Academy League

 

Brunswick United's Academy League is designed for our youngest competitive players—usually in the 7‑ to 12‑year‑old age groups—with its core purpose being to foster technical skill, love for the game, and a strong foundation rather than early results. While wins, losses, and match scores are tracked, the Academy League environment where individual development is valued over wins and losses.

Structure & Format​

Players in the Academy League train multiple times a week (often two times per week during in‑season), with coaching that’s age‑appropriate, focusing heavily on technique, ball mastery, small‑sided game understanding, decision making, and physical and mental growth. Regular seasons run in Fall and Spring, often including a winter break or optional supplementary training sessions  

Season & Commitment

Like Classic, Academy League is  a yearlong—or near yearlong—program. Games are structured to reinforce development: formats are modified (4v4, 7v7 etc.), with “festival” style match days where the focus is on learning rather than competition, often with no official scoring or standings for younger age groups. Except for tournaments, travel is typically limited, staying regional/local to avoid frequent long drives and to make the experience accessible.

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Tryouts & Player Placement

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As with Classic, Assessment or tryout processes are used to place players based on current ability, but the structure allows flexibility and aims to keep players engaged. Coaching includes feedback or progress reports tailored to each participant so players and parents know what’s going well and where the growth opportunities are.

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Competition, Travel & Club Role​
 

​​Academy teams compete against other Academy teams belonging to soccer clubs across North Carolina with travel extending regionally to tournaments in neighboring states. Brunswick United coordinates logistics such as fields, referees, coaching staff, and team travel based on other team (and referee/field) availability.  For tournaments, Academy League players will participate in 2-3 toururnaments per season, which typically require overnight stay. Schedules, updates, and other important information can be found in each player's TeamSnap account.

 

Player Development Emphasis​​

 

Overall, the Academy League is about creating an environment where young players learn fundamentals, gain confidence, enjoy playing, and build toward higher competitive tiers like Classic League without pressuring players too early. It is meant to bridge the gap between recreation and competitive level soccer, and is as much about joy and skill-building as about preparing for more ambitious play down the road.