If your child loves soccer and wants to play more, Academy Soccer is the perfect next step! Designed as an introduction to travel soccer, our Academy program provides more structured training, more games, and more fun—without the pressure of results or overnight travel.
Academy players practice twice a week and participate in the League, where they play against teams from across the state. We’re not here just to win—we’re here to help kids develop, learn, and love the game! Some of the most valuable lessons come from challenges, and we create a supportive environment where players can grow, make mistakes, and gain confidence.
U9 + U10 Boys and Girls Soccer
Academy Soccer – More Play, More Fun, More Growth!
My Child Wants To Play
our sponsors:
our sponsors:
Our Academy Program isn’t just about playing soccer—it’s about building confidence, friendships, and leadership skills in a structured, fun, and positive environment.
From the Field to the Future: Lessons That Last
✔ More Play, More Fun – Two practices a week & league games on select weekends.
✔ Skill Development Focus – We emphasize ball control, decision-making, and game awareness.
✔ Competitive Games Without Pressure – Winning isn’t the goal—growing as a player and teammate is.
✔ Affordable Travel Soccer Alternative – Compared to other sports, Academy provides high-level training at an affordable cost.
✔ Supportive Coaching Staff – Our coaches bring years of experience as players, coaches, and educators to guide your child’s development.
We believe soccer is about more than just the scoreboard
It’s about building confidence, leadership, and a love for the game that lasts a lifetime
It’s about building confidence, leadership, and a love for the game that lasts a lifetime.
Our coaches guide, not control. Players are encouraged to make their own decisions and learn through experience.
We measure success by growth, effort, and improvement, not just the scoreboard.
Kids learn best through play! We prioritize small-sided games that provide more touches on the ball, quicker decision-making, and increased engagement.
At Terre Haute Premier Academy, we focus on developing well-rounded players, not just winning games.
Development Over Winning
Just like our players, our young referees and teammates are learning too. We foster an environment where kids feel safe to take risks, try new skills, and grow without fear of failure.
What This Means for Parents:
Key Pillars of Our Coaching Approach
We want our sidelines to be a place of support and encouragement, not sideline coaching. Instead of yelling instructions, we ask parents to cheer and let the kids play their game! This helps them develop confidence, trust their instincts, and grow as independent players.
Our goal is to develop well-rounded players who love the game, play with confidence, and continue growing season after season.
Player-Led Learning
Game-Based Training
Mistakes Are Part of the Process
Encouraging Leadership & Confidence
We teach players to communicate, problem-solve, and lead on the field—skills that serve them in life, not just soccer.
What to Expect at Academy Soccer
Academy is designed to prepare players for the next level by focusing on individual development, teamwork, and confidence-building.
✔ 7v7 Format – Players compete in 7v7 games (including goalkeepers), which allows for more space, more touches on the ball, and better skill development.
✔ Fair Playing Time – Academy Soccer is development-focused, meaning all players get equal game time to help them grow and gain confidence.
✔ 2 practices per week – Fun, structured training to help players build skills and confidence.
✔ 6-10 League Games (3-5 play dates) – Weekend matches in Indiana Soccer League (ISL) against teams from across the state (within 1.5 hours).
✔ 1 Tournament Per Season – Your club fees cover participation in one competitive tournament every fall & spring!
✔ Optional Extra Play – Coaches provide additional opportunities for kids who want to play more—including scrimmages and extra tournaments.
register for tryouts
From scoring goals to post-game team fun, these weekends bring out the best in our players and create memories that last a lifetime.
At this age, Academy teams play three guaranteed games over the course of the weekend. There are no finals, no pressure—just a chance to play more soccer, challenge themselves, and grow as players. It’s an unforgettable experience that builds friendships, confidence, and a love for the game.
Ask any Academy player their favorite part of the season, and the answer is almost always the same—TOURNAMENT WEEKENDS!
Fall Season
A Trip to Indy!
In the fall, our teams travel to Indianapolis for a fun, action-packed tournament weekend. Families can choose to stay overnight or make the easy drive back and forth.
✔ An easy drive—no overnight stay required (unless you want to)!
✔ More teams, more variety, more competitive fun!
✔ A chance for team dinners & fun bonding experiences outside of the games.
✔ Players love the tournament atmosphere—playing multiple games in a weekend!
Spring Tournament
Fall Touranment
These tournaments are not just about soccer—they’re about creating memories that last a lifetime. Players cheer each other on, celebrate goals, support their teammates, and learn valuable lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance.
Click through to learn more about tournament weekends:
Spring Season
Home Tournament Experience!
In the spring, our tournament is right here at home, hosted at our own fields! It’s an incredible opportunity for players to compete on a familiar field, in front of their family and friends, while experiencing the excitement of a tournament atmosphere.
✔ Home-field advantage—no extra travel required!
✔ Games all weekend long with tons of action!
✔ Food trucks, team bonding, and lots of play time!
✔ A great chance to cheer on our other age groups while at home!
Spring Tournament
Fall Touranment
These tournaments are not just about soccer—they’re about creating memories that last a lifetime. Players cheer each other on, celebrate goals, support their teammates, and learn valuable lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance.
Click through to learn more about tournament weekends:
We know commitment is a big factor for families, and Academy offers a great balance of structured play without overwhelming schedules.
✔ 2 Practices Per Week – Fun, engaging sessions led by experienced volunteer coaches who are passionate about player development.
✔ League Games (4-5 play dates) – League games are scheduled on weekends with no overnight travel required. Each team will play in 2 games on game days.
✔ 1 Tournament Per Season – Included in fees, with additional optional tournaments for families who want extra play.
✔ No Pressure to Win – The focus is on development, teamwork, and growth.
Looking for a Competitive travel sport experience that fits your family’s schedule? Academy is a fantastic option!
register for tryouts
Meet Our Coaches – Dedicated & Experienced!
While all Academy coaches are volunteers, they bring years of playing and coaching experience to the program. Many of our coaches also pursue US Soccer certifications and attend training to continue their development to provide the best experience for your child.
Girls academy
Tara Counterman
“Soccer has been part of my life for as long as I can remember—it gave me confidence, drive, and coaches who impacted me far beyond the game. Now, I get to share the love of the game with girls in our community who are just beginning to fall in love with soccer too.
Coaching in the Academy for me isn't about the score—it’s about helping young players grow, find their voice, and build something they’ll carry with them long after they lace up their cleats for the last time. It’s truly an honor to give back in the same way my coaches once did for me.”
boys academy
Chris Houge
“Our Academy program is a great first step into the exciting world of travel soccer. It's a great opportunity for the kids to challenge themselves, learn new skills and compete against other great soccer players in the state.
What's most exciting for me as a coach is to see the kid's soccer knowledge grow. When they enter Academy at U9 many of them have good individual skills then once they progress to the U10 level you start to see them figure out team concepts and how to work together. They develop field awareness and learn how to position themself without the ball. When you see that progression on the field you know you've done your job.”
Age-Appropriate Soccer Training That Kids Actually Love
❌ No Laps, No Lines, No Lectures – We keep kids moving, engaged, and playing, rather than standing around waiting for their turn.
Soccer helps them learn to communicate, work toward shared goals, and navigate challenges—both on and off the field. This is also a critical age for social development, as kids form strong friendships through teamwork and shared experiences.
What we won't do...
At this stage, players begin to develop a deeper understanding of the game while building confidence, teamwork, and decision-making skills.
Our goal is to keep kids engaged, learning, and excited to come back each week. That means we avoid outdated training methods that don’t support skill development at this stage.
❌ No Long Sprints or Conditioning Drills – At this age, fitness comes naturally through playing the game, not running without the ball.
❌ No Pressure to Win – We focus on growth, effort, and teamwork rather than game results.
We believe kids learn best by playing, exploring, and having fun—so every practice is designed to maximize touches on the ball, encourage creativity, and build confidence.
Instead of traditional drills that feel like work, we focus on game-based learning that keeps kids moving and engaged.
What we Will do...
✅ Small-Sided Scrimmages – More touches on the ball = more learning! Kids get to problem-solve, make decisions, and gain confidence in a real game environment.
✅ Guided Learning, Not Just Instruction – Instead of telling kids what to do, we give them opportunities to explore, try new things, and discover what works.
✅ Team games kids love - an all time favorite is Doctor, Doctor. Players work as both attackers and defenders, trying to protect their soccer ball (their "health") while attempting to knock out others'.
If a player’s ball gets kicked away, they freeze and wait for the designated "doctor" to tag them so they can get back in the game. This game teaches ball control, shielding, and defensive awareness in a fun, high-energy way!
Every session is built around fun, creativity, and learning—because when kids love the game, they’ll keep playing, growing, and improving!
register for tryouts
Thinking About Academy Next Season? Come Try a Practice!
Not sure if Academy Soccer is the right fit for your child? We invite interested players to join us for a practice this season to experience the fun, fast-paced, and development-focused environment firsthand!
Why come to a practice?
✅ See what Academy is all about—no pressure, just fun!
✅ Meet the coaches & other players in a welcoming environment
✅ Experience small-sided games, skill-building drills, and high-energy play
✅ Get a feel for the next level before committing to tryouts
Completely free and no pressure to join! Just fill out the interest form and we will reach out with practice details
Complete the interest form
The Investment: High-Quality Soccer at an Affordable Cost
✅ Two practices per week with experienced, development-focused coaches
✅ Participation in Indiana Soccer League (ISL) – Play competitive games within a 1.5-hour drive
✅ One tournament per season included in fees (Spring – Home Tournament, Fall – Indy Tournament)
✅ Optional additional tournaments for families who want more play (typically ~$70 per player per event)
✅ A fun, structured, and intentional next step for players who want to play more!
✅ Optional winter fun & training with Futsal!
What’s Included:
We believe every child who loves soccer deserves the opportunity to grow, develop, and play at a higher level—without overwhelming costs or time commitments. Academy Soccer offers more training, more games, and more opportunities in a structured, development-focused environment.
$400 per year
register for tryouts
Payment plans Available
Scholarships available. No child should miss out due to financial barriers. Reach out to Melissa for more information.
melissa@vcysa.org
Academy Soccer is open to all players who love the game and want to take their skills to the next level—no previous travel soccer experience required!
While we do hold tryouts, these are not about cutting players. Instead, tryouts help us evaluate where each player is in their development so we can place them in an environment where they can thrive and grow.
We aren’t looking for the “best” players—we’re looking for kids who LOVE to play and are ready to put in the effort to improve!
How to Join Academy Soccer
(Tryouts & Next Steps!)
what to expect at tryouts:
✅ A fun, low-pressure environment where kids can show what they know - basically it’s just another practice!
✅ Basic drills, small-sided scrimmages, and lots of touches on the ball
✅ Our academy director will evaluate effort, coachability, and enthusiasm—not just skills
Academy Tryouts
June 11th @ 5:30-6:45pm
990 W Springhill Dr
Terre Haute, IN 47802
it's free to tryout!
If your child loves the game and wants to play more, we encourage them to try out!
Complete Tryout Registration
Parent FAQs – Everything You Need to Know!
We know parents have questions, and we want to make sure you have all the info you need before signing up. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about Academy Soccer!
Perfect! Academy is designed to be the bridge between recreational soccer and travel soccer. The focus is on learning, development, and fun—not immediate competition. If your child loves soccer and wants to play more, this is the perfect next step!
Two practices per week and 4-5 weekend play dates per season (typically within a 1.5-hour drive).
One tournament per season (included in your registration fees).
Additional optional opportunities (like extra tournaments or scrimmages) are available for those who want to play even more!
$400 per year – Includes training, league games, two seasons of play, and one tournament per season.
Additional optional tournaments (if your player wants to attend extra events) are typically around $70 per player.
Parents will need to purchase uniform kits. Our uniform cycle is every 2 years stretching the value of your uniform purchase. Uniforms come with a training jersey and a home and away set (jersey/shorts/socks). There are additional items you can add if you desire like warm ups and soccer bags but they aren’t required. While exact cost may vary it is roughly $275/ every other year.
Yes, we hold tryouts, but they aren’t about cutting kids!
Tryouts help us place players where they’ll grow best.
We aren’t looking for superstars—we’re looking for kids who LOVE to play and want to learn!
Our academy program does not have A or B teams. While our exact team placements depend on number of kids in each age of the age groups and what is best for the players we have in font of us teams typically train together and complete with kids in their own age group U9/U10.
Again, this depends on our numbers.
Players train more often, get more touches on the ball, and play tougher competition, which helps them grow faster.
Academy players often move on to play full travel soccer or excel in middle & high school teams.
Academy players train more and compete in an official league.
Rec players practice once a week and play in-house games.
Both programs are great—Academy is just for kids who want to play more often!
Optional: Complete an interest form. Our Academy director will be notified and reach out to you directly.
Step 1: Register for tryouts or sign up to attend a practice this season.
Step 2: After tryouts If offered a spot, register and finalize payment.
Step 3: Get ready for a fun, exciting season of Academy Soccer
As a nonprofit their generosity helps keep all of VCYSA’s soccer programs affordable and accessible for families across the Wabash Valley.
Interested in supporting our teams?
VCYSA is proud to be supported by local businesses that believe in the power of youth sports.
learn more
learn more!
ATTEND A FREE PRACTICE
Just complete the form below (one submission per child) and our academy or travel director will reach out with ore information on your practice session!
Join the waitlist
Soccer is played in 2 seasons, Spring and Fall. Subscribe to the waitlist and we will notify you when we are accepting registrations! (If you have more than one child we recommend submitting for each one)
ATTEND A FREE PRACTICE
Just complete the form below (one submission per child) and our academy or travel director will reach out with ore information on your practice session!
Join the waitlist
Soccer is played in 2 seasons, Spring and Fall. Subscribe to the waitlist and we will notify you when we are accepting registrations! (If you have more than one child we recommend submitting for each one)