All Girls Academy (AGA)
Overview
The All Girls Academy is KVSA’s development program for female soccer players in the U9, U10, U11 and U12 age groups. The AGA will serve as a bridge between the recreational and premier program, as it prepares players to transition to the premier program or continue in the recreational program. The curriculum for AGA will be centered on the pillars of the game (technical, tactical, psychological and physiological) and will be tailored towards the specific needs of each age group. Players will get to use the skills and tactical ideas they learn at academy practice sessions during academy game days on the weekend.
Format
Academy practice sessions will be held on Monday and Wednesday at YSI (Times TBD). Practice sessions on Monday will have a strong emphasis on the technical aspects of the game, while Wednesday will have more tactical aspects blended within the session. Academy game days on Saturday will consist of three 20-minute games. Players will be scrambled each Saturday in order to get the opportunity to play with all of their AGA teammates. Game days will take place at YSI Sports Complex.
Staff
The Director of AGA is Jessica Smith. Coach Smith will be creating the 10-week curriculum for the AGA and will have a staff of trainers & volunteer coaches who will assist in following through with the program’s goals each week. Players will get the opportunity to work with different staff members while being trained.
Uniforms
Teal (home) and White (away) jerseys are required for league games. KVSA will have the reversible jerseys available for purchase prior to the season for $23.00.
Cost
$140.00 per player for the 10-week session (8 academy play days).
MEET JESSICA SMITH, AGA DIRECTOR
Kaw Valley Soccer Association is pleased to announce the addition of Jessica Smith as the new director of the All Girls Academy (AGA).
Jessica is the assistant coach of the University of Kansas women’s soccer team. She bring with her years of coaching experience including working as a varsity assistant coach for both the boys' and girls' teams at Olathe Northwest High School. In addition to her coaching duties at Olathe Northwest, Jessica has served as a coach with the Kansas State ODP girls' program and currently works with the 1996 age group. Jessica graduated from KU in 2006 with a degree in sports and fitness management, and holds a USSF National "B" Coaching License.
In her new position as AGA Director, Jessica will be charged with developing new curriculum for the AGA, training and supervising the AGA trainers, and identifying recreation level players that would benefit from being a part of the AGA.
"I am very excited to be a part of KVSA and lead the AGA program. The environment for AGA will be fun and challenging for players as we work through a curriculum based on the pillars of the game," said Jessica. "My hope is that the girls who participate in the AGA will feel more comfortable with the ball and confident in themselves so that they will want to continue on in their young soccer careers, whether at the recreational level or premier level. "
Not only does Jessica have an abundance of experience coaching the game, she was a standout player at the University of Kansas from 2002-2005. She was a team captain in 2004 and 2005, and was twice named Academic All-Big 12. Her 2004 team won the Big 12 regular season championship, the first in program history, while her 2003 squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament (round of 16). In 83 career games in the Crimson and Blue, Smith scored 16 goals, which still ranks as the seventh-best mark in program history, and registered 10 assists, including seven goals during her freshman season.
"I'm looking forward to being involved in the Lawrence community and use my experiences as a Jayhawk soccer player and coach to help make a difference to the girls of KVSA," Jessica said.
Jessica begins her position as AGA Director effective immediately.
