Academy Information

Roundup for the 2012 Academy teams will be held on November 4th from 4:00-5:30 at Playfair Park. Please register for the Strikers 2012 Academy ages 8-11 on the main page of the website.

Strikers Academy: 

strikers Academy

Is a 10 week program which involves two training sessions per week (approximately 20 sessions), two Saturday game days (with other Academies from Montana), two Friday Playdates ( games with instruction) in Missoula, and two tournaments.

Purpose of Academy

We focus on development in the academy, and measuring the young players' success will be through individual technical achievement. Not as cut and dry as Wins and Losses at this stage of a player's development.

Weekly Topics

Our Academy is based on the development of the Essential Techniques. These Essential Techniques include:

      · Dribbling: Matthews, Dead Touch, Scissors, Beardsley, Rolls and Drags,

      · Turning: Slides, Twist Offs, Stop Turns, Cruyff Turns, Step Over Turns and Shielding to Create,

      ·  Control From The Air: Half Volley and use of various body parts with Half Volley,

      ·  Heading: Balanced Heading with appropriate posture and balance in the Air,

      ·  Passing & Control: With the inside of the foot and introduction to outside of foot but also includes opening up and balance of 1^st touch,

      ·  Defending: It is important that young players understand several early principles of defending such as 'goal-side', 'closing down' and 'balance'.

It is also important that we include movement education within the Academy for several reasons. First, we build on a young player's movement experiences which they have already established. Second, the movements that we introduce are keys to injury prevention due to agility, balance and coordination involved (ABC's of Training). And lastly, we introduce further movements which challenge the young mover's spatial awareness both on the ground and in the air.

Coaching Staff:

Academy Director - Jay Anderson, Head Male soccer coach for Hellgate High School (2011 State Champs)

Our coaching staff is made up of paid licensed professional coaches, trained parents and 12 upper level high school age players. Often a 7 to 1 ratio.

Training Times and Location:

Training/Practices will occur at Lewis & Clark School from 4:30 - 6:00 Every Monday and Wednesday, March thru June.

Tournaments:

Tournaments are not MANDATORY. Of course we would love for everyone in the Academy to take part, but we know that this is not possible with other commitments. The tournaments are a way to play against non-Striker opposition, and cap off an Academy season. Strikers will be providing information to you about tournaments and then be looking for commitments later in the Academy program.

The Academy is about training and improvement but we wanted to offer game opportunities for those who are interested and available. The great part of the Academy format is we can draw from our other training groups where needed to make up teams for tournaments. The players are not locked into a single team.

The Cost:

We have lowered your academy Fee's from $335 to $250. In the past you have paid $50 for registration and $335 for Academy. Now Strikers have lowered the Academy price to $250 so more of our players have the opportunity to play. You will still have the registration fee of $60.

No child will be turned away do to costs!!

We offer scholarships, work to play programs and pay over time. Strikers have never and will never exclude a player do to cost!! Contact Heidi with questions info@missoulastrikers.com

$60 .00 Registration, and insurance for 2012 season

$250.00 Academy Training (32+ practices, game days, playdates and tournaments

$60.00 Uniforms (only to new participants and those participating in games)

$75.00 Tournament Fees - only for those participating

$15.00 Game day Fees - to help pay for field rental and referees only if you are playing in those games.

Academy BLOG: Click Here