Junior Allies
Eastshore Alliance FC - Junior Allies is our U8 Development Program. This pre-competitive program is for players born 2018-2017 as a way for players and families to bridge the gap between grassroots/recreational and competitive soccer in the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 format. Open house player assessment camps occur before an invite to register may be extended as a measure to ensure a child is fundamentally ready to receive professional coaching instruction. Open House Sign Ups are available during the summer and winter months.
Led by our U8 Development Program Coordinator, and a team of young professional coaches, Junior Allies is a part of the club’s development pathway linking players to competitive play. The primary focus is to train our younger players in a way that provides them with the technical, tactical and psycho-social skills they’ll need for a successful transition to the U9 (7v7) Competitive Program in 12 month’s time. At such an impressionable age, the method is simple: Play, Practice, Play. Our aim is to have the players fall in love with soccer via finding the joy in training hard and the rewards of fun with early competition.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Program Entry | Open House Assessment Camp - receive invitation to join |
| Match Play | Weekends |
| 5-7 Local Multi-Game 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 Playdates (Fall and Spring) | |
| Training Environment | Summer Camp to kick off the season - Early August |
| 2 training days per week (Fall/Spring) with Junior Allies Coordinator and Lead Coaches | |
| Futsal Training Program (Spring ONLY) | |
| Selected player(s) may receive invitation to train with U8 or U9 competitive team | |
| Player and Team Feedback | Written Player Recommendation |
| Certificate of Junior Allies Completion |
The Junior Allies pool train each week where they will spend the opening 15 minutes of “free play” with players of their choice, followed by a 60 min pod training matched with teammates of similar level. Our coach-to-player ratio is roughly 1:12, which allows for optimal attention to the young athletes’ development. Playdate weekends typically span 2-3 hrs long where player pods are rostered in teams of 6 to compete in 40 minute matchups against local opposing clubs at either home or away venues.
The Junior Allies U8 Development Program provides a structured and supportive environment for young players to develop their skills and reach their full potential while on their way to becoming a competitive player. We look to form tight bonds with our community and bring the holistic approach in helping to guide young players toward discovering the values of becoming kind, respectful, hardworking young people in the world while getting to play the beautiful game at a heightened level.