Players who decide to participate in a select soccer program have numerous choices in Southeastern Wisconsin. With potentially 9 years of play ahead of them, their player development needs the type of program that Strike FC Wisconsin delivers.  Six great topics to think about when choosing a club for select soccer include the following: club coaches, club results, training programs, club philosophy, cost, and proximity.

 

All these factors are covered here in regards to how Strike FC Wisconsin operates:

• Club coaches – we have experienced Directors of Coaching (DOCs), and numerous State titles across our coaches.
   

• Club results – we consistently rank in the top 5 clubs in Wisconsin, and our elite girls program typically ranks in the top 2 programs in Wisconsin.
   

• Training programs – we run longer seasons than most other clubs, and we believe our winter program is one of the best in Wisconsin.  It includes our exclusive indoor futsal and turf facility not found elsewhere in our geography.
   

• Philosophy – player development is always first, and the goal is to provide the best soccer programs in the Midwest, bar none.
   

• Costs – affordability for the highest level of quality is a primary goal for us.  We will work as hard as we can to keep our program value consistent with clubs attempting to provide comparable soccer offerings.
   

• Proximity – We have practice and game facilities in all three of our main geographies – Hartland Arrowhead Area (North), Kettle Moraine Area (South), Oconomowoc Area (West).

 

Program structure

Select begins with the U11 and U12 age groups. Because these age groups are critical to individual player development, our select program focuses on developing individual players’ skills, even if it is at the cost of team results.

 

Select continues from U13 to U19, and the strong focus on individual ball skills also continues, while progressively increasing the importance of tactics and team results.

To emphasize the difference in these two stages, our U11 and U12 select programs report to a specific Academy and Select Director of Coaching (DOC), whose focus is individual player development while our U13-U19 ages report to DOC’s with responsibility by gender.

 

Practice Locations

Because we have developed one of the top Select programs in Wisconsin we draw our players from a wide and diverse geographical base.  As such the decisions we make on where our Select teams practice within our practice field choices are made with thought and care.

As we have stated often player development comes first at Strike FC Wisconsin.  We select our U11-U19 teams based upon tryout evaluations.  Any other method would not be consistent with a player development focus.  These teams practice sites will be determined by a combination of several factors:  coach availability, field conditions/availability, lighting availability, roster make-up, and the level/league the team plays in.

 

Coaching and Management

All U11 and U12 teams come under the overall supervision of the Director of Academy and Select. U13-U19 boys and girls teams are each supervised by their own DOC.  Our select DOCs together have a tremendous number of years of coaching experience. All programs are supervised by an overall Technical Director.

Beyond great DOCs, the key to great development is great coaches.  Together, our select coaches have numerous state championships, Midwest regional championships, and national championship experiences. We are proud to have had members of the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame, US Youth Soccer National Coaches of the Year, along with numerous other decorated coaches part of our staff. All of our Select coaches hold or are pursuing at least a USSF “D” license, while many have “C “or “B” licenses. We continuously look for and recruit the best coaches we can find in the Midwest that share in our player development coaching philosophies.

 

Team Rosters

U11 and U12 play 9v9 – up to 16 players to a team roster

U13 and U14 play 11v11 – up to 18 players to a game day roster, although team rosters can do up to 22 (we typically roster teams up to 18)

U15 through U19 play 11v11 – up to 18 players to a game day roster, although team rosters can do up to 22 (we typically roster teams up to 18)

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Team Formation

In order to belong to a select team, a player needs to go through a competitive tryout in mid June. Shortly after tryouts, the club issues offers for each team, which must be accepted or declined within a very specific schedule. A player accepts an offer by registering online with SFC Wisconsin.

There always are several teams per age group. These teams often play in different leagues. Travel requirements for these teams can be different. In general, the higher the league, the further the travel, the more frequent the practices. Our best teams travel extensively across the Midwest. Higher level teams usually have more diverse rosters from a geographical standpoint: thus practice locations may be further away from some members.

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Games

Teams play in external leagues as well as in internal leagues. They are expected to attend two or more tournament or events per fall/spring. Teams may also play winter tournaments. If the club believes that the team needs more challenge than can be provided within its regular age group, the team may play up an age group.

 

Playing Time

It varies by age group and by league. Up to U12, players will play a solid amount of available game time when averaged across the season, if showing regularly and timely attendance to all practices and games.  From U13-U19 playing time can vary based on team level, but commitment to training session attendance remains a key to earning playing time.

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Player Evaluations

Strike FC coaches provide written player evaluations once a year. Evaluations are delivered in person to parents and player together.  Additional evaluations can be requested.

 

Seasons

U11-U14 Select teams play three and a half seasons, although winter and summer are optional.  U15-U19 play either a fall or spring competitive season and have the winter and summer optional training/camps available.

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Fall and spring offer the regular practice regimen of two to three practices per week, typically of 90 minutes each,  and 1-2 games (on average) per week-end.

 

Winter season is an essential season for our competitive teams, and our winter program, described below, is a critical part of skills development.

In summer, the players keep their skills sharp by taking some of the summer camps our club offers.  These programs have additional costs.  Please watch this web site and club wide emails for the details on dates, places, and costs.

 

Winter Program

Our club takes winter training very seriously: winter is when skills are forged. For this reason, we have put in place a very extensive winter program open to every academy and select team member.

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All winter practices are optional – but, in general, we find that 90% of the players decide to participate in winter training. The winter program has two components: practice sessions, and futsal games. Practices generally run in two sessions, November – December, and January – March, with 2 practices per week in teams or by skills.

The winter program is very cost effective, as all costs are shared across all players participating in a session, and costs are reviewed annually.

 

Affordability

We aim to offer the best training programs and the best coaching  in Wisconsin. We work very hard at keeping our programs as affordable as they can be. Because of these efforts our programs provide excellent value in comparison to other soccer offerings of this nature.  We do not want to exclude any child who really wants to play soccer because of financial issues, and we offer financial aid on a case-by-case basis.

 

Select fees

Program fees include club fees, fees for 1 league entry, referee fees for 1 league, coaching fees for fall and spring, and winter Futsal League fees. Program fees may be different between different team levels.

Coaching fees, a part of program fees, include two (sometimes three) training sessions per week in fall and spring for U11-U14 and for the appropriate (fall or spring) season at U15-U19.
Full select uniform (2 jersey, shorts, socks)

Tournament fees and other expenses

are collected separately and can vary widely between teams of different levels.  Travel for tournaments and higher level leagues are part of these additional expenses.

Fundraising fees

if applicable will be communicated with sufficient notice

Refundable volunteer fee

Like most clubs in the US, and probably all clubs in Wisconsin, we are a non-profit organization run primarily with volunteers. To make it possible for us to run our programs, we require all player families to volunteer a small number of hours per year, be it in the concessions, field striping, tournament organization or any other task that may come up – there are too many to list.  At registration time, you are charged a refundable volunteer fee, which you are refunded after your volunteer obligations are satisfied.

More information: select program volunteer requirements