VanU Skill Centre

VANU SKILL CENTRE

As our club continues to strive to better serve our members, we are pleased to announce program details for the Fall/Winter “VanU Skills Center” programming which will open up it’s registration in one week's time; July 24th at 12pm.

As a CSA Club License holder (https://canadasoccer.com/play-landing/club-licensing-program/national-youth-club-licence-holders/) our club is excited about being able to offer our players an environment which will allow them to discover and fall in love with the game of soccer. 

***NEW***  CLUB Academy Series

With the growing interest from members to have a diverse and more challenging competition outlet, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering an Academy Series to our Skills Centre participants. 

Vancouver United FC, along with Coastal FC, North Vancouver FC, Surrey United SC and Coquitlam Metro Ford SC have committed to ensuring our members can take part in anywhere between 8-12 games throughout the fall and winter. 

These games will take on a tiered format from week to week to ensure like minded groups are playing one another, and game information will be provided on a week to week basis as these games are not taking on a league format.

We will be committing groups from the 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and possibly the 2012 age groups. 

All games on (BC PLACE DAY) will be taking place at BC Place!!

Information regarding the selection process for the Academy Series will be provided in the programs information meeting which is held at the start of the program.

***NEW***  VYSA Competition Outlet (U8,U9,U10)

After a successful pilot over 6 weeks last year, we have decided to enter a team at each of our Second Kicks age groups into the VYSA (clubs across the city of Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond). These games will begin after Thanksgiving and continue through to the end of February.

These teams will be put together weekly, and the hope is to provide all participants at these ages who are not taking part in the Academy Series Games a competition outlet as well. 

**Disclaimer: U8 / U9 / U10 players

Due to the nature of the competition outlet being provided by this program, some of your VanU Second Kick Games times will be in direct conflict. Our Technical Lead of the program will be ensuring all “Player Models” are spread throughout the teams to ensure teams are not faced with the decision to have to forfeit their own games, due to the conflicts that will occur throughout the season.

Training Environment

Built upon the guiding principles of our club's Game Model at these age groups, our training sessions are designed to better prepare our participants for the competitive nature of the tournaments we are entering.

This is not a team-based program, and friend requests are not taken into account. When opting into this program, you are accepting that training groups are the sole responsibility of the staff and that groups are formed for a variety of reasons, and are not always what you would perhaps see within their own team environment. 

Our blended training group model that blends both Model Players (invited players into the environment who are showing accelerated development), Interested Players (players who want more programming but who register on their own accord), and players across various age groups ensures that our training groups are highly competitive and rarely lack any energy. 

Players entering this program should enter knowing that there may be a change to their weekly schedule, depending on how they are progressing. Moving players from one training group to another ensures that all participants have the ability to be challenged appropriately.

“Player Models” (Invited players; please attend our Information meeting to hear more), will take part in their own training groups, however, those groups will allow for growth throughout the year as we look to add to them from our Open groups. 

Anywhere between 4-6 players registering by way of our open registration process will have an opportunity to train within the invited group(s) on a week-to-week basis. These decisions are merit based and will factor in staffing reports, attendance and attitude throughout the program. This will allow for a more catered and specialized training program for all groups where there has been an exponential amount of interest.

The training curriculum, overall environment,  program expectations for the players, and all other pertinent programming details will be managed by our Academy Manager.

Attendance

In the event your child misses more than 3 sessions without notifying the staff by way of our attendance tracking form (which will be provided within your welcome email), the club reserves the right to remove you from the program, and a refund will be provided based on the current program refund policy. Any removals from the program past the 8 week mark (halfway) will be done so without a refund being provided. 

Skills Center Local Tournaments

An additional $90 tournament fee will be charged upon acceptance of participation. We will make best efforts to include all members, however, in the event we do not have viable rosters, we cannot guarantee a tournament for all.  

We will be entering teams into the Coastal Winter Classic (end of December/Indoor) and the Premiere Spring Festival (Easter Weekend; at the end of the programming).

Training Environment 

The training curriculum, overall environment and program expectations for the players and all other pertinent programming details will be managed by our Technical Programs Manager and myself, the Technical Director of the club.

Built upon the guiding principles of our club's Game Model at these age groups, our training sessions are designed to better prepare our participants for the competitive nature of the tournaments we are entering.

This is not a team based program, and friendship requests are not taken into account. When opting into this program, you are accepting that training groups are the sole responsibility of the staff and that groups are formed for a variety of reasons, and are not always what you would perhaps see within their own team environment. 

Communication 

Any questions regarding this program should go directly to Nick Perugini, the club's Academy Manager: nick@vancouverunitedfc.com

Invitations and Rationale

Players who will receive an “invitation” are what we consider “player model” within their respective age group and have excelled in one or more of the following categories: Athletic Ability, Technical Proficiency, Tactical Awareness, Sportsmanship and Socio-Emotional Maturity. These players would form a core for the training groups, thus impacting those around them (younger/older, Invited/Open Registrants) and furthering everyone's developmental goals. 

Players not receiving an invitation are encouraged to register for one of the “open” spots if this program is something that interests them. General registration will open shortly, and will be communicated by Loretta Abdi, our Director of Operations, via our club-wide PowerUp communication channel. 

Spots are very limited, so please ensure you pay close attention to the enrollment opening date and time; age groups have been known to sell out within 10 minutes of opening. You cannot reserve a spot within the program prior to the open registration period.

Program Dates (18 weekends):

Sept. 7th & 8th / 14th & 15th / 21st & 22nd / 28th & 29th 

Oct. 5th & 6th / 19th & 20th / 26th & 27th

Nov. 2nd & 3rd / 9th & 10th / 16th & 17th / 23rd & 24th / 30th & dec 1st

Jan. 18th & 19th / 25th & 26th

Feb. 1st & 2nd / 8th & 9th

Training Location:

UBC Mini - Saturdays for all girls groups

UBC Mini - Sundays for 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 boys

MacInnis (Sundays for 2013, 2012 & 2011 boys)

Cost: 

$550

Jersey

All participants will be required to wear VanU Academy Jersey

***If you do not have an Academy Jersey, you will need to purchase one. Anyone needing to purchase a training jersey should indicate this as part of the registration and our administration team will be in touch with you regarding payment and pick up. Jersey orders should be placed before the 2nd session

Rain coats: we want to encourage all participants to wear a VanU branded shell raincoat . Anyone needing to purchase a training jersey should indicate this as part of the registration and our administration team will be in touch with you regarding payment and pick up. (There are limited quantities of these available).

*THIS PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED TO MEMBERS WHO ARE REGISTERED FOR THE FALL/WINTER SEASON

Upon registration, please be prepared to input your receipt number for the program you are currently registered for. Players not registered for the fall/winter season will have their skill centre registration cancelled and a refund provided.