Registration is now open for the Travel Development Academy Fall 2009 session.

All training will be conducted by professional trainers under the direction of our Senior Program Directors. Training will be based on the following general format:

• Professional group training for 6, 7, 8 and 9 year olds
• Separate programs for boys and girls
• Technical skills curriculum
• Small-sided training environment (5v5 including GK)
• 10 weeks in Fall
• 2 x 90-minute training sessions per week
• Training on Mondays and Wednesdays (Boys) or Mondays and Thursdays (Girls)

Game Format

Travel Development Academy players will also participate in small-sided games on Saturdays. Game formats will be as follows:

• Game at the weekend – Saturday afternoon
• Games are 5v5 including GK
• Teams are formed in each age/ gender group
• Teams are equal, not select. Roster size approx 8 players
• Fields are approx 40 x 20 yds
• GK box is small
• Games are 2 x 25 mins with a 5 minute break where the trainers will look to review what the players learned that week and emphasize the use of those skills during the game
• Goal frames will be sharpshooters (5’ x 10’)
• FIFA rules apply with the following modifcations:
  • Substitutions can be granted by the referee upon any stoppage of play.  Examples of stoppage include goal kicks, kick-ins, corner kicks and player injury.  This allows for the most flexibility when it comes to player substitution.  The referee will have final say.
  • NO offsides will be called.
  • NO punting from goalkeepers – Must throw ball or pass ball out.   Once the keeper puts the ball on the floor, it can not be picked up, it is a live ball in play.
  • Parents are required to be on the opposite sideline from the players. (not on the goal line or in between the fields)

These games will be "home vs home" games. In other words, players will play in a team vs. other teams from the Travel Development Academy. However, there will also be an opportunity to participate in small-sided games vs. other local soccer clubs including Princeton, Montgomery, Bridgewater and Yardley-Makefield Soccer Clubs.  These games will be in the form of "Festival Days."

Festival Days

Once a year, each participating Club will host at least one Festival Day with the following basic format.

• All teams come on the same day and play a series of games 2 x 12 mins (3 or 4 games per day). 
• Games have referees (either Grade 9 Recreational Referees or Big Brother/ Big Sister volunteers).
• Referees will take an instructional approach to game management (ie: explain the call).
• WWPSA would host at least one Festival Day each season.

Tentative Fall 2009 Schedule

Enrollment

Online registration is open. All age-eligible players will be accepted in the program in 2009-10. Families should determine if this is the appropriate program for their player or whether other programs offered by WWPSA (including Fall Rec Soccer) will be more appropriate.

The 2009-10 program is open to:

• U7 players (birthdays between August 1, 2002 and July 31, 2003)
• U8 players (birthdays between August 1, 2001 and July 31, 2002)
• U9 players (birthdays between August 1, 2000 and July 31, 2001)
• U10 players (birthdays between August 1, 1999 and July 31, 2000) 

Administration

This program will be managed by WWPSA Travel Executive Committee.  Travel Development Academy Coordinators assume primary responsibility for planning and administration for each of the Girls and Boys Academies.

Volunteers

All training and soccer instruction will be delivered by professional trainers.  However, all families are expected to fulfill a volunteer role.  WWPSA is fundamentally a volunteer-run and managed non-profit Association. The fees collected for the Travel Development Academy cover directly related costs such as professional training, referee fees, facilities, equipment, uniforms, insurance, player "carding", online registration, website, and so on.  The fees DO NOT include program administration, game day management, festival staffing etc.  Without each family performing a volunteer duty (which can be as little as one or two hours on a Festival Day), this program would likely cost twice as much as it does today.  Therefore, we hope that you will help us to make this a successful program by offering to help in whichever way works best for you.  Thank you for your understanding.

Registration, "Carding" and Uniforms

Players would be registered members of WWPSA and would be carded under US Club for insurance and travel purposes. This will permit them to travel to other towns to participate in Festival Days.  Players will receive a basic WWPSA Travel uniform set (green and white shirts, shorts, socks).

Cost

The program cost is $295 per player for the Fall 2009 season. The cost for players who return in the Spring 2010 season will be $250 (there will be a new registration for the Spring season).  Costs reflect the following:

• Ratio of approx 1 professional per 12 registered players
• Schedule of 10 weeks x 2 training sessions with anticipated loss of 1 or 2 weeks/ season for inclement weather
• 1 weekend game/week with referee (6 weeks) with anticipated loss of 1 or 2 weeks/ season
• A professional trainer in attendance at most weekend games (10 weeks)
• Festival Days (travel costs not included)
• 1 home-hosted Festival Day per year (3 games/ team with referees)
• 1 uniform set
• US Club registration and carding (includes insurance)
• Facilities fees
• Administrative fees

Fall Season: $295 per player
Spring Season: $250 (returning player): $295 (new player)

Should you have additional questions, please check our Question & Answer section or contact Armando Gochuico, Director via girlstda@wwpsa.org.