For detailed information
MUSC Academy: https://sports.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=805601
Jr. Academy: https://sports.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=886098
Wee-Kicks: https://sports.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=933369
FUNdamentals: https://sports.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=871139
Recreational Soccer: https://sports.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=870739
The “Club” Philosophy
Mountaineer United Soccer Club (MUSC) is a true Club. All players and parents are Club members, and this takes precedence over membership on their individual teams. We ask all of our members to keep this in mind, as they participate in MUSC activities and events. We need to be supportive of all MUSC members and teams, not just the teams on which our children participate. Similarly, the Board must act in the best interests of the Club as a whole, and not specific teams or players. We all share in the Club’s success.
MUSC Academy Philosophy
MUSC has a primary focus to help each child develop and mature as a soccer player, a lifelong soccer enthusiast, and as an individual. The MUSC Player Centered Development Program is about creating an environment where coach and club work together to improve each individual player’s performance in both age and developmentally appropriate settings that are safe, challenging and with suitable competition.
MUSC has adopted the player development guidelines and programs found in the best practices; player development initiatives; and player development curriculum published by US Youth Soccer and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (United Soccer Coaches). MUSC is employing the most comprehensive, holistic, leading edge, player centered, developmental methods used by leading American coaches, coaching education experts, childhood developmental specialist, and successful soccer playing countries across the globe.
We want to provide unique opportunities to our players develop their soccer skills and achieve success while providing a program that fits within a busy family’s other activities!
MUSC Benefit Summary:
o Fees pre-determined for the upcoming season to avoid surprises;
o Highly licensed Coaches with USSF, USC and other certifications,
o Lowest comparable Academy fees due to Non-Profit status,
o Training in Morgantown – minimal travel to meet your family’s busy schedule!
What MUSC Offers:
- Our Academy Division develops players to their best level by providing high quality training
- USSF and USC licensed Academy coaches are experienced at both National and International levels;
- Local training (Morgantown), on grass and turf fields, appropriate for each age group, following USSF and USC guidelines;
- Averaging 2 sessions per week with games on weekends;
- (please note this is only one more training session a week then the Recreation players but with Academy level coaching – the time commitment of two sessions)
- Players will attend tournaments throughout the season, which are included in their fees;
- Camps run by our partner West Ham/GIS. From these, players can be invited to attend West Ham/GIS National camps;
- A Receptive, but challenge environment to develop players to their best;
- Grassroot programs to introduce players to soccer in a FUN way (starting at 3 years old);
- MUSC Academy will help you prepare for High School Soccer and College;
- Recreational soccer, Adult Soccer, Special clinics all within one club to improve convenience to your family.
What to Expect: Commitment
Please also note that WVSA team rosters are for the ENTIRE SOCCER YEAR (August through July). The soccer year includes three seasons: Fall (training and matches; Aug–Nov), Winter (training intensive; Nov-March), and Spring (training and matches; March-July) seasons. All players are required to participate in winter training. Academy teams typically train twice per week during fall and spring seasons, and play one game per weekend. Most Academy teams U11-U18 play in the PA West League. Some of the higher-level Academy teams also play in nationally recognized premier leagues such as the Colonial or Buckeye Leagues. Teams also attend one to two tournaments per season, usually within moderate driving distance from Morgantown (but may require overnight stays). Academy teams U12 and above are also expected to participate in the US Youth Soccers’ National Championship tournament, beginning with the West Virginia State Championship tournament in Beckley, WV.
MUSC and the Player Pool Concept:
Why is the Pool Concept Beneficial?
The concept of a “pool” is simply to bring together a larger collection of talent to train together each practice session. The old system of “team” training basically limited training to the same players on individual teams training by themselves. The “pool” system will allow more players to train together through the season, and this will create more opportunity for development. There are no preset static "team" rosters. Rosters are determined by the Coach and/or DoC on an event-by-event (e.g., friendly, tournament, State Cup) basis based on many factors.
Why Pools?
Competition breeds development success. Under the previous model of individual team training, players on the top teams did not compete for their playing opportunity day in day out. There really was little competition in training. By “pool” training and having more fluid rosters, you naturally increase the intensity of training. Players naturally feel a desire to compete in a larger pool. This competition results in players training more intensely; meaning at greater speed and precision. There is an old adage that states; “you play as well as you practice.” By introducing a greater competitive spirit in the training sessions, the players will learn to play with greater speed and precision.
More Fluid Rostering. This is a concept that is not new. It just wasn't actively managed from a club perspective. In fact, many clubs leverage guest player policies to allow players from another team within the club to play. There are multiple advantages to using the “more fluid roster” concept. Here are a few:
1. Families can plan travel (e.g., vacations) and not feel the pressure of leaving the team down a player for a match or tournament.
2. Naturally players can become injured. The player pool allows another player to step in and fill the void seamlessly.
3. Conflicts arise (e.g., academic school related activities, religious or family obligations) and having the ability to move players to accommodate for conflicts ensures that teams are traveling with a full complement of players.