Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers PROGRAM OVERVIEW Q: What is the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program? A: The Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program is the most comprehensive youth soccer development academy in North Carolina. This highly successful Academy Program has produced more collegiate and youth national team players than any other program in the state. Capital Area RailHawks teams and players continue to compete on the national stage, both in team success and in player identification and development. (Overview Video - Q: What is the mission of the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program? A: To provide the best development model to young players and best prepare each individual for their individual progression, either collegiately or professionally. Q: Who are the best candidates for the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program? A: Top level players who wish to dedicate themselves to consistent high level training and who wish to compete with and against the best youth soccer players in the country are prime candidates for the Capital Area RailHawks. Players should also be committed to the time requirements necessary for participation in the Capital Area RailHawks. Q: What is the US Soccer Development Academy League? A: The USSDA is the highest level of youth soccer in the United States. This league is directly connected with the US Soccer Youth National Team Programs and Major League Soccer. The league is comprised of Academy Clubs across the United States that adhere to similar training, match, and player development standards. Q: What players play in the USSDA? A: Overall, the USSDA is home to the best players from across the country that compete in this highest competitive league in US youth soccer. This includes all MLS Academies. ACADEMY PROGRAM STAFF Q: What is different about this Academy Program s Staff? A: The Academy Staff combines our area s top Youth, College, and Professional Coaches who have a common support of the Academy Program and the Player Development Model that the USSDA and US Soccer represent. Q: Are all Academy Program Team Staff Licensed Coaches? A: Yes. All team coaches on staff hold a USSF License, amongst other certifications.

2 Q: Who are the Team Coaches in the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program? A: The following coaches formulate the Team Coaches for the USSDA Season 18A John Bradford, Head Coach Carlos Somoano*, Asst. Coach 16A Greg Shields, Head Coach Kelly Findley **, Asst. Coach 14A Paul Forster, Head Coach Dave Costa ***, Asst. Coach 13A Steve Covino, Head Coach John Bradford, Asst. Coach 12A North Steve Covino, Head Coach Dan Popik, Asst. Coach 12A South Head Coach TBA in Early March John Kerr****, Asst. Coach 12A Del Sol David Maddren, Head Coach Ramon Gallardo, Asst. Coach *University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Men s Soccer Head Coach **North Carolina State University Men s Soccer Head Coach ***North Carolina State University Men s Soccer Assoc. Head Coach ****Duke University Men s Soccer Head Coach Q: Who are the Specialty Coaches in the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program? Goalkeepers Matt Brown, Goalkeeping Director Nick Platter, Goalkeeper Staff Performance Richard Huxford, Performance Director Q: What is Carolina RailHawks Head Coach Colin Clarke s role in the Academy Program? A: Coach Clarke is integral in connecting the Carolina RailHawks First Team and the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program, specifically the 16 and 18 Academy Teams. Constant communication between Coach Clarke and Academy Director Bradford ensure meaningful opportunities in Carolina RailHawks First Team trainings, friendlies, and matches for deserving Academy players. Coach Clarke also serves as a valuable resource for the overall player development model of the Academy Program. ACADEMY TRAINING AND MATCHES Q: Where will the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams train? A: The Capital Area RailHawks 12N/12DS/13/14/16/18 Academy Teams will train in a combination of WakeMed Soccer Park and WRAL Soccer Center throughout the year. The 12S Academy Team will train in a combination of Thomas Brooks Park and WakeMed Soccer Park. Additional outdoor facilities may include NC State s Soccer Training Facility and UNC Men s Soccer Training Facility. Futsal training will take place at SportHQ. (ex. Training Video - Q: How many days a week will the Capital Area RailHawks teams train? A: The Capital Area RailHawks 13/14/16/18 Academy Teams will primarily train 4x a week, Monday Thursday. The Capital Area RailHawks 12N/12S/12DS Academy Teams will primarily train 3x a week, Monday-Thursday. Scheduling will vary based on curriculum periodization, team needs, match schedules, facility availabilities, and built in breaks throughout the calendar. Q: Where will the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams play home matches? A: The Capital Area RailHawks 12N/12DS/13/14/16/18 Academy Teams will play home matches at both WakeMed and WRAL Soccer Center. The 12S Academy Team will play home matches at both Thomas Brooks Park and WakeMed Soccer Park. NC State s and UNC s facilities may also be used for some matches.

3 Q: What times will each Academy Team train? A: The Academy teams will train primarily in 1 hour 30 min increments 4x a week with athletic performance training regularly built into sessions 2x weekly. Session times will range with starts from 4:00 pm to 6:15 pm. This is subject to change per daylight accommodations, school dismissals, and other factors. Q: How will the schedules be communicated? A: Master monthly calendars for Fall 2016 will be sent to players / families in August and calendars for Spring 2017 will be sent in January. These calendars will have all training, match, travel, and break period specifics. Q: What will the coaching staff to player ratio be for trainings and games? A: Academy training sessions will have multiple coaches in attendance to help individualize player development, as well as instruct small group concepts. Q: Are there specific Goalkeeper and Position Specific Functional Trainings? A: Yes. We have multiple GK staff that will work with the Academy GK s 3x weekly. We will also have positional specific training built into the curriculum and calendar throughout the year. Q: Are players required to attend all Academy trainings and matches? A: Yes. Players will be expected to attend all trainings and matches throughout the year. As with everything else, communication between players and the coaching staff will be extremely important about all attendance expectations. ACADEMY TEAM TRAVEL Q: What is the travel like for the Academy Teams? A: Travel for the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams will mirror that of professional clubs around the world. The team will travel on a combination of air travel, bus travel, and van travel. All players will travel collectively for all away matches / events. Parents will only be responsible for some in-state travel, while the Academy will provide all out of state travel arrangements. (ex. Travel Video - Q: Do parents travel with players for away competitions? A: Players, coaches, medical trainers, and team managers will all travel collectively for away matches / events. While parents will be encouraged to attend and support the Academy teams on the road, they will not travel with the group. Q: How will players eat on trips? A: Meals will be arranged for all team breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. In addition, players will have snacks and fluids arranged for all bus travel and hotel stays. Q: Will players have time for academic study while traveling? A: Mandatory study hall times will be required on most bus travel and hotel stays. ACADEMY ROSTER MANAGEMENT Q: How many roster spots will be on each Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams?

4 A: The amount of roster spots will vary per age group, but the overall idea will be to formulate team numbers based on opportunity, competitive environments, and the ability for younger players to play up on older Academy Teams. The Academy Teams will not be maxed out to US Soccer roster size specifics, as the Capital Area RailHawks Academy highly regards match opportunities. Q: How will players be selected for match day rosters? A: Players will be selected for each match roster based on the following factors: training performance, match opportunity, entire Academy (12 s-18 s) roster management, injuries, opponents, and other factors. Q: How are players evaluated each year for renewal in the Academy Program in the following year? A: Players will be evaluated through their training and match performance throughout the Academy season. They will also be evaluated on professionalism, competitiveness, and desire. No players are guaranteed Academy roster spots from year to year. Q: How many players travel and play in each game? A: Per US Soccer guidelines, in the 13, 14, 15/16, 17/18 Age Groups, 18 players will be able to be selected for matches. By these standards, the same number of players per group will travel to most away matches / events. Q: What are the substitution rules for the Academy? A: Per US Soccer Guidelines, there is no re-entry for any players once substituted in a match at all 3 age groups. At the 13/14 Age Group, team are permitted 7 substitutions throughout each match. At the 15/16 and 17/18 Age Groups, teams are permitted 5 substitutions throughout each match. Q: What happens to players that do not travel? A: Players that do not travel will be taken into consideration for additional friendly matches / trainings to maintain match fitness. Academy Staff will communicate all specifics with nontraveling players. Q: Will players have an opportunity to "play up" from one team to another? A: Playing up will be highly encouraged by the Academy Staff and each age group will work collectively to ensure players are appropriately placed into highly challenging environments. Q: What are Developmental Players? How will these players be selected? A: Developmental Players are players that are not full-time with US Soccer Developmental Academy Teams. They can appear in up to 7, but no more than 7 matches throughout the Academy season. Developmental Players will be full-time with their specific club team and have additional training / match opportunities with the Academy Team, as decided by the Academy staff. ACADEMY COMPETITION AND EVENTS Q: What teams comprise the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams competition? A: The Capital Area RailHawks U15/16 and U17/18 Academy Teams will compete in the Southeast Division of the East Conference within the US Soccer Development Academy. Matches against each conference opponents throughout the season will be a combination of

5 a home / away schedule for some clubs (Florida Clubs) and a 3x per specific clubs schedule (NC/GA/SC Clubs). The current opponents in this conference are: Georgia United (Atlanta, GA) Concorde Fire (Atlanta, GA) Carolina Rapids (Charlotte, NC) Charlotte Soccer Academy (Charlotte, NC) NC Fusion (Greensboro, NC) South Carolina United Battery SC (Charleston, SC) Will play the above teams 3x either 2H/1A or 2A/1H, alternating each year Orlando City FC (Orlando, FL) Boca United (Boca Raton, FL) Kendall SC (Miami, FL) IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) Weston FC (Miami, FL) Chargers Soccer Club (Clearwater, FL) Will play the above teams 2x 1H/1H The U13 and U14 Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams will compete in the South Atlantic Conference, in a more regionalized division. Academy Teams will play each opponent 3x annually with a combination of either 2H/1A or 1A/2H, alternating each year. The opponents in this conference are: Georgia United (Atlanta, GA) Concorde Fire (Atlanta, GA) South Carolina United Battery SC (Charleston, SC) Carolina Rapids (Charlotte, NC) Charlotte Soccer Academy (Charlotte, NC) NC Fusion (Greensboro, NC) Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (Raleigh, NC) The U12 Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams will compete in the Carolina Division, in a state contained division. The Academy Programs will be split into two teams for matches each weekend and will play each opponent 4x annually with a format of 2H/2A matches. The opponents in this division are: Capital Area RailHawks - Del Sol (Raleigh, NC) Capital Area RailHawks - North (Raleigh, NC) Capital Area RailHawks - South (Cary, NC) Carolina Rapids (Charlotte, NC) Charlotte Soccer Academy (Charlotte, NC) NC Fusion (Greensboro, NC) Queen City Mutiny (Charlotte, NC) Triangle Futbol Club Alliance (Raleigh, NC) Q: What tournaments and events will the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams participate in?

6 A: In addition to the USSDA regular season schedule, the Capital Area RailHawks will compete in the following Development Academy Events. In addition to the USSDA Events, Academy Teams may participate in the following tournaments and events: Labor Day Event (Sep.) CASL Tournament Series (Nov./Dec.) Charleston Battery Challenge Cup (Feb.) Friendlies will be played throughout the year against other USSDA Academy Teams and other top level competition. ACADEMY GEAR AND EQUIPMENT Q: What gear will be provided for the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Teams? A: All Academy players will receive attire for travel, training, matches, and team appearances. All gear will be adidas brand and will be in the same theme as the Carolina RailHawks Professional Team. Q: What will players wear for training? For matches? While traveling? A: For training, all Academy players will wear the exact same training jerseys (shirts/shorts/socks/warm-up) as the Carolina RailHawks First Team. For matches, all Academy Teams will wear the exact same match kits as the Carolina RailHawks First Team. For travel, all Academy players will wear a combination of polo travel shirts and warm-up suits - all provided to the players. Other travel and match gear will be provided, as well. Q: Will the Capital Area RailHawks Academy teams travel on any foreign trips? A: The Capital Area RailHawks Academy teams may potentially travel abroad for top level competition in either Europe, South America, or other locations during the WCPSS and surrounding school systems Spring Break s. This will be determined by the Academy staff and relayed to families in the early summer time period for planning purposes. ACADEMY PLAYERS PROMOTION Q: How are players assisted with the college recruiting process? A: All players will be individually guided through the college recruiting process by the Academy Staff. The staff will provide insight, recommendations, and overall guidance through the entire process, from players on the U13/14 Academy Team through to the U17/U18 Academy Team. Q: How can players be evaluated for Youth National Teams?

7 A: The USSDA provides the unique opportunity to have US Youth National Team Scouts at most league game throughout the year. Additionally, at each USSDA Showcase Events, multiple Youth National Team Scouts and Staff will evaluate each game. Academy players can be brought into Youth National Team Camps based on single game performances and scout s recommendations. Also, the Capital Area RailHawks Academy staff will work closely with US Soccer to ensure that deserving players receive Youth National Team opportunities, or US Soccer Market Training Centers opportunities. Q: What opportunity will Capital Area RailHawks Academy players have with the Carolina RailHawks? A: Deserving players may have the opportunity to train and compete with the Carolina RailHawks Professional Team, as well as the Carolina RailHawks U23 Development Team. These opportunities will be managed by Colin Clarke (Head Coach Carolina RailHawks) and John Bradford (Capital Area RailHawks Academy Director.) SCHOOL SPORTS AND NON-ACADEMY ACTIVITIES Q: Will players be allowed to play school soccer? A: Per the US Soccer Development Academy Rules & Regulations, players will not be permitted to participate in school sports, in addition to the Academy season. This includes Middle School soccer and High School soccer. With the 10-Month USSDA Season, players will be fully engrossed in the highest level of training and matches for total player development throughout the year. Q: Will players be allowed to play multiple sports in addition to competing with the academy? A: The Development Academy does not have restrictions against playing another sport. The Capital Area RailHawks Academy Staff and individual players will make the determination internally together in the best interest of the player s development, health, and safety. A variety of athletics at a young age aids in the development of athletes, but the expectation is that all players meet all training and game commitments while registered in the Development Academy. Also, the Capital Area RailHawks Academy curriculum will employ various other sports into our overall training model. Q: Will players be allowed to participate in the Olympic Development Program (ODP), id2, US Youth Futsal, or other identification programs? A: Per the US Soccer Development Academy Rules & Regulations, Full-time Academy players are not permitted to attend identification programs outside of the Development Academy. Academy players will be evaluated by US Soccer Federation Youth National Team Staff and Coaches throughout the year. Academy Players will have opportunities to participate in US Soccer Market Training Centers (MTC s), as well as Youth National Team Camps / Events, based on evaluation and selection. MTC s are regionalized identification events that help US Soccer pull from different USSDA Academy Clubs, and others, in order to place high level players in an extremely competitive environment. MTC s are based on regional geography.

8 Q: Are there any off field requirements for the players? A: As members of the Capital Area RailHawks Academy Program, players will have off field requirements throughout the season. Players will be responsible for maintaining quality academic standing in school, as poor academic standing can lead to Academy suspension, or dismissal. Academy players will be responsible for active, positive community involvement, and ultimately will be responsible for maintaining a high quality representation of themselves, their families, the Academy Program, and our area. ACADEMY MEDICAL STAFF INJURY PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION Q: Is there a trainer on staff? How can injuries and rehab be provided? A: All games will have a trainer on site, as well as all trainings at WRAL Soccer Center. Players will access to CASL s Athletic Training Room at WRAL and will benefit from personalized rehabilitation programs and quality medical facility referrals. Visit for all program information. For any other questions, please contact John Bradford, Capital Area RailHawks Academy Director at capitalarearailhawks@gmail.com