structure that meets the needs of all clubs and associations in South Texas.

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1 FAQ s What is an Academy Program? The Academy Program focuses on the complete development of each player. A properly organized program provides an educational environment for boys and girls to learn through playing while emphasizing the process of technical development and gradual tactical understanding. The main goal of the STYSA Academy Program is to provide a program structure that meets the needs of all clubs and associations in South Texas. What is an Academy League? An Academy League is a league that provides teams that have an Academy Program to play games and/or friendlies against other Academy Program teams either from their own program or others. The primary purpose of the league is to allow players an opportunity to apply and reinforce skills learned during their Academy training sessions. The Academy League is flexible in design to allow clubs to communicate with each other for scheduling purposes and the coordination of other specifics related to games and friendlies. The Academy League design benefits both large and small Academy Programs. In addition to scheduled games, programs should also organize playdates around the festival format. A festival format involves grouping multiple teams from the same program to travel together to play other programs at the same facility. Festivals can include multiple programs and even recreational teams. For more information about Festivals see below. Who Runs an Academy League? Based on the age of the Academy teams the Academy League can be run both either the local Association or the Academy club. For U9 and U10 age teams, the Academy League will be primarily administered and operated by the local Association. The Association will set the dates and field locations for games and festivals for the season. Once the dates are set, the Academy Program DoCs will communicate with each other on the specifics for game times and match ups. For U7 and U8 age teams, the Academy League may be administered and operated by the local club. The in-house scheduling format may include U9 and U10 age teams that do not participate in an Association Academy League. For smaller Academy Programs that have a limited number of teams, they should be scheduled to play a home and away model. For scheduling purposes, at least once a month the smaller Academy Program is grouped with other small programs to play larger clubs. This will ensure equal competition and provide home games for all Academy Programs participating. 1

2 What is the Playing Format for an Academy League? U9/U10 Academy Programs will play in the 10-week Academy League format. This format can include festivals, in-house games, as well as home/away scheduling with other programs. League standings should not be kept for this playing format. U7/U8 clubs should play in a 10-week format with the majority of in-house games. If possible, a festival format should be scheduled for at least once month during the season. Recommendations for playing format: o In-house games should be scheduled on the same field back to back for each play date. o For smaller clubs, they can play in their own in-house friendlies or communicate with nearly club(s) to join in their in-house friendly games. o Coaches should be a part of the game and help the players. o Games should be continuous and coaches should: Avoid throw-in s and allow the ball to be played back in quickly. This will allow the players to play longer and have more touches on the ball. Use the new ball method: Coach or parents introduce a new ball every time the ball goes out of bounce. o The teams should be grouped by age and ability for scheduling purposes to ensure parity and avoid lopsided games. o Mixed teams can be created when clubs have an uneven number of teams or a large discrepancy in ability. o When abilities of teams do not match, coaches should adjust their rosters to ensure that competition is fair and even. This can be done by: Adding players to the team losing. Sharing players from one team to another. (This means clubs need to collaborate for what is best for the players) Taking players off the field from the team winning. (This should be used as a last resort to avoid limiting participation). What are Academy Festivals? Academy Festivals are a one-day event open to the multiple teams from Academy Programs. All teams are scheduled for 2-3 games during the Festival. Schedules should be provided to coaches in advance so they can communicate with each other and their parents. Festival games should be focused on keeping the matches in line with player s ability to create as much parity between teams as possible. Academy Programs may wish to use the Festival environment to introduce recreational teams and players to the Academy Program. Programs and/or local Associations that have limited number of teams may ask recreational teams and players to participate in Festivals. No scores or standings are kept during an Academy Festival. Festival weekends are also a great way to build in parent, referee, and coaching education as well as players. If communicated in advance by the Academy Program and DoC s, the Academy Festival design should be flexible to permit for situations such as: o Allowing players to play up during matches (ex. U9s play up with U10s) o Top girl s teams can be scheduled to play against boys. o Fields can be setup adjacent to allow to allow teams to rotate every half 2

3 Festival Example: o Mix players from different Academy Program teams for games o Mix players from different Academy Programs together for games Date/Time Home Away Field # Feb X Club A 8:00 am Club A U10B C Club B U9 C Club A #1 9:00 am Club C U10G C Club D U9B C Club A #1 10:00 am Club F U10B A Club G U10G A Club A #1 8:00 am Club A Mixed Boys Club B Mixed Boys Club A #2 9:00 am Club C Mixed Girls Club D Mixed Girls Club A #2 10:00 am Club F Rec Club G U9 B A Club A #2 How is Roster Flexibility Handled? Academy players register to the Academy Program (not individual teams) therefore rosters drawn from the pool of available Academy Program players for each age group and gender. Suggestions on handling game-day rosters: o Academy Programs can have one pool roster per age group and/or gender that includes all players and prior to the game mark the individual players that are participating in a particular game. o Academy Programs can use their pool roster to create a roster for each team on weekly basis. This team roster can be modified since it is based on the registered Academy pool roster. Players can be added manually to the team roster before or during the game only if the player shows their player card. o Academy Programs can have a game card with club information and use individual player cards to play each weekend. The team manager or coach would write-in which players are participating in that match. o Other ideas: After checking player cards, programs and/or league coordinators can use a stamp on the player s hand. Players with the stamp will be valid players for matches that day. Use of a day pass system. All players check-in prior to the first game to receive pas. When they play in a game, a space on the day pass card is marked by the official or field marshal to keep track of how many games that player has participated in that day. How Can We Ensure that Academy Scheduling is Fairly-Matched & Balanced? Associations are encouraged to hold a scheduling meeting prior to the beginning of each Academy League season. The purpose of the scheduling meeting is so that Academy Programs, Leagues and DoCs can discuss the logistics of the season. Areas to discuss may include: Playing dates Referees Facilities U7/U8 Friendlies Match-ups Festivals 3

4 Academy League Schedule Example: Date/Time Home Away Field # Feb X Club A Club B Club A 8:00 am U10 A U10 A Club A #1 9:00 am U10 B U10 B Club A #1 10:00 am U10 C U10 Mixed(AB) Club A #1 8:00 am U9 A U9 A Club A #2 9:00 am U9 Mixed U9 B Club A #2 10:00 am U9 C U9 Mixed Club A #2 How Do Clubs Apply for the STYSA Academy Program? Every club must submit an Academy Application in order to be an approved STYSA program Application is due June 30th for all clubs wishing to participate Application o New Academy Programs are Due May 1st. o Existing programs must submit any changes or updates by June 30th Associations will be provided the list of all Academy Programs that applied o South Texas will need approval from the local Association of all applied Academy Programs to ensure they are in good standing o South Texas will provide the local Association the contact and scheduling information for each applied Academy Program including: anticipated # teams, anticipated strength of teams, and field availability. This will help each Association plan for their Academy League. What is Assistance is provided by STYSA to Prepare and Run an Academy Program? South Texas will hold educational meetings/webinars with approved Academy Programs and local Associations. The purposes of the sessions are to provide a variety of support material as well as professional development for coaches, directors, parents and referees. Areas of support include: o Guest speakers will be provided as needed o Management consultation for scheduling and player development o Assistance with parent education initiatives o How to grow your program o Specific areas of need with regards to development How are Referee Fees and Scheduling Handled? Academy Programs should encourage older players to become referees for their Academy games All Academy Programs need to agree on a standard system and fee structure with guidance from their local Association prior to scheduling referees for the season. Other suggestions: o Home club pays for the referees (make sure all the clubs have similar number of home games) o Association collects fees based on number of games and pays referees directly 4

5 o The Academy Program can use games to instruct young referees and in return they receive community service hours o Each team can split the referee fee onsite after the game How Do Academy Programs and Academy Leagues Handle Facilities? Available fields for Academy League games, festivals and in-house matches should be communicated with the local Association prior to the scheduling meeting. When possible, Academy Programs should host their own home games at their own facility. Academy Programs that do not have their own facilities they can choose to partner with a program close by or a city facility. These agreements can be made at the scheduling meeting with the guidance of the local Association and Academy Programs involved. U7/U8 Festivals should be hosted zonally to avoid long travel. U9/U10 Festivals should be rotated between locations to allow clubs to play different opponents. Scheduling and Sample Seasonal Calendar: Academy games should be scheduled for a similar time block each weekend (ex. Saturday mornings) to allow families and coaches to prepare for the season schedule and avoid outside conflicts with Academy League scheduling. Sample Academy Fall and Spring Seasonal Calendar: Sample Fall Season Schedule Overview Sample Spring Season Schedule Overview Date Academy Date Academy Four weeks prior to games Scheduling Meeting Four weeks prior to games Scheduling Meeting Three weeks prior to games Education Meeting Education Meeting Three weeks prior to games (coaches and parents) (coaches and parents) Two weeks prior to games Final Schedules Released Two weeks prior to games Final Schedules Released Training week Late August Training week Early Feb Training week Labor Day Third weekend Feb Week 1 First weekend after Labor Day Week 1 Fourth weekend Feb Week 2 Third weekend Sept Week 2 First weekend Mar Week 3 Fourth weekend Sept Week 3 Second weekend in Mar- Games/Spring Break Week 4* Fifith weekend Sept Week 4 Third weekend Mar Spring Break Week 4 or 5* First weekend Oct Week 5 Fourth weekend Mar Games/Spring Break Week 5* Second weekend Oct Week 6 First weekend Apr Week 6 Third weekend Oct Week 7 Second weekend Apr Week 7 Fourth weekend Oct Week 8 Third weekend Apr Week 8 First weekend Nov Week 9 Fourth weekend Apr Week 9 Second weekend Nov Week 10 Fifth weekend Apr Week 10 Third weekeend Nov Festival First weekend May Festival Fourth weekend Nov Thanksgiving Second weekend May Open/Festival First week in December Spring Planning Meeting Mid-May Academy Observations December-Mid February Winter Break Mid to Late May Fall Planning Meeting 5