What is the East Hudson Academy?

The East Hudson Academy is a developmental and supplemental program for the youth soccer members of the league. It is developmental in that its purpose is to further develop each player so they may return to their respective club team with improved skills with which they can raise the level of play with their teammates. It is supplemental as it adds to each player's club experience without having to leave their club team.

When and Where are training sessions held?

U11-U14 teams

Indoor training sessions are held once per week at The Net beginning early November through the end of March. Each training session is 1 1/2 hours in duration. Day and times are to be determined. There is limited or no training during the holiday weeks. A complete practice schedule will be provided by your coach or team manager.

U15-U17 Teams

Six indoor training sessions are held between January and March on Saturday evenings. Dates and times to be announced.

Outdoor training sessions are held once per week for all teams on from 6:30pm-8:00pm at either Airport or Rockingham Park in Wappingers during the season. At the completion of the league season, practices will be twice a week through the final tournament. Holding training sessions at pre-determined sites was a direct response to survey responses from past seasons.

Tournament Information:

All teams will attend at least four outdoor tournaments with each player guaranteed to play in at least two of the four. Most players play in at least three tournaments depending on roster size and player availability. For the 2011-2012 season, all Academy teams will participate in the same four tournaments. We hope this will foster a sense of unity within the program and collaboration among the coaches. It will allow for schedule planning and minimize travel for families with children on different Academy teams. Older teams will attend college showcases as part of their tournament schedule.Past tournaments attended include the following:

March: MAPS (New Jersey)

June: Empire Cup (Albany area)/Shen Mad Dog (college showcase teams)

July-Seaside Classic(Rhode Island)

July: Hudson Invitational - our home tournament

July: Lititz (Pa.)

In addition, many teams participate in one or more indoor tournaments during the winter. The cost of these indoor tournaments is not included in Academy registration and is an optional fee for each team.

Player Commitment:

Once selected to an Academy team all players are expected to make the Academy their top soccer priority outside of their EHYSL club team commitments. You are excused from attendance during the EHYSL League schedule dates to attend EHYSL Club training sessions, scrimmages, games and tournaments. This is the only exception. Players playing State ODP can play with the Academy teams as the tournament schedules do not usually conflict.

Roster Sizes:

Team will be formed with rosters of approximately 20 players. Most tournaments limit roster size to 18 players so players will be competing for playing time as well as number of tournaments they will attend. This competition generally raises all player's level of play and makes attendance at all training sessions more meaningful.

Coaching Staff:

All of our Academy Head Coaches possess at a minimum a National USSF license or NSCAA National Diploma. Many are college and high school coaches and have considerable playing and/or coaching experience as well.

Academy Cost:

The Academy cost for 2011-2012 for full season teams (U11, U12, U13, U14) will be $1,100 plus uniform cost. This fee covers all indoor and outdoor training costs as well as all registration and tournament entry fees. The uniform fee will be approximately $90.00 and includes two jerseys, short and two pair of socks. We divide our Academy fee into three payments payable in November, January and March so as to reduce any financial burden at one time. The cost for the older teams will be $750.00 with payments due in January, March and May. The cost for the U10 developmental program which consists solely of foot skill and ball control training will be $575.00.These fees are the same as those for the 2011-2012 season.

Tryout Outcome Notification:

All players will be notified by email as to the outcome of tryouts. If you are selected to a team, you are asked to respond accepting the position on the team. A team meeting will be scheduled and practice schedules will be forth coming.

If you have any questions that were not covered here, please feel free to speak with any of the Academy Staff at tryouts or email Jeff Wexler, Academy Committee Director at jdwexler@optonline.net.