About U8 Academy

The U8 Academy is 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 between January 1, 2016 and 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
• Intra-Academy games on Saturday morning (possible game days against other local clubs)
  
• Exclusive access to U8 Academy Winter Foot Skills (optional; additional fee applies)
• Professional coaches

Evaluations: June 24 Location : Loudoun Soccer Park Girls 9-10  AM  Boys  10-11 AM
July 15   Location : Loudoun Soccer Park Girls 9-10 AM Boys 10-11 AM

*Players who participated in the Spring  u8 Academy (Spring 2023) are not required to attend an evaluation.

*Players that are not selected for the u8 Academy Program will be transferred into the Rec program and the difference refunded to families

Pre-Season Parent Orientation Wednesday, August 16 at 7.15 PM
Slide Deck
Recording
 

Training Mondays/Wednesdays        Start date: August 23
End date: October 25
No training September 4

Match Day Saturdays   September 9, 16,  23, 30
          October 6 (Friday 5:15PM-7:15PM)
      October 14,
           October20 (Friday 5:15PM-7:15PM)
           October 27 (Friday 6-8 PM)

 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

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


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. If you don’t receive your link by 5 pm today, July 17 (check Spam/Clutter as well!). 

Loudoun Soccer Spirit Wear

Contact:
For questions regarding U8 Academy, please contact  Daryn Patricio, Director of Player Development.


Registration Deadline: 6/21 - 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 - Fall & Spring

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 in the Fall season will be played 4v4 (no goalkeepers).

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.

U8 Academy Winter Training Program: "Foot Skills and Futsal"

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.

FEES:
$160.00

DATES & TIMES:
Dates:
Sundays  January 7, 14, 21, 28
February 4, 11

Times:  
Boys: TBD


Girls: TBD


LOCATION:
Loudoun Country Day School
20600 Red Cedar Drive
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.

REGISTER:
Registration will open soon. Families can register online by CLICKING HERE when availble 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 22, 2023. Families are encouraged to enroll sooner rather than later to ensure placement.

CONTACT:
Please contact Daryn Patricio, Director of Player Development, at    [email protected], 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.