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Phone: 225-924-2157 | Parent Login: LeagueApps | Blue Sombrero

ABOUT BRSC ACADEMY

TIMELINE
TRAINING FORMAT
APPROACH
FAQ

BRSC Academy is for the players and parents who are looking for a structured environment focused around player development. The program is open to boys and girls ages 5 - 9 at the Burbank & Independence Campuses. Boys and girls ages 9 - 13 can attend the Academy program at Flanacher Road Park in Zachary.  BRSC conducts each session with professional Academy Coaches who follow the Academy Pathway and Curriculum.

BRSC Academy creates an emotionally healthy and physically challenging atmosphere embodied by favorable sportsmanship and athletic activity.

We believe that each of our players is unique, and we set individual goals and objectives for each of them. We demand commitment, hard work, integrity, and personal responsibility. Through the development of skills, principles of play, and teamwork, we intend to experience the joy of learning and working together.

In the BRSC Academy program, we measure achievement not in terms of win/loss record, but through individual growth and personal bests. Character development is our most important goal. If you have questions about BRSC Academy, view our FAQ section or email Andy Smothermon.

The cost of the BRSC Academy is $350/season, with three practices per week. BRSC winter Academy is $250/season for two practices per session. Players who register for the full year receive a $50 discount.  Academy players train in an all-black kit, which is available at Third Coast Soccer on Perkins. All players will wear the all-black, Academy uniform for training and competitions. Due to the frequency of practice, we strongly advise you to purchase more than one jersey. BRSC Academy is available at the Burbank Soccer Complex, Independence Park, and now at the Zachary campus for boys and girls 9 to 13-years-old.

REGISTER

For additional information, please contact the Academy Director, Andy Smothermon or the Academy Administrator, Angie Mitchell or contact the office at 225.924.2157.

ACADEMY SEASON TIMELINE

Burbank, Independence Park, and Zachary campuses. Winter Academy will take place at Premier Soccer Center.

Burbank Academy players train on Tuesday, Wednesday (ISG) & Thursday on Field #20 from 5:15 - 6:30 pm.
Independence and Zachary Academy players train on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday (ISG). Independence trains 5:15 - 6:30 pm on Field #6 while Zachary plays from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.
ISG = Intra-Squad Games

Spring 2020 Timeline:
Academy will resume training on June 8th and conclude on July 23rd.

BRSC ACADEMY TRAINING FORMAT

Players are loosely divided by birth year for training day allocation. Within each age group, BRSC coaches divide players into training "pools" based on numerous factors. Our coaches adhere to a strict coaching paradigm created so that every child, regardless of ability, is facing an appropriate level of challenge. Each season's training format will begin with three weeks of training in technical stations, followed by three weeks of a whole-part-whole method, four weeks of Academy Session, and two weeks of "let them play" SSG's.
All Intra-Squad Games (ISG) are small-sided games. The date and times of ISGs vary by campus.

  • Burbank Academy: Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:30 pm
  • Independence Academy: Thursdays from 5:15 to 6:30 pm.
  • Zachary Academy: Thursdays from 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Small-sided games allow our staff the ability to manipulate the number of players, size of the field, and conditions/restrictions of the games to highlight the Principles of Play that we want to focus on at that time.

BRSC Academy

Play Days/Festivals (U9 - 2011 birth year) are a collaborative effort with nearby soccer clubs to bring local Academy type programs together for competition. We use these play days as a stepping stone for the U10 program. Festivals are informal tournament play with round-robin play and no playoffs.

"THE ACADEMY PROGRAM WORKS. IF YOUR CHILD LOVES TO PLAY AS MUCH AS MY CHILDREN DO, THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE TRAINING FROM PROFESSIONAL BRSC COACHES. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!"

-BRSC Academy Parent

BRSC ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

The scope of our development will be to educate and challenge our athletes within the five pillars of the game: Technical, Tactical (Principles of Play), Physical, Psychological, and Social. We have designed a Player Pathway, which is organized specifically for each age group and gender.

This pathway will help our professional coaching staff implement our curriculum. Our goal is to develop technically gifted athletes who will use creativity and improvisation to guide their way through the beautiful game.

There will be three main areas of our coaching paradigm.

BRSC Academy

1. Technique - We craft creative repetitive exercises that cultivate technical proficiency.
2. Kinesthetic Awareness - breaking down complex mechanical movements of the human body in a multidirectional plane to ensure injury prevention and maximize physical potential.
3. Information Overload - utilize exercises that develop quick and accurate decision making in highly pressurized situations.

Upon completion of the BRSC Academy, players are ready to advance to the rigors of the BRSC Competitive program.

ACADEMY FAQ

Soccer's Academy program is unlike anything you may experience in other youth spots. It's understandable to have questions. Here are a few of the common questions we receive about the BRSC Academy. Click the questions below to view a drop down with the answer. Contact Academy Director Andy Smothermon with any questions you do not see listed below.

Academy FAQ

As of 2016 Unites States Soccer Federation started to organize soccer pools (teams) by Birth Year. In an attempt to help you transition into the competitive format, our Academy will also begin to classify athletes in this manner. When asked, "what is your child's birth year?" we are asking, "what year was your child born in?" While we are still a developmental program, we allow players to play up or down within birth years with the Director's approval.
BRSC Academy takes place at the Burbank and Independence campuses. Click here to view field maps of each facility
The Academy uniform is an all-black kit Jersey, Shorts, and Socks. You can purchase this kit at Third Coast Soccer Store.
1. We want our young soccer players to touch the soccer ball more often and become more skillful with it! (Individual technical development) 2. We want our young soccer players to make less-complicated decisions during the game frequently! (Tactical development) 3. We want our young soccer players to be more physically efficient in the field space they are playing in! (Reduced field size) 4. We want our young soccer players to have more individual teaching time with the coach! Fewer players on the field and fewer players on the team will guarantee this! (Need to feel worthy and need to feel important) 5. We want our young soccer players to have more involved playing time in the game! (More opportunity to solve problems that only the game presents) 6. We want our young soccer players to have more opportunities to play on both sides of the ball! (More exposure to attacking and defending situations) 7. We want our young soccer players to have more opportunities to score goals! (Pure excitement)
We will email and post inclement weather updates on the BRSC website (brsoccer.org); however, please check the weather before you head out to the field! We have a mass text system that will provide a more efficient and affordable solution for BRSC. This system will notify you regarding updates on field closures, practice cancellation, and other pertinent information. Details to subscribe to our new system will be provided soon.
The Academy Player Pathway highlights what our players learn in each age group, specifically within the five pillars if the game: technical, principles of play, physical, and psychological, and social.
Festivals are more like informal tournament play. Again they are a collaborative effort with other clubs; however, they are open to all programs in the area that would be interested in attending. All games will be round-robin play with no playoffs.
Festivals are more like informal tournament play. Again they are a collaborative effort with other clubs; however, they are open to all programs in the area that would be interested in attending. All games will be round-robin play with no playoffs.
Play Days are a collaborative effort with local Soccer Clubs to bring our Academy type programs together for competition.
No, the only requirement is that your child has an Academy jersey and any black shorts and socks.
Yes, all academy players will participate in Intra-Squad Games.
ISGs are small-sided games, where we can manipulate the number of players, size of the field, and conditions/restrictions of the games to highlight the Principles of Play that we want to focus on during each session.
Mature attitude ready to train hard, Academy uniform, cleats, shinguards, water, and properly inflated ball.
BRSC has no official policy regarding makeup sessions. We do strive to make arrangements for either makeup options. We want our players training and playing; therefore, we do our best to accommodate. We can't control the storms/rainfall, and with limited indoor options, it can become challenging for us to make up every missed session.
All players in the Academy will train in Pools instead of "teams". These pools will be either tiered or parity. Players will move from pool to pool depending on what we are covering in the Player Pathway. All professional coaches will work with every pool on the Academy to ensure that every player receives all that each coach has to offer.