Official Hampton Roads Soccer Affiliate of D.C. United

What is the Virginia Beach City FC Academy?
The Virginia Beach City FC Academy is the highest level of the Virginia Beach City FC Youth Player Development Program for youth players including boys and girls, age groups U9 – U18. Teams will participate in US Club and/or VYSA sanctioned leagues, and high-level national, regional and local competitions when appropriate and tailored to each team's individual needs. Scheduled breaks will be built around holidays, school breaks and regular season play.

How will the Virginia Beach City FC Academy experience differ from a typical club setting?
Our Academy, implementing U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer standards and ideology, is designed to provide the full player development pyramid from youth to professional ranks. Virginia Beach City FC Academy is run in connection with our semi professional First Team and offers top instruction from USSF certified coaches. Our Academy plays against other Academy teams on a year round basis and at high-level national, regional and local competitions. These games and events expose players to collegiate, professional and national team coaches and scouts.

What are the advantages of playing for an academy club with a semi professional First Team?
Virginia Beach City FC is able to provide opportunities that other youth clubs are unable to offer to players. For example, because Virginia Beach City FC is an NPSL club, our NPSL players have the chance to participate in the highly competitive NPSL Combine that is only open to NPSL teams. The combine is held in the same general location and on the same date as the MLS Player Combine featuring scouts and coaches from MLS and NASL organizations. Virginia Beach City FC player Michael Nelson was selected in the 2016 MLS Draft by Seattle Sounders FC and Sidney Rivera was selected in the 2015 MLS Draft by Orlando City SC.

Virginia Beach City FC is also the only Academy system in the area with the ability to provide players development opportunities locally in connection with a semi professional team or sign a player to a First Team (semi professional) contract.

What is the Virginia Beach City FC Player Development Initiative?
Similar to the Major League Soccer (MLS) Youth Development initiative established in 2006, requiring each MLS club to identify and develop players in their respective home territories, Virginia Beach City FC also believes in providing upcoming players with professional soccer aspirations an opportunity to pursue their dreams while also continuing their education and remaining close to their family at home. The Virginia Beach City FC Academy program is designed for the elite player (boys and girls), offering a year round training model and is focused on long term player development and identification at the collegiate, amateur and professional levels. It is run in connection with the Virginia Beach City FC NPSL (men) and WPSL (women) semi professional First Team.

Has Virginia Beach City FC produced any professional players?
Yes. Most recently, Michael Nelson was selected in the 2016 MLS Draft by Seattle Sounders FC and Sidney Rivera was selected in the 2015 MLS Draft by Orlando City SC.

How many Virginia Beach City FC players play at the collegiate level?
Virginia Beach City FC has over 75 players participate at top collegiate soccer programs around the country since inception.

What are the costs for Virginia Beach City FC Academy players?

Age	Membership Deposit	Membership Payment Plan
U9-U10	$250 - June 1	$155 - Paid Monthly, July 1 - November 1, $210 - Paid Monthly Dec. 1 - Jan. 1
U11-U18	$250 - June 1	$205 - Paid Monthly, July 1 - November 1, $210 - Paid Monthly Dec. 1 - Jan. 1

• Teams pay for tournament costs over 3 tournaments as well as coaching travel fees
  Which age groups will compete in Academy competitions?
  Boys and girls ages U9 – U18.
  
  How many players will be selected for the Academy teams?
  Each team U13 – U18 has a player pool of 16-18 rostered players per team. Age groups U9 – U12 have 10 to 13 rostered players per team.
  
  How are Academy players selected?
  Virginia Beach City FC has many ways for players to be selected for the Academy program.
  
  - Training Opportunities: The times and duration of these training opportunities are open throughout the year and are determined by the Head Coach. Please contact Brian Hinkey for more information: [email protected]
  
  - Open Tryouts: Virginia Beach City FC holds open tryouts after the season ends. Tryouts take place at the end of May and run through June.
  
  When are tryouts?
  Please check the Virginia Beach City FC Tryout page for current information. For planning purposes, Academy Open Tryouts will take place late May.
  
  How often do teams train?
  During the regular season, Academy teams typically train three days per week (August 1 - May 31). Breaks will be scheduled during the year.
  
  High school age teams have a modified training schedule and will train one to two times per week on either a week night or Saturday morning during the high school season.
  
  How long is the academy season/ program?
  The Academy program typically runs 10 months from August 1 through May 31 which includes Winter Academy training. Scheduled breaks will be built around holidays, school breaks and regular season play. Optional Futsal and Summer Training programs will be offered. 
  
  Virginia Beach City FC Academy regular season games take place from September to November as well as March / April through June. High school players have extended tournament opportunities, and will not compete in league play during the spring season.
  
  Three mandatory local tournaments (within 60 miles) will be scheduled during the year. Teams can choose to schedule additional tournaments with approval from the club. Additional tournament fees and costs will be paid for independently by each team.
  
  Where do Virginia Beach City FC Academy teams train and play matches?
  Generally all outdoor practices will be held centrally in Hampton Roads at the following facilties:
  
  Primary Facilities
• Norfolk Collegiate School, Norfolk, VA - Two (2) lighted artificial turf fields.
•  Norfolk Christian School, Norfolk, VA - One (1) lighted artificial turf field.
  

Alternate Facilities

• Virginia Wesleyan, Norfolk, VA - One (1) lighted artificial turf field
• Centerville Park, Chesapeake VA - Eleven (11) Bermuda grass fields
• Princess Anne Park, Virginia Beach VA -  Eleven (11) Bermuda grass fields
• Deep Creek Park, Chesapeake, VA - Three (3) lighted grass fields

Please refer to our resources page for facility directions. The locations may vary slightly depending on weather and scheduling by the city.

Can Virginia Beach City FC players play for their high school teams or other clubs?
Yes, we encourage players to participate with their high school teams and believe participating in school sports is an important experience. However, we require a year round commitment from our players. Training schedules and games will be adjusted during the high school season to help accommodate high school play.

How often does the team travel?
Academy teams may travel 2-4 trips per year for away games. Academy teams also may travel to regional and national tournaments, State Cup and the NPL Playoffs.

Refund Policy
There are no refunds provided once accepting positions within our full-year academy program.  Once you have accepted a position, you will be responsible for full payment.  We will look at specific cases that may include long-term injuries or moving out of the area and provide appropriate assistance where applicable.  Players who decide to leave the club mid year, will not be a provided a refund and will not be released until full payment has been received.  

For additional information please contact Jadyn Wright: [email protected]