The aim of the Academy program is to help develop the players’ technical skills and prepare them for taking the next step in their soccer careers.

The Academy sessions offer the players an opportunity to touch the ball multiple times during the sessions. This is done in both technical sessions and in Small Sided Games , Games are played with 4 players on each side and without goalkeepers. This gives the players the opportunity to practice soccer related skills on a more regular basis, which gives them an opportunity to develop both technical skills and decision-making, which are two of the most important abilities they will need to develop at a younger age.

Mackenzie Arment – Wakefield’s Director of Coaching – will help organize and run the Academy practice sessions. He will provide guidance to our volunteer parent coaches at the sessions and games.

The program forms teams based on a non-tryout team draft.

The season will run 8 weeks, each week includes a 50 minute midweek training session and a 50 minute game on Sundays.

Grade 1 teams play 4v4 games on Sundays.  This format is great in continuing to support their development of technical and tactical components in a small game setting.

Grade 2 teams plays 7v7 games on Sundays.  This format is the next step of introducing players to the larger field and standard game experience while still focusing on building our technical and tactical development.  These games typically run on a fixed schedule set prior to the start of the season. Depending on field availability, there is potential for game times to change from week to week but we will do our best to be consistent.