FAQ
1. Why should my player join The Reds Academy?
At The Reds Academy we choose to meet the needs of many different types of players with different ability levels. Every child who enters into the program is important to us. Our mission statement reflects our fundamental principles on which we are founded.
Every player…
Every coach…
Every parent…
Every practice…
Every goal…
Every game…
Every concern…
Every dream…
…Matters.
Our philosophy and steadfast belief in integrity, honor and the desire to always do what is best for the player forms a wonderful environment for players who want to learn, develop and succeed at the highest levels of competition. We firmly believe your child and every child around them will benefit from the structure of this organization. We want to establish a comfort level that puts a parent at ease with their child being guided by our organization. We are a professional organization that takes pride in communicating and answering the questions of the families, parents and players.
With regards to teams, and the attitude towards our players, we again, are miles apart from any other local club. It is our philosophy to help every individual achieve their goal without sacrificing the team goals and club philosophy. This is made possible by the environment we create, our focus on customer satisfaction and our desire to create the Liverpool family within our club. Parents and players know there is something very unique and very different about our club once they have been here for a season. Our staff goes through education, introduction, orientations, staff development and other coaching education to always maintain learning and growing attitude and “investment” into the future of their teams. The Reds is proud to recognize the potential of every player and help them achieve their goals. A positive environment, tremendous emphasis on coaching education, dedication to character, quality and tradition, and the simple acknowledgement that it all has to be fun, makes our academy different.
3. How is the Academy structured?
The Reds Academy is a single house within Liverpool FC America, which is separated into Academy Regions. These regions are determined by the field / practice locations.
Our academy is under the direction of our Academy Director Lee Weddall. Supported by our Academy Administrator, Nancy Lane the business systems come together with our experienced coaches and proven curriculum to educate and improve every player.
The teams each have a head coach. These coaches are asked to develop players and create teams to compete in a number of different leagues throughout the year. Our coaches’ personal style and creativity is encouraged and the successes as well as challenges each coach faces are shared within the academy as a learning tool. This solid exchange of communication and ideas is a very special way in which are different from the other clubs in the area.
We have a direct link to Liverpool FC England through the International Football Academy. The word Liverpool is synonymous with excellence, tradition and pride and for more than 100 years has produced some of the greatest names in soccer. We are proud to represent this legendary club and believe through many of our programs, we help to educate, support and create a loyalty to this great brand here in the United States.
This is based on the coach’s observation of the player’s skills, abilities and willingness to learn and improve. This question serves as a great platform for the confidence we have in our staff’s professional training. Our staff is trained to see the potential, the ability level and the needs of every player. Again, we are a club who takes into consideration the best interest of every child, and how to best help that child. After an assessment is done by the coach through watching and training, then, the coach will usually discuss the progress and placement with the parents.
6. Are there different levels of teams within the Academy?
7. What is the play time philosophy for every player?
The Reds is a developmental step towards competitive soccer. We serve as a bridge for players who want to become competitive players between Recreational and Select soccer. It is our goal that a player placed with a team should be placed on a team where they are able to receive ample play time to that they can both enjoy the experience and use what they have learned in training to contribute to the success of the team on the field. Our academy fully understands that the only way a player learns is through playing. However, we must also remember as coaches and as parents that players learn and develop at different rates and with different tendencies within the game of soccer. A player gains valuable training and experiences when they are prepared and ready for different positions on the field. Due to the nature of soccer, the coach many times must make a decision of what a player is ready for, and what would serve that player’s best interest in development. If play time becomes an issue, parents should contact their coach. We want to encourage an open line of communication so that both The Reds Academy as well as parents can learn and grow.
8. How do you decide which league to put the team in?
Each team is looked at individually. Once each season, coaches are encouraged to discuss the placement with Academy Director and the DOC regarding the placement of the team in a league. Different ages and different abilities dictate different decisions. Tournaments are mediated by several factors…..travel, cost, competition and playing numbers will all contribute to the right decision being made. Again, this is a perfect example of where Liverpool FC America and The Reds Academy coaching experience and knowledge serve every player.
Our curriculum and philosophy both support every team having one head coach, however, we embrace pool coaching, team coaching and believe that players who can learn from more than one coach become “more coachable” in their soccer careers.
First, the Liverpool philosophy is that one of the greatest lessons players learn is that there is no “I” in the word TEAM. A team comes together to learn how to be a team. The positive coaching environment we encourage at every level provides an excellent stage for each player to contribute and be a part of a success. . Becoming a soccer player involves more than skills on the soccer ball. Helping all players see their strengths, encourage others, develop patience and understand is what it means to be a teammate. “Getting along” becomes much easier when players all share a common goal.
To help everyone understand the question, “playing up” means that a child would play in an age group with children who are a full year older than them. This is both a serious question and decision. Taking into account the player’s abilities, their emotional disposition, decision-making abilities in game situations, their competitiveness and the reasons why a player/family/team would like this to happen, would yield a discussion between the coach and the family. There is no one answer that is right for every player. These situations are handled on a case by case basis. U-10 players are not allowed to “play up” into U-11 by North Texas Rules.
12. Are there coed teams?
Yes, in some leagues, however, it is not part of our curriculum for girls.
13. Where do you practice?
Our Blue Sky Sports Center locations in The Colony, Keller and Allen all serve as a home base for our club training facilities. in The Colony, Blue Sky Sports Center in Keller and soon Blue Sky Sports Centers serve as our ‘home field” so to speak
The primary cost is $90 per month for training fees. The Adidas Kit including home and away jerseys, game shorts, game socks and two training t-shirts. The Kit costs $95.00 Additional fees include league play and tournament play
Academy Fees Include: Coach’s training fees, field costs, some equipment, Curriculum development, continuing education, website support, Friday Night Open Skills, Keeper Training for the Academy
The Academy is year-round. While we believe that training and improvement and development all require dedication and a love of the game, we also believe that players need to rejuvenate rest and then return with a new energy and enthusiasm. It is ultimately the coach’s decision regarding seasons and leagues, and parents are encouraged to evaluate their child’s needs and communicate those to the coach.
The purpose of the Academy is to bridge the gap between Recreational and Competitive. It prepares a player for the competitive soccer experience. The Reds Academy program is excited to offer a great foundation for soccer through training, curriculum, skills and overall soccer knowledge. We are equally proud of our program for its pioneering spirit of bringing the culture of competition into focus. The self-esteem, confidence, sportsmanship and teamwork mentality are all very important traits to establish early in a player’s development. The Reds works tirelessly to address and incorporate the complete development of players for competitive soccer.
If there is a roster spot available. Unfortunately, if a child drops off the roster, and another one comes on it is with the understanding that the goals and needs of that child will be served just as the player who originally dropped off. There are no “temporary players” only Liverpool players. Once in the program one child’s needs cannot outweigh another’s.
On average, there are two sessions for the team each week. One is a team training session, and the other is a team skills session. We also offer a free “Friday Night Open Skills” every week during the fall and spring season.
It depends on the level of competition and the team goals, but yes most teams participate in tournaments at different times of the year.
Simply put, form, structure and support… What a club offers goes beyond the fields and the equipment and the administration responsibilities. The Liverpool FC America Soccer Club is a support system unmatched in the metroplex. We are constantly in contact, growing and developing ways to address the needs of the players. We decided at the conception of Liverpool and The Reds that we would never try to fit the child into the organization… we would always wrap the organization around the player’s needs.
22. What are the requirements from the parents?
- Communication is key. We ask you to talk to the coach and other staff members about your questions and concerns. If our coaches do not know the answer, we will find the answer.
- Be sure to have players to the practices on time
- Notifying coaches of conflicts
- Appropriate player equipment needs to be available at all times
- Maintain a positive environment for each player
- Be supportive of the team and the club
- Display appropriate sportsmanship and lead by example for the players
- Be proud of the players, the club, the coach and verbalize their satisfaction
23. What equipment is needed at every practice?
Shin guards, water bottle, cleats, ball pump, and appropriate ball for the age of the player
The most important “equipment” is what is within the child themselves. This is the nutrition, sleep, attitude and other things that parents and the home environment give to the child before they ever step foot on the pitch for practice.
24. If practices are cancelled due to weather or fields, are those practices rescheduled?
Every effort will be made to make up for any weather-out practices. While field availability, coaches time constraints…etc. are all factors, we are very conscious of the value we strive to provide for the player. Our goal is to develop the player… and to provide a great value for the family. If a practice is cancelled, neither of those goals is being met.
25. Is fund raising involved?
Yes. The Academy does a “Spring Flower Fundraiser.” The fundraiser serves many important roles, but the primary one is to provide many of the programs in the academy that we would not be able to provide otherwise. leads to a more cohesive spirit of building, growing and strengthening of the academy on the field.
26. If I as a parent have a question, or concern, who do I go to?
The first step in this process is usually talking to the coach. If the situation is still not resolved to your satisfaction, we encourage you to call or contact the Director of Coaching or the Director of Communications. Both sets of contact information are available on the website. www.liverpoolfcamerica.com . We are confident that any issue or question can be resolved with these simple steps.
