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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 2023-Spring 2024 soccer calendar, players born in the year 2016 & 2017 (January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017) 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 on Mondays and Wednesdays.
  • Intra-Academy games on Friday evening or Saturday morning
  • Potential crossover games vs. other clubs
  • Exclusive access to U8 Academy Winter Foot Skills (optional; additional fee applies)
  • Professional coaches

U8 Academy - Program

To learn more about a specific program click the link below

Age/Grade

Fee

Registration Deadlines

Rosters released on or about

Practice Starts week of

Saturday
Schedule Posted on or about

First Game day

On
Time
Closes

Late
Period Closes

U8 Academy

Birth Year 2016/17

$450 + $18*

01/26*

n/a

n/a

03/18

n/a

04/05

*Mandatory fee collected and paid to Loudoun County PRCS for field use and maintenance
*Players that selected "Full Year" during the Fall 2023 season do not need to reregister

REGISTRATION ENDS 01/26 no late registration!

 

Dates & Times:

New Parent Pre-Season Orientation: Presentation
   

Rising u9 Parent Information Meeting: Meeting Link
        Presentation

Training Start date: March 18 (Mondays & Wednesdays)
No training: March 25 & 27 (Spring Break)
End date: May 15

Match Days
April 5*, 13, 20, 26*
May 4, 11, 15

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

Boys
Mondays: 6-7 PM
Wednesdays: 6-7 PM
Saturdays: 10-11 AM

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

Location:
MONDAYS:
Loudoun Soccer Park
Field 2

19798 Sycolin Road
Leesburg, Virginia 20176

WEDNESDAYS:
Hal & Berni Hanson Regional Park
Field 2

23401 Hanson Park Drive
Aldie, Virginia 20105

**New players will be evaluated at one of the following: Free Play (separate registration required for attendance at one day), 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.  Players accepted will receive an email link directly from Soccer Post’s Team Uniform Orders platform ([email protected]). The link will be emailed to the address associated with your player(s)’ Loudoun Soccer account.  

Loudoun Soccer Spirit Wear

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


Registration Deadline: January 26, 2023 - Register Early!

 

Need help registering? Check out our Online Registration Guide

Click the link for answers to REC Soccer FAQs.

Curriculum

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 - Fall and Spring

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

Uniforms

U8 Academy uniforms are ordered through Soccer Post. The kit includes:

  • one numbered game jerseys (red)
  • one numbered practice top (grey)
  • one pair black shorts
  • one pair black socks
  • optional items are also available (backpack, sweatshirt, sweatpants)

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

New players must place their order by March 1, 2024, and will be emailed instructions once numbers have been assigned and the webshop is ready to accept orders.

Winter 2024 Program

Loudoun Soccer is pleased to announce its U8 Academy Winter Training program, available for players who participated in the Fall 2023 U8 Academy season and players enrolling in the Spring 2024 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:  11:30 AM & 1:30 PM
Girls: 12:30 PM & 2:30 PM 

Dates:
Sundays 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11 & 2/18

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 Winter 2024: U8 Academy (Pre-Travel) 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, 2023. 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.

Contact Us

Loudoun Soccer
19798 Sycolin Rd 
Leesburg, Virginia 20175

Fax: 703-777-1029
Phone: 703-777-9977
Email: [email protected]

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