Junior Academy is a Beach FC grassroots program for players ages U6-U8 of all skill levels and is a perfect fit for all players who thrive in a structured, skill-based environment that will bring out their love for the game of soccer.  Whether you are new to the game or not, our highly qualified staff will teach the technical and tactical side of the game. 

What can I expect to get out of the JRA program?

Junior Academy is a ten-week program, led by our Beach FC professional staff, where players are challenged through a dynamic, age-appropriate curriculum. Training sessions focus on ball mastery, development of proper soccer-specific movement patterns, small-sided game play, and more! This approach allows each player to have a ball at their feet to maximize the touches on the ball and while increasing each player’s overall comfort level.

Training Sessions

U6 (2018), U7 (2017), U8 (2016)

The U6 age group training session will focus on creating the foundation through a variety of fun whole group and small group soccer specific activities that increase comfort level on the ball. Players develop basic technical skills with an emphasis on developing proper movement patterns for the game of soccer.

The U7-U8 group training sessions follow a variety of training methodology. Each session will utilize a Play, Practice, Play model as well as station rotation to improve their overall technical ability. Players are organized into training groups separated by gender and birth year.

Please have your player wear shin guards along with the uniform for all practices and game days. For practice they will need a size 3 soccer ball and water as well.

Game Play

Game days for Junior Academy are considered “Pool Play”, where each player is randomly selected to form a team of 3 (or 4) players each week. Each field will have a Beach FC professional coach to guide the teams with tactical development. To ensure players have maximum opportunities to play multiple teams, each game is 10-15 minutes per rotation.

Where do we play and where do we practice?

The Junior Academy program is offered in both Virginia Beach and Norfolk throughout the Fall and Spring. 

VA Beach Location – Training Sessions

Practice Days

· U6s - Tuesday evenings @ 5:00pm-5:45pm Starting February 27, 2024

· U7 & U8s - Tuesday & Thursday evenings 6:00pm-7:15pm Starting February 27, 2024

· Location: Hampton Roads Soccer Complex (HRSC) - 2276 Recreation Drive, VA BCH, VA 23456

Game Day:

· Games are Saturday mornings starting March 2, 2024; 9 am for U6's, 10 am for U7 & U8.

· Location: Hampton Roads Soccer Complex - 2276 Recreation Drive, VA BCH, VA 23456

 

Norfolk Location – Training Sessions

Practice Days

· U6s – Tuesday evenings @ 5:30pm-6:15pm Starting February 27, 2024

· U7 & U8s – Tuesdays & Thursday evenings @ 5:30pm-6:45 Starting February 27, 2024

· Location: St. Patrick’s Catholic School - 1000 Bolling Ave, Norfolk, VA 23508

Game Day:

· Games are Saturday mornings starting March 2, 2024; 9 am for U6's, 10 am for U7 & U8

· Location: Hampton Roads Soccer Complex - 2276 Recreation Drive, VA BCH, VA 23456

When is our season? When are practices? When is registration? When are games played?

The Junior Academy has two 10-week seasons – Fall and Spring, starting late August and late February, respectively. * 

Registration for Fall: April through mid-September Registration for Spring: November through February.

All games are played on Saturday’s – U6 players (Coed) at 9am, U7/U8 players (split boys and girls) at 10am.  

*Beach FC offers continuous training for the Junior Academy aged players through our New Era Soccer Lab and/or Foundations Training programs in the Winter and Summer months.

Why should I register for Beach FC's JRA program?

Jr. Academy's goal is to foster the development of skillful players in fun and competitive instruction while encouraging individual creativity. Players are challenged to problem solve, improvise and make decisions in training and game formats. We want players to play without fear of failure. 

Email Gregg Mottinger at jracademy@beachfc.com for specific information about our Junior Academy program.