Introduction to the U8 Academy Program for 2011-12 Season
- Gives the kids the opportunity to train with licensed coaches.
- Gives the players more courage to learn around others who either are naturally skilled or are more advanced due to skilled family members training.
- Helps other kids see what happens when qualified coaching and applied programs start working with our recreation kids.
- Noticeable difference in skill levels and more challenges for other recreation kids who may have not considered training associated with advanced levels of development.
- Building of the bonds between recreational and travel program through natural means.
- Peer training: participants bring their new skill set back to their recreational team members.
- Advancement of basics at the recreational level as U-8 Academy.
- The U8 program is an introduction into what the players and their parents can expect if and when they start playing select for the following year. Gives the parents more information on select soccer programs.
- Gives MTFC and HSC ways to partner with TUSC to meet the goals and needs of all organizations without Recreational programs having to fiscally contribute the first season. TUSC will pay ALL associated costs and fees.
- Players must be registered with recreational programs at HSC and MTFC to participate. They must be attending their own team’s recreational practices to be eligible to participate in this extracurricular program.
- Players from MTFC and HSC are welcome at practices at either MWP or DCP.
- We will have a minimum of two staff members on hand at all practice.
- Andy Poklad DOC at TN United will oversee U-8 Director Tom Lanham (bio below).
Tom Lanham - will direct our new U-8 program in partnership with our recreational affiliates. Tom has been around the game for many years with stints as a head coach at Martin Luther King magnet school, Sumner Academy, Brentwood Academy, the university school of Nashville, Harding Academy and Coffee County Central School. He was the Director of Coaching for Sewanee youth soccer from 2008-2010 where he coached U-12 girls and U-10 boys. Tom has worked with U-13 and U-19 boys at Harpeth Futbol club and is also a certified referee. Tom played at MBA, Transylvania and Vanderbilt Universities, helped found the soccer program at the Green Hills YMCA in Nashville and was the first women’s head coach at Vanderbilt in 1980!!
U8 Academy Program Administrators
This program is a partnership between the recreational (HSC and MTFC) and travel/select (TUSC) programs in Sumner County.
If you are interested in something more than recreational soccer for your child and you are ready to see where your kids can go then U-8 Academy is the program for your child.
If you’re child was born between Aug. 1, 2003 and July 31, 2004 ONLY you can sign up for U-8 Academy.
- Your child must be signed up currently with for recreational season.
- The program is a 7 week program that runs in conjunction with the recreation season.
- Your child will have training with a USSF or NSCAA licensed coach.
- U-8 Academy Practice will start on Friday the 9th September and will end on Friday November 4th (or Kohl’s cup that weekend) weather permitting.
- There will be two travel friendlies out with other area TSSA clubs where a small fee will be charged per player to pay for referee fees. TUSC will cover this cost for the fall season 2011.
Contacts
DOC – TN United –Andy Poklad, andypoklad@hotmail.com 306-7314
Technical Director TN United – Jonathan Wayland white_bass@hotmail.com
U-8 Academy head – Tom Lanham lanhamlaw@aol.com
President HSC – Debbie Oliver dboliver@comcast.net
U-8 Director Boys and Girls HSC Thomas Sanchez tasanchez66@yahoo.com
DOC- HSC Dave Cleary clearysoccer@gmail.com
Skills sessions Director HSC – Clark Hastings tusc94@yahoo.com