Momentum is building for the 2016 VIPL Riptide Spring Soccer Academy.
"We are all looking forward to another exciting program following a very successful information meeting on Feb. 26 where there were plenty of new faces and returning families," a spokesperson said.
The next meeting will focus on the completion of the registration process for all interested and provide the opportunity for all new participants to be sized for the required clothing.
The meeting is set for Wednesday, March 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Old House Village and Spa, 1730 Riverside Lane in Courtenay.
"The success of the Spring Soccer Academy has been overwhelming in the first three years of existence and we all look forward to seeing the program evolve in the coming years," the spokesperson said.
The benefit for Riptide players is a reduced rate plus the opportunity to extend the current program to 10 months of the year. The benefit to the local soccer community will be the opportunity to train and play in an intense, lively and demanding environment.
"The belief is that by incorporating the U11, U12 and U13 age groups into the Spring Academy with the established U14-U18 age groups with the Riptide program is the ability to share our methodologies and philosophy with the next generation of Riptide players and parents," the spokesperson explained.
The program details are as follows:
• 2003-2006: the aim for this program is to ensure each participant advances their technical abilities and tactical abilities. Training will be a combination of technical training with small-sided games to ensure the sessions are lively, fun, challenging and rewarding.
• 2002-1999: the aim for this program is to create a competitive and challenging training environment for the players. This will be done with a combination of technical/tactical training as well as the extremely successful 7-aside soccer game days throughout the entire program.
"The Spring Academy Program is designed for the players to train and play in skill-based groups rather than age related groups," said the spokesperson. "It is essential that all program participants allow the Spring Academy Staff place the players in training groups based on this model rather than the traditional age related club model."
The program begins Tuesday, April 12 and ends Thursday, June 16 (no training on the May long weekend). The goal is to run training on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at Mark Isfeld. In addition, several 7-aside events will be coordinated on weekends with further details to follow in the months ahead.
The fee for all participants in the full academy is $599 plus GST and this includes two training shirts, one pair of shorts and one pair of socks. The second child from the same family will pay 50 per cent of the registration fee plus GST and the third child from the same family will pay $99 plus GST.
The fee for VIPL Riptide players is $499 plus GST and does not include any clothing. The fee for midweek training (Tuesday and Thursday only) is $499 plus GST and this includes one training shirt, one pair of shorts and one pair of socks.
The same conditions apply for additional family members as outlined above. All sizing for clothing must be completed on or before March 16. All cheques must be made payable to UISA. More info at www.riptidesoccer.ca