Academy Program 2025
High-level weekly technique training to supplement team practices. Limited to 8 players per group.
What is the CSA Academy Program?
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This year-round program is designed to give players the opportunity to add a high-level technical practice each week to supplement their team practices. We are a club-neutral organization, and work with all players regardless of club affiliation. These sessions are not to replace team training - we simply want to create an environment where passionate and dedicated players can come to accelerate their development to give them the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential.
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Our Academy Program is for those playing pre-ECNL, ECNL, pre-GA, GA, and E64. However, admittance to the program is on a case by case but players should be at or desire to be at these levels.
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By working with players 1on1, we have found that players get stuck at a low level of ball mastery/footskills, with teams focusing more on how to work as a team and tactics rather than technique. Of course, this is important, but it is also necessary to continue development technically. This results in players aged 15+ having the ball mastery skills of a much younger player, which is detrimental to their development. Through our Academy Program, we want to continue to help players develop individually, giving them the best possible chance of progressing in the game and reaching high levels.
Programs are divided into 10-week blocks, with four terms throughout the year. The program consists of two groups: U10-U12 (9-11 years old) and U13-U16 (12-15 years old). Our U13-U16 group is divided into a girls group and a boys group.
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You can participate in all 4 terms, 1 term, or even attend a single session if we have an available space.
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Although players can attend a single session if we have space, it is strongly encouraged to attend as many sessions as you can in the 10 week block. This is a progressive training program, and we will be building each week on what was covered in previous sessions.
Unopposed and fully opposed session design allows players develop the technical skills necessary to become more confident on the ball, protect and manipulate the ball with a variety of dynamic ball mastery combinations, and dominate 1v1 situations. Players will learn intricate details such as keeping the ball 'safe side', creating space, and beating players from a variety of different angles and situations.
Although it is a group practice limited to 8 players, the emphasis is very much on individual development. Team practices are often more concerned with how players fit into a system, and learning to play as part of a team. In a CSA practice, the focus is how a player can impact the game with the ball at their feet and being dominant in 1v1 situations which in turn will make them as asset to any team.​​​
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What problem are we trying to solve in player development?
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If a player is serious about progressing in the game, then 2 training sessions a week is not enough. If we look at how professional academies operate around the world, especially in Europe, these players are getting far more ball contact hours, with an abundance of coaches, playing space, and an individualized curriculum.
Generally, we find that private group sessions consist of too many players, varying skill levels, not enough coaches, and is unstructured.
We want to be the opposite of this by keeping groups small, age and skill specific, with a small coach to player ratio and structured plan.
We aim to create an environment where players can learn, feel challenged, become more confident, and give themselves the best chance of reaching their potential.
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What players will benefit the most from this program?
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The Academy Program is not for everyone, and we are looking for players that are committed to learning and love the game.
Participation in this group is by consultation only, as we want everyone to enjoy the sessions and feel comfortable training in a competitive environment. Although this can vary, we generally look for the following criteria for players to get the most out of the program:
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Advanced level players
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Has a solid grasp of ball mastery foundations
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Competitive and eager to learn
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Watches soccer (we have found this to be important)
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Practices in their own time outside team practices (even more important)
In addition to our 1 hour in-person training each week, we will also provide each player homework that they can do in their own time. This will be in the form of video, demonstrating the dynamic ball mastery movements we worked on during the week, along with any other additional work we feel needs to be worked on from that week.​​
Here are details of our next available program:
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If you would like to join Term 2 of our Academy Program, here are the details:
Term 2
Dates
March 28
April 4, 11, 18, 25
May 2, 9, 16, 23
Time
5pm-6pm (U10-U12 Mixed)
6pm-7pm (U13-U16 Boys)
6pm-7pm (U13-U16 Girls)
Location
No Offseason Sports, Russellton
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Cost
$405 for all 9 weeks (term 2 is 9 weeks instead of 10)
$55 single session
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Sibling discount available.
*Program will be opened first for full term booking. If all spaces have not been filled, it will then be made available for single sessions.
If you would like to sign up:
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If you have worked with us before, please email us to see if you would be a good fit for the program. If you have not worked with us before, please email us with as much player information as possible and we can see if everything would be a good fit. Please send all emails to aidan@curransocceracademy.com
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If everything is a good fit, we ask for a 30% deposit ($121.50) to hold your place. A private booking link will be sent to you. As soon as this payment is made, your place is secured.
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The remaining payment of $283.50 is due 1 week before the program start date.
We look forward to taking this small step in helping hard working and committed players in the Pittsburgh area develop and achieve their goals!