The aim of our Youth Academy program is to provide our youth opportunities to learn soccer for the first time or continue to develop their skills and advance in the sport. Youth Academy is for players age 3 to 10. It is an instructional soccer program designed to develop skills including dribbling, passing, and shooting. As players progress, they will also be introduced to concepts of spacing and positioning.
All training sessions are led by professional trainers and supplemented with support and assistance from parent volunteers.
Youth Academy provides players an opportunity to enjoy the game of soccer in a fun and developmentally appropriate environment while providing the first step along the player development pathway.
Players are assigned to an age group based on their birth year. All age groups are coed. For 2024-2025, the age group assignments are as follows:
| Age Group | U4 | U5 | U6 | U7 | U8 | U9/U10 |
| Birth Year | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016/2015 |
Schedule Fall Season 2024:
| Age Group | Days/Times | Dates | Additional Notes |
| U4
2021 | Saturdays 9-10 am
Where: Airport fields | Sept-7,14,21,28
October-5,19,26
November 2 | No training Columbus weekend due to holiday Sat Oct 12 |
| U5
2020 | Saturdays 10-11am
Where: Airport fields | Sept-7,14,21,28
October-5,19,26
November 2 | No training Columbus weekend due to holiday Sat Oct 12 |
| U6
2019 | Saturdays 11-12:00pm
Where: Airport fields | Sept-7,14,21,28
October-5,19,26
November 2 | No training Columbus weekend due to holiday Sat Oct 12 |
| U7
2018 | Saturdays 10-11 am-game at Airport fields
Mondays 4:30-530pm-training at Rockingham Park | Sept-9,14,16,21,23,28,30
Oct-5,7,19,21,26,28
Nov-2,4,9 | No training Columbus weekend due to holiday Sat Oct 12 and 14 |
| U8
2017 | Saturdays 9-10am game at Airport fields
Tuesdays 4:30-5:30pm training at Rockingham Park | Sept-10,14,17,21,24,28
Oct-1,5,8,15,19,22,26,29
Nov-2,9 | No training Columbus weekend due to holiday Sat Oct 12 |
| U9/U10
2016/15 | Saturday 9 or 10am games-Airport field
Thursday 430-530pm training-Rockingham Park | Sept 12,14,19,21,26,28
Oct 3,5,10,17,19,24,26
Nov 2,7,9 | No training Columbus weekend due to holiday Sat Oct 12 |
CLICK ON AN AGE GROUP TO LEARN MORE
EQUIPMENT
Every Youth Academy player will receive a uniform (jersey, shorts, socks). These should be worn to every training and game.
Every Youth Academy player should have at every training and game:
Size 3 soccer ball for U4-U8; Size 4 for U9/U10
Shin guards (socks are to be worn over the shin guards)
Cleats or a good pair of sneakers (most players do wear cleats, but they are not mandatory)
Water