Performance Phase

Academy

Welcome to our Performance Phase.

For U15-U19 players, the Performance Phase provides a pool of players that train and compete to enter the highest regional and national leagues we have access to.

The pathway allows prospects to push themselves further, earlier.

<strong><br>
Club Director; Harmar Site Leader
<br>
Qualifications: </strong>
UEFA B
<br><br>
<strong>
Hometown: </strong>
Yeovil, England
<br><strong>
Supports: </strong>
Yeovil Town FC
<br><strong>Primary position: </strong>Winger<br><br>
<strong>About: </strong>Played for Yeovil Town FC, LJMU First Team, Colwyn Bay FC, played against a player who cleaned his nostrils on my shirt each time he would tackle me.

Tom 'Tommo' Ovenden

Girls' Director
<strong><br>Club Director; Metro Site Leader<br>Qualifications: </strong>USSF A license. Joined Arsenal FC in 2014. Club Development Officer from 2014-2019, Executive Director from 2019-2023; 15+ years of college coaching at Division 1, 2, and 3; Director of Coaching at Kentucky Fire Juniors &amp; Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club, Youth Director at Javanon Soccer Club<br><br>
<strong>Hometown: </strong>Owensboro, KY<br>
<strong>Supports: </strong>Liverpool FC<br><strong>Primary position: </strong>Midfield<br><br>
<strong>About: </strong>2002 Collegiate All-American.

Jonathan Velotta

Boys' Director

REGISTER FOR ACADEMY TRYOUTS

Let us be your new soccer home! Choose your site, perform at your tryout, and join Steel City FC.

Our development pathway uses a Phase Model from youth to adult.

Throughout a player's time with our club, they will develop through a carefully tailored curriculum from a variety of coaches. At each age, players will be working closely with a team of coaches who are specialized at training players in their age range.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Overview

At the top of the pathway within the Steel City Academy program sits the Academy and Premier teams (U15-U19)

  • Top girls pools compete in ECNL-RL & Club Premier 2 (previously E64-RL).
    • Offered a ‘primary’ spot, with ongoing competition ID periods 
  • Training is held primarily at No Offseason Sports, Russellton, PA.
  • 2-3 additional events throughout the year. 

Fall (September-October)

  • 1x per week training on Sundays

Winter 1 (November-December)

  • 3x Training per week outdoor training
    • 1x per week in Performance Center, will coincide with team training
  • 1 event or league matches

Winter 2 (January-February)

  • 2-3x training per week
    • 1x per week in Performance Center, will coincide with team training
    • The session load dependent on the match/event schedule during this time of year
  • 1 showcase and/or league matches + friendlies

Spring (March-June)

  • 3x Training per week, primarily outdoor training
    • The session load dependent/managed to account for necessary rest/recovery based on match/event schedule
    • 1 session per week in Performance Center- will coincide with team training March and April
  • Weekend league matches, + 1 event.
  • Regular league season concludes in mid-June with pending advancement to regional or national events to follow.

Overview

At the top of the pathway within the Steel City Academy program sits the Academy and Premier teams (U15-U19)

  • Top boys pools compete in ECNL-RL, GLA NPL and GLA
    • Offered a primary spot, with ongoing competition ID periods 
  • Training is held primarily at No Offseason Sports, Russellton, PA.
  • 2-3 additional events throughout the year. 

Fall (September-October)

  • 1x per week training on Sundays

Winter 1 (November-December)

  • 3x Training per week outdoor training
    • 1x per week in Performance Center, will coincide with team training
  • 1 event or league matches

Winter 2 (January-February)

  • 2-3x training per week
    • 1x per week in Performance Center, will coincide with team training
    • The session load dependent on the game/event schedule during this time of year
  • 1 showcase and/or league matches + friendlies

Spring (March-June)

  • 3x Training per week, primarily outdoor training
    • The session load dependent/managed to account for necessary rest/recovery based on game/event schedule
    • 1 session per week in Performance Center- will coincide with team training March and April
  • Weekend league match's, + 1 event
  • Regular league season concludes in mid-June with pending advancement to regional or national events to follow

Overview

The Performance Phase is the culmination of our players journeys through their site, the phase breaks down into three pools:

    • Academy: competing in National leagues
    • Premier: competing in Regional leagues
    • Classic: competing in Local/regional leagues.
  • U15-U19 players at the Classic level compete in the PA West league in the spring season, plus 2-3 tournaments/showcases throughout the year.
  • Players in the trapped (U15) year between middle and high school will have a modified fall season pending number of players available.
  • Along with their site team, players can earn opportunities to train and compete with the Premier teams throughout the year. 

Fall (September-October)

  • 1x per week training.

Winter 1 (November-December)

  • 2x per week training (outdoors)
    • 1x per week in Performance Center, will coincide with team training
  • 1 event + friendlies.

Winter 2 (January-February)

  • 2x per week training (indoors)
    • 1x per week in Performance Center, will coincide with team training

Spring (March-June)

  • 2x per week training.
  • 6-8 league matches.
  • 2 events.

Regional Opportunities

In addition to the site team training, players can be identified into regional training on a 3rd night.

Classic Plus ($150, open to all Classic players)

  • Optional program for Classic team players to sign up for additional training.
    • Minimum of 10 sessions throughout the year.

Details of each program are subject to slight changes.

Developmental Programs

Beyond formal team training, we offer external programs open to all players, whether they belong to our club or not. These are perfect for players who seek additional training or who want a taste of what our club can offer.

Program offerings are updated seasonally at all sites.

Founders Field

Field A: Closest to parking lot

Field B: 2nd from parking lot

7v7/9v9: Furthest from lot

Home to our First Teams

No Offseason Sports Complex

Soccer 1: Close to road, on right

Soccer 2: Close to fence, on left

Baseball 1: Close to fence, on left

Baseball 2: Close to road, on right

Steel City FC Performance Center

Located at No Offseason and utilized by our U15+ players and small group training for players of all ages.

Also offers hours open to public.