Welcome to the Commonwealth Soccer Club Academy program.  This is the fourth year that CSC is offering an “academy format” for the U9 age group. 
 
The academy trains twice a week (same as the competitive CSC teams).  They train together in boy and girl “pools”, with players being split into different pools, managed by a set group of academy coaches, each session.  So, for example, one day a child trains with one group of players from the pool and the next training session, he or she may train with some of the same players and/or different players from the pool.  This way, players get to know all of the other players within the academy throughout the season.  
 
The emphasis of the academy is on individual player development and includes a lot of small sided play in training sessions.  The pools are designed to be a one year transitional tool between recreational and competitive soccer with a heavy emphasis on player development. 
  
Travel is limited – what happens with the “games” is that we play “friendlies” or “festival days” – which means several different clubs throughout the state of Kentucky come together for a day of soccer games.  This allows the players to compete against kids from other clubs.  This occurs a few times each season, with CSC hosting at least one of these festival days.  Each player plays at least 2-4 games each festival day.  This means, it costs the parents less, only one day of travel will be required, and there will be no need for hotels rooms, etc… unless desired (as opposed to our older competitive team schedules which may require travel on Saturday to play one game, and more travel on Sunday to play another game).  This past year, festival days were held in Owensboro, Bowling Green, and Louisville by other club academies and players could make it there and back in a day.  This eliminates the need to set an entire weekend aside for soccer and allows for several games to be played. 
  
Also, the emphasis within these festival days and games that the academy plays is less on winning and losing, and more on having fun and enjoying the game of soccer.  It is about learning the process of being competitive since the majority of these players  have come up from the recreational ranks, but without the emphasis on “must win” type situations.  It also takes away from the “tournament type-setting” where there is a definite champion – that’s not the focus at this age group! 
U9 Boys and Girls Academy

Copyright 2010 Commonwealth Soccer Club
ACADEMY
                                                                         Commonwealth Soccer Club would like to recognize White, Greer
                                                                         and Maggard for their tremendous support, sponsorship, and promotion
                                                                         of our U9 Academy program.  White, Greer and Maggard's commitment
                                                                         to our club gives young players, who may not otherwise be able to
                                                                         participate, the opportunity to receive high-quality training and great introduction into the world of competitive soccer.  With this support, the club receives the added benefit of having a solid foundation for future teams.  Please consider visiting White, Greer and Maggard's web site to learn about their practice, thier philosophy, their convenient locations, and the benefits that orthodontic treatment can provide you or your player!