Registration for Bethlehem Soccer Club’s Junior Academy is now open. The Junior Academy is for soccer players seeking a higher level of play than offered in the club’s recreation program. The Junior Academy seeks to develop the player’s soccer skills over the course of ten months using academy-styled practices during the fall, winter and spring with professional trainers in addition to the volunteer parent coaches.
Academy-style practice brings together players of similar age group, despite ability and allows them to practice with the trainer to develop skills at their own pace. The result is that, regardless of ability, players learn the game and develop their individual skills and be familiar with players in their age group. Teams are made after observation by a trainer and placed on a team with players of similar ability and compete versus comparable teams in the local travel league (CDYSL).
The different classifications for the Junior Academy are listed below:
U-8 – The designation “U-8” simply identifies a players age on August 1, 2012 (age cut-off date). If a child is not age 8 or older on that date is considered “Under- 8” for the upcoming season. This division is coed only. U-8 does not have an organized academy in the fall. Players are welcome to train with the U-10 fall academy if they want to. Junior Academy practices begin during November, before heading indoors for the winter and resume outdoors in the spring. U-8 teams play a 10 game season and participate in 1-3 tournaments. U-8 players wanting to play fall soccer matches should be enrolled in the club’s recreation program. Separate registration from Junior Academy is required.
U-10 Boys / U-10 Girls – Girls have the option of playing on boys teams if they want. Both U-10’s start their academy in September, usually on Sunday afternoons, before indoor winter academy and spring outdoors. U-10 teams play a 10 game season and participate in 1-3 tournaments. U-10 players wanting to play fall soccer matches should be enrolled in the club’s recreation program. Separate registration from Junior Academy is required.
U-12Boys / U-12 Girls – Girls have the option of playing on boys teams if they want. Both U-12’s start their academy in September, usually on Saturday afternoons, before indoor winter academy and spring outdoors. U-12 teams play a 10 game season and participate in 1-3 tournaments. U-12 players have the option of playing in the club’s recreation league in the fall on Saturdays or playing in the CDYSL fall travel league. Both require separate registration from Junior Academy
The registration fee for all age groups for the upcoming year is $375 ($200 due at registration, $175 due in February). The fee covers registration, insurance, field use, indoor field rental for winter, trainer salary, CDYSL Spring League fees and referee fees.
Registration fee does not include uniform ($27-$59), tournament registration ($20-$30 per tournament), school gym rentals (nominal), or indoor soccer league ($70-$90) per indoor session registered, or any fall recreation or travel leagues.
As mentioned above, players can, for additional costs play in indoor soccer leagues at Afrims during late fall, winter and early spring. The costs for these leagues are additional.
To register for the Junior Academy, Click here