FC Samoa

Academy Levels

DEFINITIONS

White Level Academy: sometimes referred to as pre-Academy. Deals with up to 10 of the 56 * curriculum components. Emphasis on utilizing these same elements in fun -but- thematic games.
Suitable for 8-9-10 year olds with D3 background, or highly motivated d4 (Rec) players.

Yellow Level Academy: deals with up to 25 of the 56 curriculum elements. Aimed at 11-12 year olds with a passion for soccer and a willingness to work hard. Theme "Mastery of the Ball- Mastery of the opponent" (most themes are 1 v 1 or 2 v 1 in nature. Ten year olds with a background in individual skill-focused work (eg with a skills trainer) may wish to try this level. For the d3 player interested in a d1 future, this work is critical.
A yellow shirt is earned upon completion.

Red Level Academy : In general, only for those who have earned their YELLOW shirt. Up to 40 of the 56 elements* are included (with special emphasis on aerial skill elements) (and prior proficiency on the first 25 elements is "assumed"). Ages 12-13-14. Suitable for d1 players or very well-rounded d3 players.

Goalkeeper School: Open to all Goalies, with or without prior GK training.FC Samoa reserves the right to subdivide goalie groups to better serve a specific age or level.
Ages 11-14 target age group.

Varsity Prep: Everything you need to be ready for high school tryouts. Modern sports-specific training and injury prevention, goal setting and journals, the 7 must-know skills of varsity soccer, and more.  

• Get in pre-tryout shape
• Avoid injuries later on
• Brush up on intermediate and advanced technical and tactical skills
• Make the "cut" with room to spare, and
• Perform better than before.

* See THE FC Samoa Soccer Curriculum (56 elements)
 

Curriculum

The FC Samoa Soccer Curriculum: the 56 elements of soccer

Background: FC Samoa uses exemplary (Standards–Based)* k-12 teaching methodologies at its soccer education core.   This includes pre- and post-assessments of student attainment, benchmarks and technical “exit competencies” at each level (Pre-academy, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and College-Prep).   In cases where students, upon entering Academy classes, are assessed as less than proficient in the standards for that age/level, remediation and independent study (homework) elements may be assigned.

Under-10 (pre-Academy) (and/or Drop in Academy)
Program: playing in local leagues, attending FC Samoa Seasonal Mini-clinics
Standards: From (5) to (15) Exit Competencies at end of U-10

Under-11/12: Entry Level Academy:
“Mastering the small game” (Classes meet one or two days per week)
Program: Play in Local Leagues and/or FC Samoa Travel Team events
Standards: (15-20 elements mastered at end of U-11): emphasis U-12 is on mastery of the opponent in 1 vs. 1 (Offense and Defense elements)

Under 13-Under 14:
“High School Prep” and “Learning to live a healthy athletic lifestyle”
Program: Small Sided Tech-tact Mastery in 4 vs. 4 and 6 vs. 6. Travel to several high level Tournaments a year.
Standards: n= 30 elements mastered at end of U-14 year,   “Injury Prevention” (Theory and Practice),   “Sports Nutrition Basics” (Classroom),   “Contemporary Athletic Conditioning” (Theory and Practice)

Under-16:
Program: Training and Traveling as a Club
Standards: n=40-45 elements
Functional (positional) Training Modules
Attacking/defending as a team.
Year-round Conditioning Cycles in athletics (Theory/Practice)
Setting Goals (College/Academics/Soccer/Life)
Planning for success in school, soccer, and life.

Under-18:
Program: “College prep AP Soccer Class”
Exposure to highest level of play in N California
Exposure to mini-clinics from College Staff (HSU etc)
6-Day cycles (3 with team, 3 on independent conditioning program)
College applications
Electronic/DVD Player Resumes
Graduation