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Initiation Academy FAQ

CMFSC TIMBITS Initiation Academy FAQ’s
Q.
 What is the Initiation Academy?
A.
 The Initiation Academy is a Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer program catering to boys and girls in the Under 5, Under 6, and Under 7 age levels. It introduces soccer gently by eliminating the team environment, which is overly competitive and individually detrimental at this vulnerable age.  
Q.
 What is the focus of the program? What are the program objectives?
A.
 The Initiation Academy focuses on psychomotor and cognitive skill development.  Players move constantly, each with a ball at his or her feet, working on vital skills that will enable them to perform to their maximum potential. Through fun games and activities, they also learn basic gymnastics and running techniques.
The Initiation Academy shares the philosophy of most of the world’s leading educational systems in developing not only the few exceptional players but also the children with less ability. For us, the greatest reward comes not from the best player, but from the child who shows the greatest improvement.
Q.
 What is the goal of the program?
A.
 Upon leaving the Initiation Academy at the end of their 3-year experience our goal is that children possess more developed skills than other players in the Under 8 division and have a sense that soccer is the most enjoyable sport there is! We believe that the Initiation Academy provides players with the skills necessary to take their own steps to success.
Q.
 What age groups does the Initiation Academy encompass?
 
 Initiation Academy is for players born in 2004 (U7), 2005 (U6) and 2006 (U5).
Under 5 (4 Year Olds)
This program will include both boys and girls who are born in 2006. This is an introduction to soccer in a fun and organized environment. The emphasis will be on basic skills and lots of fun soccer activities. The session will be structured as so the main focus will be the basic fundamental skills of ball control, dribbling, and passing. There will be one session per week (indoors). There will not be game days for this age group.
Under 6 (5 year Olds)
This program will include both boys and girls who are born in 2005. This is the second step to the initiation Academy and we will continue building on what the players have learned in the Under 5 Program. Emphasis will still be on basic skills in a fun and non-competitive environment. The sessions will still be structured as so the main focus will be the basic fundamental skills of ball control, dribbling, and passing.  At this age there is a second session on the weekend. Weekend sessions will consist of stations, 3v3 and 4v4 scrimmages as well as several Jamboree Days where teams will play games against other Initiation Academy U6 teams. 
Under 7 (6 Year Olds)
This program will include both boys and girls who are born in 2004. This is the third step to the initiation Academy and we will continue building on what the players have learned in the Under 5 and Under 6 Program. Emphasis will still be on basic skills in a fun and non-competitive environment. The sessions will still be structured as so the main focus will be the basic fundamental skills of ball control, dribbling, and passing with more emphasis beginning on game play. At this age there is a second session on the weekend. Weekend sessions will consist of stations, 3v3 and 4v4 scrimmages as well as several Jamboree Days where teams will play games against other Initiation Academy U7 teams. 
Q.
 How much does the program cost?
A.
 Registration for the Initiation Academy is as follows:
U5 (2006) - $165.00
U6 (2005) & U7 (2004) - $200.00
Please click here to register
Q.
 What does that registration fee include?
A.
 Registration fee includes a complete season from September to March on a team training at least once a week with Coquitlam Metro-Ford Staff Coaches as well as a complete team uniform (Jersey, shorts and socks).
Q.
 Who coaches the teams?
A.
 The club will hire coaches to work with each team as the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Staff Coach but will ask that parents that are interested in coaching also take part in this program as Parent Head Coach, Parent Assistant Coaches, Parent Team Managers as well as Age Group Co-ordinators. 
Q.
 Who are the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Staff Coaches?
A.
 The Initiation Academy only employs the best coaches who have experience, outstanding coaching credentials and the right level of sensitivity to work with this valuable and impressionable age level. These coaches must demonstrate professionalism as well as a desire and a willingness to study and learn new techniques of development that fall within the vision of the Initiation Academy and the Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC. Click here for complete coaching staff bios
Q.
 What team will my child play on?
A.
 The boys and girls in the each of the age groups will be separated and formed into teams (groups) and assigned gym times throughout the week.
Q.
 Do boys and girls play on the same team?
A.
 No, boys and girls will be separated into separate teams.
Q.
 If I have a question during the program who should I contact and how do I reach them?
A.
 Once Age Group Coordinators have been assigned, we ask that all communication be directed to them or your team manager to be passed onto the appropriate Initiation Academy Contact.
Please click here for Club Contacts
Q.
 When does the season start and finish?
A.
 This program will run from the second week of September to early March when the season will wrap up with the Domenic Mobilio Friendship Cup Tournament. There will be no sessions in December.
Q.
 My child wants to play with her/his friends on the same team, is this possible?
A.
 We will do our best to accommodate such requests however depending on player numbers, gym scheduling, and coach availability, no requests can be guaranteed.
Q.
 What day(s) will my child practice on?
A.
 Locations and times of the sessions will be determined in September once allocations have been given by the Coquitlam School Board.
U5’s will practice one session during the week with U6/U7 Boys practicing a second session on Saturdays and U6/U7 Girls practicing a second session on Sundays.
Q.
 What if my child cannot make a practice or weekend session, who should we contact?
A.
 If you son or daughter cannot make a session, please simply notify your Parent Head Coach.
Q.
 Are the teams arranged by playing ability?
A.
 Teams will be organized based on player registration, gym scheduling and coach availability. We also do our best to keep teams from previous years together. 
Q.
 How can I get involved and help?
A.
 The success of this program is determined largely through the help of parent volunteers in roles such as Parent Head Coach, Parent Assistant Coach, Parent Team Manager and Age Group Coordinators. If you are able to help out in any of the mentioned roles, we truly appreciate your help and please contact Mil Leitch at  leitchmil@telus.net for details.
Q.
 What is the coach/player ratio?
A.
 To achieve a high level of development and enjoyment, the Initiation Academy believes in a low coach-to-child ratio, an approach that enables the staff to work with children individually to meet their developmental needs.  The maximum number of players per team will be kept at a maximum of 18 (ideally 16) with one Coquitlam Staff Coach as well as at least one Parent Head Coach and one Parent Assistant Coach per team.
Q.
 What are my roles as a parent? Should I be working with my child at home?
A.
 Although each team within the Initiation Academy will have a Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC Staff Coach, Parent Coach and Assistant Coach, we encourage all parents to become involved with their child’s development by taking an active part in continuing with the soccer development at home.  It has been found that the most successful players are those with parents who encourage their child (positive feedback only please) and play with them on an ongoing basis. It really doesn’t matter whether or not you have a background in soccer or currently play the game of soccer, as you and your son or daughter can learn the game together.
We highly encourage that each player have their own soccer ball so the soccer does not have to stop when the training sessions are finished for the day. In the event, that your child does not have a soccer ball and you wish to purchase a ball, Initiation Academy Soccer Balls can be purchased through our Club Sponsor Store, Soccer Express (www.soccerx.ca), please mention that you are with the Initiation Academy for an excellent rate.
Q.
 What does my child wear to practices and weekend sessions?
A.
 Players should wear running shoes (shin pads, shorts, t-shirts or team jerseys) to all indoor sessions and can wear cleats for outdoor sessions. Please ensure that your child's dress meets the weather conditions as we will be training rain or shine (please wear layers).
Q.
 Does my child need prior playing experience?
A.
 No not at all. The focus of the program is to introduce players to the game of soccer through the Initiation Academy. It is a "steps to success" philosophy that works with youth players in the U5, U6, and U7 age levels and gently and properly introduces the complex world of soccer to both girls and boys in a fun yet educational environment.
Q.
 For U6 & U7 weekend sessions, do we practice rain or shine?
A.
 Yes, yes, yes! We are extremely fortunate for our outdoor weekend sessions to practice on turf fields which hold up very well in the wet weather, therefore we will practice in the rain. Besides we live in Vancouver and if we cancelled sessions due to rain, we may miss the majority of the season (smile). The only time weekend sessions will be cancelled will be in the event of thunder, lightning or snow.