Maximizing opportunities maximizes development.
It’s a simple fact; The more your athlete plays, the more they develop.
Since it is our belief that having the ball at their feet is the greatest driver of development for a youth soccer athlete, we provide as many opportunities as we can to put the ball there;
Our training sessions are structured to always alternate age groups and training times. For example, our 2016’s train at a different time than our 2015’s - and our 2015’s train at a different time than our 2014’s. This is no accident. It leaves open the opportunity for a 2016 that is excelling to have the ability to train up with our 2015 squad without missing their team’s training. It also provides general flexibility. If your 2016’s athlete is unable to make it their scheduled training time one week, there is availability for them to be able to train with the 2015’s if that is a better scheduling fit. We want the ball at your child’s feet as much as possible.
We never lock our athlete’s players cards. It provides no benefit to the athlete to reduce the amount of games and opportunities they have to play. If there is the option for your athlete to guest with another team, we want that. If it is something that your player wants, we want to help them get out there and play as much as possible.
One on one and small group sessions are included for every Stars Academy member at no additional cost. Our athletes have the opportunity to attend 2 team practices per week, 1 additional technical session per week, and then add a small group or one on one session in addition as scheduling permits. That is a potential of 4+ training sessions per week. If your athlete wants to train, we want to have an option available for them to take advantage of.
Providing the opportunities to play is important, because with less playing there is less learning and less development. However, as important as actually getting out on the field and training is - and it is the most important determinant of development - the environment in which that training takes place is equally as important.
Stars Academy has been developed with and around our amazing community from the very first training session. We will always put a heavy emphasis on cultivating a community-centric environment around every team because we believe this provides each and every child the perfect environment to develop - as they now not only get to grow individually, but with their soccer family. This family extends beyond just the parents and includes our academy coaches as well. Every member of our coaching staff has first, an immense love for the game of soccer - and second, a belief that soccer teaches life lessons useful on and off the field. It is because of this belief that our coaches focus on growing each athlete's skill, each team's collective ability, and each individual's character. Our coaches provide individualized one-on-one parent meetings at the end of every season to discuss your athlete’s development, plan your athlete’s future, and answer any questions.
The environment includes the individuals around and supporting the team but also includes the training itself. We aim to provide challenging training that develops each child's soccer skill in an enjoyable environment to keep each individual motivated to reach their full potential. This is why we guarantee that all players, from beginners to advanced, have access to the same standard of youth soccer coaching and attention to their development. We want to progress each individual’s technical development by providing high-level training - and we want to develop the mental side of the game as well. We want to train up students of the game. From an early age, we focus on understanding positions, style of play, and positional movements - teaching how the game is played, teaching our philosophy.
Playing is and will always be THE way to guarantee development - and we will always provide as many possible opportunities for your athlete to have the ball at their feet - playing and enjoying the game. Our focus on player development includes the training and games themselves but also the environment around each playing opportunity. We put a heavy emphasis on cultivating a soccer family for our athletes to develop within - and a training environment that drives their technical and mental maturity.
Again, the more your athlete plays, the more they develop - and if that development happens inside of an optimal environment, the ceiling is the sky.
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