PRE-TRAVEL PROGRAM

U8 Academy

Our U8 Academy provides the highest quality development program for the area’s most motivated and committed Under-8-Year-Old (U8) soccer players.

In the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 soccer calendar, players born between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 are eligible for U8 Academy. 

This program 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.

U8 Academy serves a “bridge” program to U9 Travel, although participation does not require or guarantee participation in U9 Travel.

Because it is a stand-alone program, players may participate in U8 Academy or in the Rec 1 (Grades 1-2) program, but not both.

SPRING REGISTRATION ENDS 8 PM JANUARY 17!

FALL 2024 U8 ACADEMY

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

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. Game format in the Fall season will be 4v4 or 5v5.

Groups may 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 regard to their child’s assignment for that week, along with other updates.

DATES:

Evaluations: 

June 26 - Location: Loudoun Soccer Park - Girls 5-6 PM - Boys 6-7 PM
July 17 - Location: Loudoun Soccer Park - Girls & Boys 5-6 PM

*Players who participated in the Spring u8 Academy (Spring 2024) are not required to attend an evaluation.

Pre-Season Parent Orientation: Wednesday, August 21 at 7:15 PM 
 
Training:

Mondays/Wednesdays

Start date: August 26
End date: October 19
No training September 2 or October 14

Match Day:

Fridays (5:15PM-7:15PM)

September 6,

October 11

Saturdays

September: 14, 21, 28
October: 5, 19    

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 (customercare@teamuniformorders.com). The link will be emailed to the address associated with your player(s)’ Loudoun Soccer account. More information to come once selections are made. 

Loudoun Soccer Spirit Wear

Contact:
For questions regarding U8 Academy, please contact Scott Mitchell, Head of Foundation Phase Curriculum.

Registration Deadline: 6/19 - Register Early!

*Mandatory fee collected and paid to Loudoun County PRCS for field use and maintenance

*Fee does not include uniform package

*ON-TIME REGISTRATION ENDS 06/21 - Register Early!

REGISTRATION ENDS 8 PM JANUARY 17!

SPRING U8 ACADEMY

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
  

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 Spring season will be played 5v5 (with goalkeepers).

Groups may 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.

DATES:

Evaluations: 

TBD

*Players who participated in the Fall u8 Academy (Fall 2024) are not required to attend an evaluation.

Pre-Season Parent Orientation: Wednesday, March 12 at 7:15 PM 

Training:

Mondays/Wednesdays    

Start date: March 17
End date: May 14
No training during Spring Break

Match Day:

Fridays:

4/4 & 4/11

Saturdays

3/29, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10 & 5/17

Times:
Girls

Mondays: 5-6 PM
Wednesdays: 5-6 PM

Fridays: 5:15-6:15 PM (when needed)
Saturdays: 9-10 AM
 
Boys

Mondays: 6-7 PM
Wednesdays: 6-7 PM

Fridays: 6:15-7:15 PM (when needed)
Saturdays: 10-11 AM

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

Location:
Mondays & Friday/Saturday:

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 (customercare@teamuniformorders.com). The link will be emailed to the address associated with your player(s)’ Loudoun Soccer account. More information to come once selections are made. 

Loudoun Soccer Spirit Wear

Contact:
For questions regarding U8 Academy, please contact Scott Mitchell, Head of Foundation Phase Curriculum.

*Mandatory fee collected and paid to Loudoun County PRCS for field use and maintenance

*Fee does not include uniform package