ETFC’s Alpha Academy Program is intended for youth players age organized in a group environment. The purpose of the program is to support and develop players with proficient technical ability so they can play the game at a higher level. Essentially, the Alpha Academy Program serves to develop players who are seeking to make a transition from recreational to travel soccer, or for those who are interested in perfecting their craft.

The focus is on our Four Pillars of Player Development. 1) Technical: Young players need a lot of touches on the ball to develop excellent control and coordination on the field. We focus on developing technical foot skills and ball control at an early age as the building blocks for high level players. 2) Tactical: As technical abilities progress, we incorporate age-appropriate instruction for field awareness, positional discipline and knowledge and game play. We take a very possession-based approach and do not encourage “boot ball.” 3) Fitness: Soccer is a game of fitness and our Alpha Academy Program provides adequate opportunities for cardiovascular endurance and musculoskeletal strengthening. 4) Fortitude: Our club is an opportunity to work on the development of “persons of character” with our youth. Our program allows for tangible development of teamwork, leadership, coachability, accountability to self and others and perseverance.

Ultimately, this program is intended to enhance a player’s abilities so that they can experience success at the highest level and can develop a true passion for the game.