Junior Academy is an FCE United grassroots program for players ages U5-U6 of all skill levels and is a perfect fit for all players who thrive in a structured, skill-based environment that will bring out their love for the game of soccer.  Whether you are new to the game or not, our highly qualified staff will teach the technical and tactical side of the game. 

What can I expect to get out of the JRA program?

Junior Academy is a fall and spring program, led by our FCE United professional staff, where players are challenged through a dynamic, age-appropriate curriculum. Training sessions focus on ball mastery, development of proper soccer-specific movement patterns, small-sided game play, and more! This approach allows each player to have a ball at their feet to maximize the touches on the ball and while increasing each player’s overall comfort level.

Training Sessions

The U5-U6 age group training session will focus on creating the foundation through a variety of fun whole group and small group soccer specific activities that increase comfort level on the ball. Players develop basic technical skills with an emphasis on developing proper movement patterns for the game of soccer. This is a crucial phase to instill the love for the game and learning through FUN activities.

Game Format

Game days for Junior Academy are considered “Pool Play”, where each player is randomly selected to form a team of 3 (or 4) players each week. To ensure players have maximum opportunities to play multiple teams, each game is 10-15 minutes per rotation.

Why should I register for FCE United JRA program?

The Junior Academy's goal is to foster the development of skillful players in fun and competitive instruction while encouraging individual creativity. Players are challenged to problem solve, improvise and make decisions in training and game formats. We want players to play without fear of failure.

Academy is designed to be the transition between the Junior Academy and the Advanced Academy for our youngest players. The program offers the opportunity to be exposed to a pre-travel soccer environment that will enhance a young player's skills and their approach to the game. The objective of the training at FCE United is to provide our youngest players with an environment that develops their coordination, movement, ability with the ball, and love for the game in an age-appropriate soccer environment. The Academy is a year-long developmental program split into three seasons that emulates the travel environment (Fall Season: August through November; Futsal Training: January through February; Spring Season: March through May).

Curriculum

At FCE United our aim is to prepare today for tomorrow. We believe that the collective strength of any team or club is only as good as the individual competency of its players. Our focus therefore, is to create environments that allow for the greatest number of players the opportunity to express themselves and develop to the best of their abilities.

We have an age-appropriate curriculum in place that will equip our players with the fundamental skills that they will need to carry with them as they continue to develop.  For this reason, our focus at these ages is to develop the individual and small group skills of our players.

The 3 main components of our age-appropriate curriculum are:

1. Technical
2. Agility, Balance and Coordination
3. Simple decisions - using games to teach format

Academy Format

At the Academy, players will be kept in a pool of players and organized weekly into training groups based on different factors.  This format allows us more freedom and flexibility to work on the things we did during the week at practice in a game environment and focus more on development than results.

The objective of the games is to promote and reinforce the skills and techniques worked on in practice during the week. While winning and losing is part of a soccer game, the main focus is the individual and technical development of the players in a competitive environment. Our primary concern is to ensure that our young players have a strong foundation in the basic soccer movements and soccer concepts that they can build on as they grow as players.

• Game Format: 4 v 4 
• Practices: 3 times a week, 60 minutes each
• Games: in House, friendlies, tournaments

U9/U10 TRAVEL SOCCER

CURRICULUM:

At the FCE United, our aim is to prepare today for tomorrow. We believe that the collective strength of any team or club is only as good as the individual competency of its players. Our focus therefore, is to create environments that allow for the greatest number of players the opportunity to express themselves and develop to the best of their abilities.

We have an age-appropriate curriculum in place that will equip our players with the fundamental skills that they will need to carry with them as they continue to develop. For this reason, our focus at these ages is to develop the individual and small group skills of our players. 

The 3 main components of our age-appropriate curriculum are: 

1. Technical
2. Agility, Balance and Coordination
3. Simple decisions - using games to teach format

U9/U10 FORMAT

• Game Format: 7 v 7 (6 + 1 GK)
• Practices: 3 x 90 min
• Games: Saturdays (primarily) and Sundays (occasionally)
• League: ISL
• Tournaments: 4 tournaments (2 in the Fall and 2 in the Spring) 
• Yearly Outlook: All included in the fee
  • Fall Season – league/friendlies games +2 Tournaments (August-November)
  • Winter Training – 6 weeks (January - February)
  • Spring Season – league games + 2 Tournaments (March-June)
  • Club Concept Night/Skill Development 
  • Game analysis
  • Individual Player Development (IDP)

U11/U12 TRAVEL SOCCER

CURRICULUM

At FCE United, our aim is to prepare today for tomorrow. We believe that the collective strength of any team or club is only as good as the individual competency of its players. Our focus therefore, is to create environments that allow for the greatest number of players the opportunity to express themselves and develop to the best of their abilities.

We have an age-appropriate curriculum in place that will equip our players with the fundamental skills that they will need to carry with them as they continue to develop. For this reason, our focus at these ages is to develop the individual and small group skills of our players.

The 3 main components of our age-appropriate curriculum are: 

1. Technical
2. Agility, Balance and Coordination
3. Simple decisions - using games to teach format

U11/U12 FORMAT

• Game Format: 9 v 9 (8 + 1 GK)
• Practices (Fall, winter and Spring) 3 times a week, 90 minutes each
• Games: Saturdays (primarily) and Sundays
• Tournaments: 4-5 tournaments announced to teams by coaches at August team meetings
• Yearly Outlook: All included in the fee
  • Fall Season – league/friendlies games +2 Tournaments (August-November)
  • Winter Training – 6 weeks (January - February)
  • Spring Season – league games + 3 Tournaments (March-June)
  • Club Concept Night/skill Development 
  • Game analysis 
  • Individual Player Development (IDP)

The FCE United Travel program is designed for players who want to compete at highest level of youth soccer at the club. We believe that our club's mission, as well as our DNA, are at the center of this program and that each individual player has his/her own path within it.

Our goals are:

1. To create a soccer environment that is both age and ability appropriate for each of our players
2. To develop technically competent soccer players who are able to accurately control and pass the ball, be effective attackers and defenders in 1v1 situations, and to be critical, independent thinkers on the field.
3. We believe that every player is capable of improving his or her overall soccer performance. We are committed to providing the instruction and support to give our players the best opportunity to reach their potential, regardless of age or level.

Description of the Team Levels at FCE United

Elite: This is the top team in the age group. These teams practice 3 times a week in the Fall (U15 and above will start their Fall season after high school season: Mid-October), 2 in the Winter, and 3 in the Spring. These teams go to 5 tournaments per soccer year.

Classic: This is the second level travel team in the age group. These teams practice 2 times a week in the Fall (U15 and above will start their Fall season after high school season: Mid-October), 1 time a week in the Winter, and 2 times a week in the Spring. These teams go to 4 tournaments per soccer year.

U13-U14 Elite format

• Game Format: 11 v 11 (10 + 1 GK)
• Practices (Fall, Winter and Spring) 3 times a week, 90 minutes each
• Games: Saturdays (primarily) and Sundays
• Tournaments: 5 tournaments announced to teams by coaches at August team meetings
• Yearly Outlook: All included in the fee
  • Fall Season – league/friendlies games +2 Tournaments (August-November)
  • Winter Training – 6 weeks (January - February)
  • Spring Season – league games + 3 Tournaments (March-June)
  • Club Concept Night/skill Development 
  • Game analysis 
  • Individual Player Development (IDP)

U13-U14 Classic format

• Game Format: 11 v 11 (10 + 1 GK)
• Practices (Fall, Winter and Spring): 2 times a week, 90 minutes each
• Games: Saturdays (primarily) and Sundays
• Tournaments: 4 tournaments announced to teams by coaches at August team meetings
• Yearly Outlook: All included in the fee
  • Fall Season – league/friendlies games +2 Tournaments (August-November)
  • Winter Training – 6 weeks (January - February)
  • Spring Season – league games + 2 Tournaments (March-June)
  • Club Concept Night/Skill Development
  • Game Analysis 

U15-U19 Elite format

• Game Format: 11 v 11 (10 + 1 GK)
• Practices (Fall, winter and Spring): 3 times a week, 90 minutes each
• Games: Saturdays (primarily) and Sundays
• Tournaments: 4 Showcases announced to teams by coaches at August team meetings
• Yearly Outlook: All included in the fee
  • Fall Season – friendlies games 1showcase (November-December)
  • Winter Training – 6 weeks 
  • Spring Season – league games + 2 Showcase (March-June)
  • College prep 
  • Game analysis 
  • Individual Development Plan 

U15-U19 Classic format

• Game Format: 11 v 11 (10 + 1 GK)
• Practices (Fall, winter and Spring): 2 times a week, 90 minutes each
• Games: Saturdays (primarily) and Sundays
• Tournaments: 3 tournaments and 1 showcase announced to teams by coaches at August team meetings
• Yearly Outlook: All included in the fee
  • Fall Season – friendlies games 1showcase (November-December)
  • Winter Training – 6 weeks 
  • Spring Season – league games + 2 tournaments (March-June)
  • College prep
  • Game analysis 
  • Individual Development Plan