Academy: PreK-2nd Grade

Academy Program: Pre-Travel Ages

From Fall 2023 we will now be offering Academy practices for K-2 ages after school at each individual elementary school within our district (Katonah, Meadow Pond and Increase Miller). The goal for this change is to provide more accessibility logistically for young players to participate and experience soccer. We will still however hold a later session each week for those interested either as an alternative, or for additional sessions. Saturday games will also now be held earlier in the day avoiding peak heat of midday.

For Lil Jay’s and Pre-K ages we will now offer an earlier session for those who attend half day nursery, and a later session during the week alongside Saturday sessions.

As we are partnering directly with schools for the after school sessions the registration for these programs hase changed slightly and explained when registering. If you have any questions on the registration or schedule please contact Coach Dave below

Lil Jays (U4)

Our Lil' Jay's who are our youngest group will have sessions led by our Coaching Staff and supported by current High School athletes to support players engagement, instruction and play.

This is the entry point to soccer for our players and we offer multiple sessions per week, including weekends to be flexible to schedules. At this age it is all about engagement and enjoyment in sport through games and story telling, there are no scrimmages. The main focus areas are;

• Fundamental motor skill development

• Introduction to the ball and kicking

• Orientation and Awareness - moving, identifying and reacting to things within a game area

Pre-K and K (U5/U6)

This program builds on and progresses from our players first experience in Lil Jay’s. Players will have the option of multiple clinics per week either midweek or on Saturday mornings. All sessions are clinic based with age appropriate training as kids at these ages are not ready for extended scrimmages. Sessions will involve fun games involving basic skill introduction and familiarisation, and motor skill development while keeping kids enagaged, active and most importantly on the ball more often! Sessions will finish with small sided 3v3 games to introduce players to a basic game environment assisted by coaches with the focus to let them play, explore and enjoy the game!

The main focuses at these age are;

• Continued motor skill development including dodging and changing direction (e.g. tag style games)

• Balance and coordination Development

• Implementation of basic soccer skills through games (dribbling, kicking, turning with the ball, toe taps/foundations/sole rolls)

• Orientation and Awareness - moving, identifying and reacting to things within a game area

1st Grade (U7)

Our program progresses by first grade to midweek practices (afterschool sessions or skills clinics available) based around skill development through fun games with Saturday game days, which at U7 will be shorter 4v4 style games. For these ages and above we highly recommend participation in both the midweek skills practices and Saturday game days.

The focus for this age is to build on the previous stages while not including

• A progression of basic skills

• Continued development of Fundamental Movement (Motor) skills for long term athletic development

• Games which encouraging a lot of movement and attack and defend

• Small sided games to maximise engagement and individual touches on the ball at weekends

2nd Grade (U8) - Development Academy

At 2nd grade or U8 we will progress to a more formalized setting with expectations players try attend midweek practice (afterschool session or skills clinic) focusing on footwork and skill development while having more structured Saturday games in a 5v5 model with goalkeepers and age appropriate goals.

For U8 our goal is to have enough players within the age group to break into multiple assigned teams in-town for the season to play a more organized 5v5 game to learn the basic rules and prepare to progress into Travel Development at U9, but staying in town for games with the exception of potential jamborees.

• Development of footwork and skills on the ball

• Building confidence in game like situations

• Basic game understanding and rules (boundaries, throw ins, corners and goal kicks)

• Basic team shape (attackers and defenders) and involvement of Goalkeepers at U8

For more information on this program contact our Director of Coaching at director@johnjayfc.com