The South Carolina United FC Junior Academy
The South Carolina United FC Junior Academy is focused on total player development and is dedicated to the long term technical development of the Junior Academy players as well as the professional development and education of the Junior Academy staff coaches. The South Carolina United FC Junior Academy was founded on the philosophy of total player development over all else, including winning. The Junior Academy Director and Staff believe that long-term success is ultimately tied to proper training and learning over the long term and then winning in the short term. The Junior Academy Staff feels that rushing the development of players in favor of winning will more often than not result in shortcomings in our player’s overall soccer abilities.
The goals of the South Carolina United FC Junior Academy are:
- Provide professional coaching to all Junior Academy players
- Provide an enjoyable and competitive learning environment
- Provide age-appropriate and age-specific training
- Provide each player with the proper learning environment for their abilities
- The technical advancement and development of all Junior Academy players
- Provide an “in-house” Junior Academy league to reduce the amount of traveling
- Provide 5-6 competitive dates for which all Junior Academy teams to participate
The South Carolina United FC Junior Academy Program will use a true player pool based system for the east, central and west side branches of the Junior Academy. The player pool system will allow for an increase in the number of players in the Junior Academy which in turn will lead to a deeper player pool for the Select program and a player population that has a better understanding and knowledge of the 4 pillars of soccer: technical, tactical, mental and physical.
The South Carolina United FC Junior Academy will have player pools from the U9-U12 age groups for boys and girls at the following locations:
- South Carolina United FC Junior Academy East – based out of Polo Road Soccer Complex
- South Carolina United FC Junior Academy Central – based out of Owens Field
- South Carolina United FC Junior Academy West – based out of Ballentine Park Soccer Comple
For optimaxl player development and management, player pools will be broken down into teams within each pool as follows:
- U9 & U10 teams play 6 vs. 6 and can roster up to 12 players per team
- Optimal number of players for these age groups is 10 players per team
- U11 & U12 teams play 8 vs. 8 and can roster up to 14 players per team
- Optimal number of players for these age groups is 12 players per team
South Carolina United FC Junior Academy Player Pool Selection
- The South Carolina United FC Junior Academy player pools will be selected at the Junior Academy May evaluations.
- The Junior Academy Director and Staff will evaluate all players that attend the Junior Academy Evaluations. Players that are selected for the Junior Academy will be placed in an age appropriate player pool and will be placed on a team in that player pool according to their abilities. Players that are not selected for the Junior Academy will be recommend for the Player Development Program and Recreational Soccer.
- The player pools will be announced online.
- After the first two weeks of fall practice players will be placed in a pool within their age group that is specific to their ability level.
- The Junior Academy Director, Player Pool Coordinators and Staff coaches will decide which players are placed in which pools with the final decision falling to the Junior Academy Director.
- Once specific player pools are established players will remain with that pool for league play, friendly play and tournament play.
On a recommendation from a Staff coach, Player Pool Coordinator or the Junior Academy Director a player may move up from a lower pool to a higher pool after being evaluated by the Junior Academy Director. Players may also be moved down to a lower player pool if it is of the opinion of the Staff coach, Player Pool Coordinator and or the Junior Academy Director that they player is not in the correct learning environment. Players will be constantly evaluated over the course of the season.
South Carolina United FC Junior Academy Fall Season
The fall season will be a 16-week season and will consist of the South Carolina United FC Junior Academy League or the “in-house” league, 2-3 friendly matches with other clubs, 2-3 competitive tournaments and 3 weekends off.
South Carolina United FC Junior Academy League
- The South Carolina United FC Junior Academy League (SCUFCJAL) will consist of 6-8 dates of competitive play.
- League games will be rotated between
- Polo Road Soccer Park, Ballentine Soccer Park & Owens Field
- In-house league will consist of all the player pools from all 3 Junior Academy locations
- Player pools from each location will compete against equivalent from one or both of the other 3 locations
- Pool A East vs. Pool A West
- Pool B Owens vs. Pool B West
- Schedule for the league will be established and developed after the Junior Academy evaluations in May.
Junior Academy Friendly Matches
- The Junior Academy Director will work with pre-established relationships with clubs and work to establish relationships with new clubs within a 3-hour radius of Columbia for the purpose of friendly matches.
- Two friendly matches will be scheduled per season with two different clubs.
- Friendly matches will be set up on a home and away schedule. Below is an example
- SCU-MP vs. SCUFC Junior Academy @ Columbia for Fall
- SCUFC Junior Academy vs. SCU-MP @ Mt. Pleasant for Spring
Junior Academy Tournaments
- The Junior Academy Director along with the Directors of Soccer and the club’s Tournament Director will establish relationships with clubs within a 3- to 4-hour radius to send SCUFC Junior Academy teams to participate in those club’s tournaments with the understanding that they will send their Academy level teams to the tournaments that South Carolina United FC hosts.
- All South Carolina United FC Junior Academy teams will be required to participate in the South Carolina United FC hosted tournaments. Carolina Cup – Fall, St. Patrick’s Day Cup – Spring
- The Junior Academy Director and the Player Pool Coordinators will determine which player pools (age and gender) attend which tournaments.
Junior Academy Staff
Our diverse staff is composed of qualified coaches chosen for their teaching ability and their sincere passion for conveying their love of the game to others. The character of each staff member is equally considered to ensure they serve as an excellent role model on and off the field.
Junior Academy Director
If any parents, players would like any additional information or have any questions please feel free to contact the Director of Junior Academy at any time.
Tripp Miller
