OVERVIEW

The Villarreal Nebraska Academy Elite Program focuses on the individual development of well-rounded soccer players with a proven curriculum based on Villarreal C.F. and other international training methods.  Elite players will be registered with USYS and/or USSSA and participate in local or regional leagues and tournaments. The Elite program is designed for players that want to compete in the state and regionally. The main focus ofthe Elite Program is player development to compete on top level teams. 

Players are invited to join the program during tryouts in June each year. Limited openings may exist during the year if a player is looking to join mid-year.

TEAM FORMATION

Team Formation (or commonly known as Tryouts) will follow the requirements and timeline set forth by Nebraska State Soccer Association.  Refer to the Registration and Tryout Information page for tryout dates, times, and locations. 

Note that, per NSSA requirements, tryouts are not required for admission into U10 and younger programs, and players can register for those programs beginning each June.  Both registered and interested players are encouraged to participate in TEAM FORMATIONS: tryout/evaluation sessions to help the club place each player into the appropriate initial training group. You Must register even if you can not attend in order to be placed on a team.

COACHING

Coaching is provided by Nationally Licensed and VNA trained Villarreal Nebraska Academy coaches who have studied and understand the VNA coaching curriculum. All coaching is under the supervision and direction of DOC Jorge Sambataro and a club program director or age-group coordinator. Elite Teams have a head coach, an assistant coach, and additional academy coaches. Player to coach training ratio is lower than any other club in the state or region. 

PROGRAM DETAILS – ELITE

The following information is as accurate as possible.  However, slight changes to tournaments, training days/times, and other modifications may be necessary as the season and year progress.

League Fall and Spring: Alliance League, NYSL or Equivalent, approximately 7 games each season
League Winter: Great Plains Futsal, approximately 7 games
Competitions per Fall/Spring Season: 1-2 Tournaments or Events or participation in a 2nd League. approximately 6-9 games across additional events. A reasonable amount of travel is expected for leagues and events at the Elite program level.

Training Frequency: 3 times per week Fall and Spring, 1 time per week Winter and Summer

ANNUAL PROGRAM COST 

Full Year 12- months: August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021
Select Program: $1395 program fees, includes $200 non-refundable registration and administration fee

Full Year Competition Fall, Winter (if needed), Spring League: Approximately 26-33 Games $350, includes $35 non-refundable player registration. Competition Fees will be collected after July 15th (applied to 8/1/2020 Payment Plan Amount) for Fall 2020, September 15th (applied to 10/1/2020 Payment Plan Amount) for Winter 2020/2021, January 15th (applied to 2/1/2021 Payment Plan Amount) for Spring 2021. Seasonal breakdown TBD. League Fees, Tournament Fess etc have not been set by league/tournament directors. Governing bodies who sanction games have not released return-to-play plans or dates. Please know that team competition fees are applied to all members of the team regardless of availability. 

Payment Plan: The $1395 is a yearly membership fee: can be paid all at once using the monthly payment plan. *This is not a monthly fee but a yearly fee in easy monthly payments for your convenience. 
$50 due upon registration. $150 due 7/15, $132.78 due the 1st of the month in Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr. a 2.8% installment fee (bank fees) will apply.

Adding Competition Fees (this is an example, leagues and tournaments have not set fees yet): In July if we get league or tournament 'go-ahead' for Fall and they set fees and the per-player cost is $127.50 + $35 non-refundable player registration. The $162.50 will be added to player accounts by VNA administration and will be spread to the months remaining in the payment plan, if that is Aug-April then an additional $18.57 will be added to your monthly payment which includes the monthly installment fee. If we are able to play Fall Tournaments/Festivals then those costs will also be added. Then in September/October if we get the 'go-ahead' for Winter team tournaments/showcases and they set fees and the per player cost is $60. The $60 will be added to the player accounts by VNA administration and will be spread to the months remaining in the payment plan, if that is Oct-April, then an additional $8.82 will be added to your monthly payments which includes the monthly installment fee. Then in January if we get the 'go-ahead' for the Spring and they set fees and the per player cost is $127.50. The $127.50 will be added to player accounts by VNA administration and will be spread to the months remaining in the payment plan, if that is Feb-April, then an additional $43.69 will be added to your monthly payments which includes the monthly installment fee. If we are able to play Spring Tournaments/Festivals then those costs will also be added.

IF JOINING AFTER the Season Start dates, call for availability.

REGISTRATION 

U11-U19 Current member re-registration June 1, 2020-June 30, 2020
U11-U19 Non-member team formation registration opens mid-May, DEADLINE to register for Team Formations 7/11/2020

It is our player development focus and our true Academy beliefs that all players have the opportunity to learn the game correctly.  Therefore, it is our goal to have a team spot for all youth. We believe in forming teams for ALL. We fully expect to have a team for ALL players within one of our program level teams for anyone who registers and accepts their offer by 7/13/2020 10am. At that time your registration and deposit are due, plan accordingly.

Financial Assistance is available.
Players must qualify and apply. Please email [email protected] 
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.  Villarreal Nebraska Academy uses enlistment in the Nebraska Department of Education Free and Reduced Lunch Program as a guide to financial need.  If your player is part of this program, please submit a photo copy of the Notice of Approval letter you received from the school district (one photo copy for each player) to admin@villarrealnebraska.com. If your child does not attend a public school, please send an email explaining your scholarship needs to admin@villarrealnebraska.com.

The program costs above include: 

• Coaching: Academy Coaching and Unrivaled Coach/Player Ratios.
• 1. Internationally licensed/professional coaching DOC oversight for all teams.
• 2. Licensed and Experienced Head Coach
• 3. Licensed Assistant Coach
• 4. Additional Academy Coach Involvement
• Business and Company Overhead costs,
• Field/Facility rental fees,
• Professional Administrative Staff,
• Training: For the year: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer: including goalkeeper training
• Villarreal C.F. Academy Membership fees,
• Villarreal Nebraska Academy Membership fees.
  

The program cost above does not include:

• Uniform costs (see below for details),
• Competition Costs which include: Fall/Winter/Spring leagues, tournament costs or additional league, the anticipated costs are listed, 
• Player and Family Personal travel costs,
• Additional Winter Indoor Soccer League(s) (optional),
• Private training fees (optional),
  
• Camp/clinic fees (optional).

U15-U18 (Full Year less High School Season) Elite:
Elite Program, less High School Season, See the High School Information All Payments must be complete prior to completion of services provided.

UNIFORMS

Elite players are required to purchase an official uniform full kit: $187.37 includes shipping. Primary Yellow Kit (Jersey, Shorts, Socks) and Secondary Black Jersey/Training Shirt, Player warm-up Jacket and Pant, Club Backpack. Returning Elite players need only to purchase a new Primary yellow Jersey, Secondary Black Jersey, new player warm up jacket and pant for $127.73 includes shipping.

Recommendation to purchase: Yellow Long-Sleeve Cold-Weather Shirt. Black Beanie Cap, Black Field Gloves. Black Cold-Weather Pants. 

Other Optional Items are available and can be purchased.

Additional EQUIPMENT: Elite players will utilize their Secondary Black Jersey at training and the Primary Yellow Jersey will be used occasionally at training (for returning players you may wear 2018-2020 uniform Jerseys, for new players you may considering purchasing extra uniform Jerseys). Players should expect to wear unbranded plain Black athletic shorts (or 2018-2020 black uniform shorts), shin guards covered by black socks.
Footwear should fit snugly. Indoor soccer shoes or tennis shoes are required when INDOORS. When outdoor for training and games, cleats are expected at this level.
Ball: When indoor at Nebraska Sports Center players do NOT need to bring a soccer ball. When outdoor for training or games players need to bring a properly inflated size 4 (7v7 and 9v9 players) or size 5 (11v11 players) soccer ball.

COMMITMENT LEVEL

Elite players are encouraged to participate in other athletic, academic, and extracurricular activities.  To the extent possible, players are expected to coordinate their activities in order to attend all scheduled soccer training, games, and tournaments.  When conflicts are unavoidable, players must provide Villarreal Nebraska Academy with advanced notice of absences at least a week in advance.  Numerous training absences may adversely affect playing time during games. Game day notifications of absences will adversely affect playing time during games.

Community Service:  Each Elite player is expected to provide a minimum of four (4) hours of mentorship and/or community service per season.  This service is an important component of the program as it teaches the players to give back to the club and community.  Acceptable hours include volunteering to assist in training sessions for Submarines, Yellow-TEAM, or Select programs; tracking player points during other Villarreal Nebraska Academy games; assisting with club events; or other community activities as approved by the Managing Director.

PLAYER MOVEMENT: In order to respond to differing development rates as the year progresses, Select players could have the opportunity to move between training groups and/or teams to optimize each player’s growth. Player movement to a higher level program will cost the difference between the programs at the time of movement.

NON-CLUB SOCCER ACTIVITIES

The curriculum and developmental process that Villarreal Nebraska Academy utilizes is uniquely structured to provide a systematic progression of soccer skills over time.  As a result, the optimum development takes place within the structure of Villarreal Nebraska Academy training and competitions.  Elite players are discouraged from participating in non-club soccer events in which Villarreal Nebraska Academy coaches are not involved, as different coaching approaches can delay or counter the developmental process that the club provides.  If players choose to participate in non-club soccer events anyway, they must first notify Villarreal Nebraska Academy of their intent and obtain permission from the DOC.

Developmental Stages and Age Appropriate Focus:
1. Motor Skill Development, Ages 0-6
2. Fundamental Stage, Ages 6-9
3. Learning to Train, Ages 8-12
4. Training to Train, Ages 11-16
5. Training to Compete, Ages 15-18
6. Training to Win, Ages 17+
7. Retirement
Age when players begin to learn from their mistakes, Ages 9-11