Director of Coaching: John Regan

May 3, 2008: Click here for Academy 3v3 Festival Schedule and click here for Rules

The Academy is for players aged 8 through 12* who want to participate in a quality program of instruction, fun, and age-appropriate competition. For information about registering for our programs, contact registrar Elizabeth Hodges at . Or contact the Director or appropriate coach or team manager:

Players should wear shin guards. We encourage players to bring their own balls and wear appropriate footwear. Current players do not need to fill out new registration paperwork unless their information has changed.

The Spring practices will begin on Monday, February 11 and will be held on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 - 6:45. This season's events include Saturday-only festivals in Albany, Tallahassee, Valdosta, Thomasville, and Tifton; an optional Sunday festvial in Warner Robins; the Rose City tournament April 19-20, and possibly a tournament in Tallahassee.

*Please note: U10 players should be 9 years old or younger as of August 1, 2007. U12 players should be 11 years old or younger as of August 1, 2007.

Information about the Southern Soccer Academy Alliance:
TASA has joined a number of other clubs in the south Georgia/north Florida area in the Southern Soccer Academy Alliance (SSAA). This is an important and significant step that will enhance player development in our area. In addition to high program standards explained below, the SSAA has the practical advantage of offering flexible, convenient playdate scheduling.
SSAA MISSION:
The Academy Program is an alternative to the traditional recreational and select (traveling) team programs. It offers boys and girls in the Under 10 and Under 12 age groups the opportunity for advanced development in soccer through a more sophisticated curriculum. Academy soccer focuses on development of individual skills, and provides the opportunity to apply those skills in a competitive environment. Young players with a strong interest in soccer will find Academy Soccer to be an excellent introduction to the Select level of play.
Academy soccer follows a training curriculum that is fun, but also conducive to optimum player development. The goal of this program is to implement the United States Soccer Federation's guidelines and recommendations for youth player development. The objective of our curriculum is to develop each of the four components of a player in an appropriate manner: technical, tactical, psychological, and physical.
The Academy Program challenges players to improve through solid instruction and encouragement. All learning in the Academy is achieved in a fun and safe environment.
The Southern Soccer Academy Alliance (SSAA) is designed to allow all academy players the opportunity to participate in competitive games in a learning environment. All clubs involved have agreed to the above principles for Academy Soccer. This means winning is secondary to development!
Other participating clubs include Clay County (FL) Soccer Club, First Coast (FL) SA, Gainesville (FL) SA, Jacksonville (FL) Youth SC, Leg A-Z (Gainesville, FL), TUFC, and Valdosta Lightning FC. Clubs such as Albany Hotspurs, Central Georgia SA, Jacksonville PAL, NW Florida Force, and Tifton Area SA will join as guests in some events.

TASA RAIDERS F.C. ACADEMY PROGRAM (8-12 year olds)
Designed to serve as a bridge between recreation and competitive soccer

The Raiders F.C. Academy program started in 2003 as an in-house program that focused on skill development and fun.  We pooled boys and girls ages 8-12 together for professional instruction, creative activities, and small-sided games at Remington Park.  Success was measured by improved fundamentals and not winning and losing. Our belief in creating a stress-free environment where young players could grow comfortable with the soccer ball has grown throughout many soccer clubs in Georgia and North Florida.  Our aim has always been to help young players learn the basics of the game of soccer and create various avenues where they can master control of the soccer ball and decision-making. We have places both for the gifted natural athlete and the not-so-gifted--the critical ingredients are commitment and interest in the game.

One of these avenues has been the creation of Academy Festivals where soccer clubs from our region gather for Saturday friendly games.  No standings are ever kept at the festivals so the learning process can be fully enjoyed.   Unlike some sports or teams where results are the main concern, the Academy festivals allow players to make mistakes, learn from the game, and improve their overall skill level.  In our competitive culture, it is a relief to know that so many other soccer clubs are realizing the need to create Academies where young players can learn the beautiful game of soccer and have fun without feeling the pressure of winning and losing.

In the spring of 2004 the Raiders F.C. entered the Georgia Youth Soccer Association (GYSA) Academy league and played festivals in Macon, Warner Robins, Columbus, Valdosta, Albany, and Savannah along with hosting events in Thomasville.  Although we often train the groups together under the direction of our professional staff, we field an Under-10 and Under-12 boys and girls teams for the Festival scheduling.  At the festivals, each team plays two games against teams from the other Academies. 

Starting in the fall of 2006, partly due to the success of our program, several clubs in North Florida have started their own Academies.  After months of organizing and communication, the Raiders F.C. is now part of the Southern Soccer Academy Alliance which includes numerous clubs from North Florida and Georgia.  Some of these are very big clubs that have multiple teams in each age. The benefit of this league compared to the GYSA is that the entire Academy will stay together at the festivals.  

We offer various clinics during the week to help players imporve their skills. Here, the players often merge with the older players at our club to enjoy small-sided games. Your child is welcome to attend all or part of these sessions at no extra charge.  The players that have attended these sessions on a regular basis have improved very quickly and have a lot of fun.

Successful Academy players are not necessarily gifted natural athletes--they are simply players with an interst in the sport who are willing to make a reasonable commitment to our program. Our curriculum and positive atmosphere do the rest!

PARENT EXPECTATIONS

At Raiders F.C. we expect our parents to cheer and support our teams and the opponents during competition.  We have set a high standard and serve as role models for other club’s parents.  It is imperative that parents do not coach from the sideline.  We feel the players need to make their own decisions on the field and sideline coaching is most often a distraction.  Our staff coaches will serve as teachers during the game and try to pick the right moments to offer a teaching lesson, while cheering parents play an important role in our soccer family and we need your total trust in our development system. 

--John Regan  

• Create a non-stress atmosphere where players are exposed to the game with an emphasis on skill development
  
• Create an environment where players are allowed to flourish in a competitive arena except that winning is not the determinant of success. In this environment the instillation of quality is more important than short-term success.
  
• Create the needed flexibility in the program rules so that teaching takes precedence over game administration. The only outcomes measured are learning and fun; not scores and standings.