wear/Bring:

• Shoes: indoor soccer shoes, running shoes, or any athletic shoe worn during gym class at school – no cleats or turf shoes permitted
• Shin guards
• Water (no sports drinks permitted)
• Loudoun Soccer U8 Academy practice shirt
• Ball: players can bring and use their regular soccer ball; purchasing a Futsal ball is NOT required.

To Register:

Registration is now open. Families can register online by CLICKING HERE to log into your account. Once logged in, click on the green “X number of programs available” button next to your child’s name, locate the U8 Academy Winter option, choose your time, and complete the registration steps.

Space in each session is limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is December 31, 2022. Families are encouraged to enroll sooner rather than later to ensure placement.

Contact:
Please contact Daryn Patricio, Director of Player Development, at Daryn.Patricio@loudounsoccer.com, if you have questions or need additional information.

Need help registering? Check out our Online Registration Guide. 

Click the link for answers to REC Soccer FAQs.