Academy Page Info
Oshkosh United Academy Program
The Oshkosh United Academy is a program open to boys and girls in the U8 and U10 age groups (U8 encompasses U7 and U8 players while U10 encompasses U9 and U10 players). Academy programs focus on player development as opposed to winning. We seek parent coaches that have soccer experience for the program and our professional coaching staff provides training and ongoing support to the parent coaches to help create the best possible environment. All coaches are provided with a club provided coaching curriculum which follows US Soccer skill development guidelines.
Our Academy has a fall season and a spring season. Players can elect to play in one season or both seasons.
Check out the program information below for general information about our Academy program as well as specific information about the upcoming season. Academy players register online so you will find a link to register below as well. If you have any questions please email academy@oshkoshunited.com.
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What is an Academy?
- Academy programs have elements of a recreation program (no tryouts) as well as elements of a Select traveling program (play against other clubs, more competition). As a result, the Academy is typically considered to be a "bridge" between competitive and recreation soccer. Most Academy players have previously played soccer but if a player has not but they have a strong desire to learn they can still join.
- Academy programs follow guidelines from the US Youth Soccer Association based on research by experts in the fields of physical development, cognitive learning, and social development. U8 teams play 4v4 and U10 teams play 7v7 (six field players and a goalkeeper). Having less players on the field increases the number of touches each player gets in a game which leads to increased skill development and engagement/enjoyment.
- Games are played against other local clubs that have academy programs ranging from Neenah to Green Bay.
- In addition to league games, Academy teams can play in festivals (tournaments in which teams play games but winning is not emphasized - all players get a medal, etc.). Our Academy teams play in one festival in the fall and one festival in the spring.
- Player development is prioritized over winning. Players play multiple positions and get equal playing time to give all players the best developmental experience possible. In practices, all players in the same age group will train together (pool training versus team training). Individual skill development is the priority at this age (and continues to be until around U13). In age groups with enough players to have multiple teams, we will select players to be on teams and those teams will be scheduled to play games against other teams that are at approximately the same developmental level. Every few weeks we will evaluate the teams and players may occasionally be asked to play for a different team to maximize player development.
Age Group Chart
Check out the age group chart below to see what the "soccer age" of your child is. The soccer year runs from August 1st through July 31st. On August 1st a player will move from being the age group they are in to the next age group. At Oshkosh United, we make every effort to have a player play in their age group against other teams near the same skill level. Playing against competition that is too hard or too easy is not good for skill development or enjoyment.
| Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 Age Groups | |
| Year | Age Group |
| 2014 | 7U |
| 2013 | 8U |
| 2012 | 9U |
| 2011 | 10U |
Academy Overview Table
| U8 | U10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ages | Players born in 2013 and 2014 | Players born in 2011 and 2012 |
| Practices | Twice a week in August/September on Monday and Wednesday, then once a week on Wednesday only starting in October | Twice a week on Monday and Wednesday for the entire season |
| Games | Saturday mornings | Saturday mornings |
| Game Format | 4 v 4 no goalkeepers | 7 v 7 with goalkeepers |
| Referees | No | Yes |
| Tournaments | Fall = 1 (Copia Cup in Neenah), Spring = 1 (Oshkosh on the Water) | Fall = 1 (Copia Cup in Neenah), Spring = 1 (Oshkosh on the Water) |
| Season Timeline |
Fall: Practices start in mid August with games beginning at the end of August. The fall season concludes in late October. Spring: Practices start in mid April with games beginning in early May. The spring season wraps up in late June. |
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Fall 2020 Academy Logistics
- Practice Start Date: August 16th (Sunday) as a kick-off event. Regular Monday and Wednesday practices will begin after the 16th, weather/fields permitting. On the 16th, we will have different age groups come at different times to make the check-in process easier and to provide more staffing for an initial player evaluation.
- Season schedule: First day of games will be on August 29th
- Teams will participate in the Copia Cup which will take place on October 10th and 11th
- Game Schedule: The game schedule is set to be released on August 25th
- U10 practices will be Monday and Wednesday evenings at Perry Tipler field from 5:30 - 6:30 PM.
- U8 practices will be on Monday and Wednesday evenings at Perry Tipler from 5:30 - 6:30 PM. Starting in October, U8 teams will only practice on Wednesday nights.
Academy Cost
Academy players have the option of playing fall soccer, spring soccer, or both. When players join the Academy they pay a registration fee and a season fee when registering online. The registration fee covers the player insurance, jersey cost, league membership fees, etc. The registration fee is only charged once per "soccer year" which runs August 1st to July 31st. If a player plays fall and spring they would only pay the registration fee in the fall and then the season fee for any season they participate in. The season fee covers costs associated with playing in a season such as coaching costs, tournaments entry fees, field lining, equipment, etc.
Please note, the registration fee is not refundable unless situations beyond the player's control (moving, long term injury, global pandemic, etc.) causes the player to miss the entire season.
Since the fall of 2017 season, the Academy jersey kit now includes matching shorts and socks. The club will purchase the shorts and socks to get a bulk discount and will sell them to the families at the first practice. Families do not need to purchase shorts and socks every year, only when needed. Players will receive a new jersey shirt (no cost to the player) each year (the soccer year is fall and spring so if a player plays fall soccer their jersey shirt would be used fall and spring).
Registration fee = $65
Shorts/Socks fee, when needed = $29.50 (shorts, socks)
Fall season fee = $80 for U8 and $85 for U10 (tournament fee included)
Spring season fee = $80 for U8 and $85 for U10 (tournament fee included)
Program Registration
All WI Youth Soccer Association clubs utilize the same registration program, Demosphere. When you click to register you will be taken to the Oshkosh United component of the state's registration system. The registration system will have you create an account that will be used when registering for any soccer program for any child (so keep that log-in information). If you already have a child in the Demosphere program, you should not create a new household, rather add to your household for a new child.
Depending upon the age of your child, when you go to add a program to your cart you may have multiple options. If you have any questions about which program to select feel free to email academy@oshkoshunited.com with any questions or to request a phone call.
Click here to register for the fall 2020 Academy program!
Thank you to the following sponsors of the 2019/20 Academy Program:
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