ACADEMY

The Indianola Soccer Academy program is designed for U9/U10 players who are interested in playing soccer at a more competitive level than recreational soccer. The Indianola Soccer Academy provides a foundational program that serves as a bridge between recreational soccer and select/competitive soccer. The Academy level does not involve tryouts and focuses on player development. 

Players at this level are given the opportunity to play alongside and against other players of similar ability. Professional coaching, a customized curriculum, higher expectations and a more challenging learning environment are included at this level. 

Players interested in the Academy program should exhibit a high level of commitment and discipline during training and games. 

• Players are placed on teams of 10-12 players. Teams are coached by both professional coaches and licensed volunteer coaches
• Teams play 7v7 (includes Goal Keeper) games Saturdays or Sundays throughout the season
• Training sessions will be held three times per week with the expectation that players attend at least two sessions per week
• Training sessions are led by a licensed professional coach with the help of volunteer parent coaches for each team
• Volunteer parent coaches will coach weekend games and work closely with the Academy Director to reinforce concepts taught each week
  
• Travel for games is required 
• Jerseys for Academy teams will be the same as our current rec jerseys. All U9 players and new U10 players will need to purchase jerseys in addition to the cost of the program. U5-U8 jerseys do not have numbers and may not be used at the Academy level. 

Academy cost: $275 

Fees include:
2-3 Training sessions per week lead by professional coaching staff and licensed volunteer coaches
6-8 games per season
1 tournament per season
*Jerseys not included in fees 

All Academy players need jerseys, black shorts, black socks, shin guards, cleats and a size 4 ball. 

Are there tryouts for Academy? No. Iowa Soccer does not allow tryouts at the Academy level. 

Are players placed on teams randomly? Yes. In the event that we have enough players to form more than one team at the U9 or U10 level, players will be randomly assigned to a team. Iowa Soccer does not allow for a "Top" team at the Academy level. Keep in mind that while the Academy program is preparing players for a Select program, it is not a Select program.

Who coaches the Academy program? The Academy program is coached by both a professional coach and volunteer parent coaches. The Indianola Soccer Tribe Academy Directors are Heath Weeks (Boys) and Mike Wilson (Girls). Coach Weeks and Coach Wilson are both licensed professional coaches and have experience as both a player and coach at the club, high school and college level.

Why do parent volunteer coaches coach the games? The Academy program is not a Select program and is designed as a potential on ramp to Select teams in the future. As such, the Academy program is overseen by a professional coach(es), but the actual coach for each team is still a parent volunteer. These volunteers will need to attend practices to help facilitate them, but the overall practices (curriculum, training plans, and scheduling) are led by the Academy Director. The Academy Director will be at each practice to run them, but with multiple teams, additional coaches will be needed to help train all Academy players. Since an Academy program has multiple teams, the director cannot coach all games, and again is why the parent volunteer coach is needed for games each weekend. This also allows for the cost to be less expensive than a Select program, which requires licensed and paid coaches for all Select teams.