Pflugerville FC Academy is holding Spring 2022 Academy Observations for any players who might be interested in joining the program for the spring season. We’ll also explain and answer questions with parents about the program.
ACADEMY OBSERVATION & SELECT TRYOUTS
Friday, January 14
Wells Point Park: 800 S. Heatherwilde Blvd., Pflugerville, TX 78660
5:30–6:30pm on Field 1
What is the PFC Academy?
PFC Academy is a development team focused entirely on the growth of player development between the ages of 6–10 years old.
What does PFC Academy offer?
More competitive play
More practices
More games
Better coaching
More coaches
Access to extra play, end of season tournaments
Discounts on PFC clinics and camps
More professional, higher quality uniform kits
Who are we looking for?
Our model recruit is a player that has more advanced skills, is coachable, and wants to play at a higher level.
Who will we take?
Any player that exhibits at least two of the three qualities from above.
How do you Identify these players?
This player has skills and is usually involved with most of the scoring, or saving, of goals. There are usually no more than one, or maybe two, that will wind up being on the same team. But every once-in-a-while there can be up to three or four of these players on one team.
These players most often exhibit skill levels beyond that of the rest of the team, if not both teams in Recreational soccer.
Instinctively, as a coach and/or a parent, you know these players need to play with others who are on their level to properly develop.
The players in our program need to, and want to learn, and be coached at a higher level. They must exhibit the ability to do so. All our PFC Academy players must be coachable.
Many times, these players may already know they want to play competitively and possibly at the Select level.
We want the parents of players with higher skill levels to know there is an alternative to Recreational soccer for more gifted players.
What is an Academy Observation?
A couple times a year, we hold observations. It is essentially a practice where we have PFC Select and Academy coaching staff that will assess the players. The players will be judged on various skills. If multiple coaching staff members agree that a child is ready then they are invited to the program. We will email you an invitation to join the PFC Academy development program.
Why do we proactively recruit players out of Recreational soccer?
We believe this assists all players to best develop their skills starting from where they are right now. When a strong player scores all the goals and makes all the defensive stops, other players on both teams get less time with the ball. By moving these gifted players to more competitive levels, it gives them a path to compete against PFC Academy players that are closer to their level while also creating a better competitive balance across Recreational soccer. This allows other recreational players to get more touches of the ball so they too can learn and develop through playing the game.
How much does it cost?
ACADEMY (8U–10U)
Per year: (This includes two seasons. Fall and Spring) $110 down and $85/month for 6 months ($620 total). Or, receive a $100 discount for a one time payment of $520.
Per season: $110/month for 3 months ($330 total).
PRE-ACADEMY (7U)
Per year: (This includes two seasons. Fall and Spring) $110 down and $75/month for 5 months ($485 total). Or receive a $50 discount for a one time payment of $435.
Per season: $125/month for 2 months ($250 total).
Uniforms are sold separately and can be worn over multiple seasons. Uniform kits cost approximately $160 for a basic kit.
How is PFC Academy different and better?
Our coaches are highly qualified
All our Academy coaches are required to have the US Soccer 4V4 and 7V7 licenses.
All our Academy coaches currently have, or are currently pursuing, their 9V9 and 11V11 licenses.
Four of our Academy coaches have their D-License.
Most of our Academy coaches are planning to transition to Select as their teams age out of Academy. (It is a requirement to have the 4 above licenses, and the D-License to coach in PFC Select)
PFC probably has more volunteer D-License coaches than most any other Texas club, and getting more all the time, with five more in the pipeline now.
Each team will have an assistant coach
Assistant coaches will attend most, if not all, practices and games.
This makes it possible for more one-on-one coaching opportunities. We can break them down into smaller groups and have coaches with each group.
Having multiple coaches allows for better management of games and practice sessions.
Some teams can wind up with multiple assistant coaches.
Each team has a team manager
This person plays a very important role
There is a need for more detailed parent interaction in planning and team communication and coordination.
Oftentimes managers will be at practices regularly. Especially with the younger ones. Bathroom breaks, tying shoes, keeping balls on the field, etc. This helps keep the practice moving and players engaged and touching the ball, because the coach is not having to stop practice.
Two practices per week
These practices will have all the Academy teams practicing at the same time, and at the same place.
This allows for collaboration / observations / and pool training amongst the teams, coaches, managers, the Director of Coaching, and the Academy leadership.
Block scheduling
This allows for us to have more than one game per weekend, and we try to get them scheduled where they are no longer than a couple hours apart. Players can “pick-up” games where they have played their two and want an extra.
Every week we will either host, or travel, as a team at the same place. Again, this allows for sharing of resources. That could be coaches or players.
Pass play is MUCH easier to execute. This is when you borrow players from other teams. We need this when a team might have one or more players out for a game. Rather than be shorthanded or forfeit, we would pass play, or borrow from another team. If we have a team playing up a year for one block, we can pass play with a couple players from our older team, to even out the skill level for more balanced games. Keeping play balanced is a core tenant in the Academy programs.
This method also allows for better household planning. If you make yourself available between 8am and 5pm on Saturdays for every weekend we have blocks, you will most likely make all the games. Rarely will you have Sunday games, unless we have a very rainy season.
Feel free to reach out to our Academy leadership at Academy@pflugervillefc.org if you have any questions.
