U9-U10 Academy Teams
The academy program is recommended for young players who may be interested in playing competitive soccer in later years. It is a more advanced level of training and commitment than recreational soccer. The focus is on player development while still providing competitive opportunities. Because the focus is on player development, all players will receive an equal amount of playing time during the matches. Official scores are not recorded with the league, again to emphasize player development over competition. The academy teams begin conditioning over the summer, with official team practices typically beginning in August, and games running from October through March. Academy teams usually play between 10-12 regular season games, with half of those games played in Englewood and the other half away. The away game travel can vary from season to season, but typically the range is South Tampa to South Fort Myers. Academy teams practice twice a week and play their competitive matches on the weekend.