•  What age do you need to be to participate in Lil Alliance?
•  When is the sign up deadline?
•  What is the difference between full year membership and single season membership?
•  Do I have to show up to every training session?
•  How do I know if the practice is cancelled?
•  Where are Lil Alliance Academy Training Sessions?
•  What is US Club Soccer?
•  How does US Club Soccer affect me and my child?
•  What is an academy team?
•  What is the difference between an "academy team" and a "recreational team?"
•  Can my child play on a recreational and academy team?
•  Do I have to be a member of WSA or SSSC to join Lil Alliance Academy?
•  When do academy teams train and play games?
•  What is the difference between academy training and the training I am getting now?
•  Where do the academy teams play?
•  Are there tournaments for the academy teams?
•  How do I get my child on an academy team?
•  What do I have to do to sign up for an academy team?
•  Can I become a member of Lil Alliance Academy but not sign up for a team?
•  Why join an academy program?

 

Academy coaches offer training and instruction to the player,and guidance
and education for the parent. Pictured here, u8 boys coach, Alex McLaurin
meets with his team during halftime on a hot afternoon. 

 

 

Q: Do I have to show up to every training session?

A: No, you can show up to any number of training sessions you would like.

 

Q: How do I know if the practice is cancelled?

A: Call the Lil Alliance hotline 858-3WSA ext. 20.  It is best to check the hotline starting at 5 p.m. for the date of the posted practice. You can also access weekly information via the Lil Alliance webpage located on the WSA club website at www.wsasoccer.org.

Q: Where are Lil Alliance Academy Training Sessions?

A: Training and practices are offered at WSA training fields (see facilities on our website).  Contact a team coach to find out the specific training schedule and location for your age division. 

 

Q: What is US Club Soccer?
 

A: US Club Soccer is a national affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation.  It operates much as US Youth Soccer does, but is a relatively younger organization with a slightly modified mission and purpose.  US Club Soccer provides player and event insurance, education, regional and national event tournaments, and roster management among other privileges through it’s membership.

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A: US Club soccer offers the Lil Alliance Academy program the flexibility to form "academy" style teams that can then train and compete in events sanctioned by any USSF affiliate.  US Club soccer provides player insurance and event insurance required for participation in sanctioned events.  US Club also provides the ability to manage rosters "in-house".   US Club soccer has a central focus of enabling clubs in their efforts towards developing the "advanced" or "competitive" player.  Our club still maintains it’s relationship with our State Association, OSA, and national association, US Youth Soccer. Affiliation with US Club Soccer simply expands our opportunities in developing the best "academy" program possible for your child.   

Q: What is an academy team?

A: An academy team practices under one of the Lil Alliance staff coaches. The players on the academy team are all the same age and gender. The purpose of an academy team is to counterbalance the regular Lil Alliance sessions that focus on technical ability.

A: The main benefit of participation in an academy program should be the training offered. The concept of "placement of similar level players" with similar level players is one of the primary advantages of academy training programs which is not possible in rec soccer. 

 

Most training groups will be formed so that there is not a large discrepancy between levels of players. This allows for more challenging, advanced, and focused training sessions.  This enables the accomplishment of certain training objectives that are not possible in practice environments with a broad spectrum of different levels. 

 

In addition all training sessions are conducted by WSA staff coaches, who are either former collegiate or professional players or coaches, or have attained national/state licenses.  Training objectives are coordinated by the Director of Coaching and Lil Alliance Player Development Director so that sessions have a focus topic that is integrated into the club’s player development curriculum.  Our academy program will attempt to meet the requirements of ALL players’ levels in the club through various training groups provided as the demand requires.   The common denominator between our club’s rec program and academy program will be the priority of creating a FUN EXPERIENCE for the child.

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A:  Yes. There is no obligation to participate on a team.  Many players will elect to join the academy for membership privileges centered around training sessions and other "in-house" academy functions not affiliated with a team.  The coaching staff encourages u9’s and u10’s wishing to play competitive soccer to affiliate with a team by their u10 year for preparation and transition to competitive soccer that will happen their u11 year.

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A: Academy programs generally speaking are for players seeking more advanced training and more competition in match settings.  Some players may wish to join the academy program who for some reason cannot participate in the rec program but still want to play soccer or at least "try" the sport.  Some players may utilize the academy program to enhance their experience in rec soccer, while others may view it as an opportunity to prepare for competitive soccer which begins at the u11 year.