Washington, D.C. (October 19, 2009) - D.C. United announced today dates for its Winter Academy Indoor Training sessions. Training sessions for both boys and girls will be held at Sports Network and Fitness in Manassas, Virginia beginning Saturday, November 14 and will feature age-specific programs for proper technical and tactical development that meet the needs of serious soccer players up to 16 years old. Registration is now at open at dcunited.com.
This comprehensive program emphasizes individual skills, small-sided games, passing and shooting, and creativity on the field. All players will receive first-class instruction from D.C. United Academy staff and will be evaluated for the Academy’s youth teams. The Academy’s goal is to provide a challenging environment that replicates the training habits of D.C. United players and youth Academy team players. The elite age groups on Sundays are being offered specifically for players who feel they may have the potential to play on the Academy’s youth teams.
The Winter Academy runs for eight weeks. Cost is $180 per student for the U6-U12 age groups that run 60 minutes long, while the 90-minute U14 and U16 sessions will cost $270. Space is limited to the first 24 players in each age group, due to the size of the indoor facility. Sports Network and Fitness is a temperature controlled indoor soccer and futsal facility with two playing fields: a synthetic grass field and a official US FUTSAL hard court field. Winter Academy participants will be using the futsal hard court field and need to bring flat-soled shoes, not soccer cleats.
The winter training sessions are focused on providing a challenging environment that demands good training habits and will prepare each player for the Spring 2010 season. Participants of the Winter Academy will receive guest instruction and autograph sessions with D.C. United players, a free ticket voucher to a 2010 D.C. United regular season home gmae, membership opportunities in D.C. United’s Youth Fan Club and discount offers on D.C. United ticket packages.
For more information about D.C. United’s Winter Academy, please contact Greg Steininger by calling 202-587-5468 or emailing Academy@dcunited.com.
SESSION 1:
Saturdays, Nov. 14 - Jan 17 (except Nov. 28 and Dec. 26)
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: U6 boys & girls
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.: U8 boys & girls
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: U10 boys & girls
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: U12 boys & girls
Sundays, Nov. 15 - Jan. 18 (except Nov. 29 and Dec. 27)
9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: U14 elite boys only
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.: U16 elite boys only
SESSION 2:
Saturdays, Jan 30 - Mar. 20
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. U8 boys & girls
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: U10 boys & girls
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.: U12 boys & girls
Sundays, Jan. 31 - Mar. 21
8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: U14 elite boys only
9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.: U16 elite boys only
Broadcasting and P.A. Request: When speaking of the organization, please refer to the team as either “D.C. United” or “United,” but not “the D.C. United” or “the United.” We appreciate your cooperation.
Doug Hicks,
dhicks@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5448,
Boris Flores,
bflores@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5452,
Kyle Sheldon,
ksheldon@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5450 or
Cristina Cruz,
ccruz@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5440
