There’s a new match-up in NoVA soccer.
FC Virginia, a local soccer-focused organization dedicated to maximizing youth athlete potential, and The St. James, a sports, wellness and entertainment destination in Springfield, have joined forces to create The St. James FC Virginia, an elite-level soccer academy for Fairfax and Loudoun county athletes.
Tryouts for the program’s new 2019 to 2020 travel teams (ages 9 to 16), which will be based at The St. James location in Springfield, will take place until June 6.
The partnership will unite The St. James Soccer Director Douglas Homer, former executive director of DC Stoddert Soccer, and former owner of FC Virginia Christian Cziommer, who also currently serves as the technical analyst and team performance coach for the Washington Spirit, DC’s National Women’s Soccer League professional team.
The academy hopes to offer coaching beyond the fundamentals of the Long-Term Athletic Model, defined as a set of fundamentals and framework for the development of an athlete based on age, ability and overall goals through progressive skill instruction, small-group training and parent education for children and families.
With programs for almost any developmental age, there will also be further instruction on strength and conditioning, performance nutrition and leadership, as well as position-specific training for all players looking to get ahead of the competition.
The academy’s home will be The St. James’ 110,00-square-foot field house, the only indoor FIFA regulation-sized pitch in the area, as well as the on-site performance center and court house, with hopes of expanding the program to Prince William County.
Other coaches of the 30-plus joining the program include Karen Kelser, a veteran coach of more than 25 years, Bobby Puppione, former Girls Development Academy Director at Cincinnati United in Ohio, and Bruce Murray, former starting forward on the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and U.S. Men’s Olympic team.
For more information, visit thestjames.co. // The St. James: 6805 Industrial Road
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