Academy Soccer
WHAT IS AN ACADEMY TEAM?
What is an Academy Soccer Team?
Academy soccer is for that 7U-10U player looking to take their game to the next level and play in a more competitive league. An Academy team typically employ professional coaches who focus on developing players for rigors of competing at a higher level, to prepare them for Select (U11+) soccer in a few years.
Academy teams are comprised of interested players picked by the team official, coach, or club. This is different than recreational soccer where Heart of Texas Soccer Association choose a player's team based on school, zip code, and other factors.
Academy teams generally play in an accredited North Texas league such as Arlington's Premier Academy League on Sundays. Players can play both Academy and Recreational soccer simultaneously (and we strongly encourage it!)
Does My Child Have to Tryout?
Not for Academy soccer. Teams form each season based on player interest, coach availability and other factors. Sometimes a player may not be quite ready to make the leap from Recreational to Academy soccer, which is why Soccer Academies also offer our Skills Development (training only) programs an alternative.
SOCCER ACADEMY INFO
Heart of Texas Soccer Association does not offer an Academy league or program. We are actively pursuing club(s)/team(s) that meet the following guidelines to offer young players an opportunity to advance their skills.
Academy Open Skills Program:
An Academy Open Skills Program is defined as a developmental program run by professionally educated staff and maintained by a club(s)/team(s) administration.
Heart of Texas Soccer Association will allow a club/team administration to conduct ACADEMY OPEN SKILLS at the Heart of Texas Soccer Complex if they meet the following guidelines:
- The Club/Team Administrator has a minimum of a USSF D License or an equivalent License\Diploma.
- The Club/Team will have a USSF D License or equivalent licensed instructor on site, overseeing each training session.
- ALL coaches, demonstrators, and facilitators must have successfully passed a North Texas Soccer Association background check and safe sport training.
- Heart of Texas must receive a written curriculum outlining the proposed training. This will be approved by the HOT Board of Directors.
- The Club/Team Administration must allow ANY Academy aged player to participate in the program, providing they are a registered player with HOT Soccer Association or any other North Texas Soccer home association.
- Any player choosing to participate in an Academy Open Skills session will be subject to follow the club/team policy regarding uniform attire, payments, etc.
If your club/team meet the following guidelines and would like to offer Academy Open Skills sessions at the Heart of Texas Soccer Complex please contact Brian Cunningham (254) 722-3973.
ACADEMY AGED PLAYERS
DIVISION, BALL SIZE, AGE
| 7U | 3 | January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 |
| 8U | 3 |
January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 |
| 9U | 4 | January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 |
| 10U | 4 | January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 |
ACADEMY REGISTRATION
Registering your player as an Academy player is a 2 step process. You must first register your child as an academy player using one of the buttons below.
Second, you must login to gotsport.com and fill out the NTSSA Online Academy Registration form.
Once those have been completed and approved then your child is eligible to play on an Academy team.
________
COACHES & TEAMS
- Only Players in the 7U-10U Age Groups are allowed to participate with an Academy Program.
- All coaches, head or assistant, of an Academy Team must complete and submit the Academy Coach Information Form. This form will need to be submitted prior to registration of any players in an Academy Program for that team. The Academy Coach Information Form will be required to be completed each year.
- All Academy players must be enrolled in the current soccer season to be eligible for participation in an Academy Program.
- Prior to participation in any Academy practices, scrimmages, or league games, all players must submit a completed NTSSA Academy Player Registration Form (Registration Button Below) to the Heart of Texas Soccer Association’s Registrar (Email Button Below) for execution. Execution of the NTSSA Academy Player Registration Form is done free of charge to all participants.
- Academy Players may join as many Soccer Academies as they like as long as the Academy is recognized by a North Texas Soccer Member Youth Association.
- Academy coaches and managers are required to be registered with North Texas Soccer and have a current background check prior to any involvement with players. If an Academy coach/manager is also a coach/manager of a recreational or competitive team, there is no cost to register as an Academy coach/manager. If the coach/manager is not a coach/manager of a recreational or competitive team in the current soccer season, the coach/manager will be required to pay a registration fee of $5/ year to register. Payment is due prior to completion of any NTSSA Academy Player Registration Forms for the team on which that coach/manager is associated. Likewise, all background checks must be completed prior to completion of any NTSSA Academy Player Registration Forms for the team on which that coach/manager is associated.
- For Academy Rosters used in Tournaments, the coach/manager shall submit to the HOTSA Registrar, a completed Academy Team Tournament Roster Form, available at the North Texas Soccer website. The Association registrar will verify all listed players as Academy Players for the current soccer season and sign as required. The cost for each tournament roster will be $10 per roster. Payment is due to the Association Treasurer as soon as feasibly possible. Any roster fees not collected are due prior to approval of the next Tournament Roster for the Academy Team.
