Travel Program

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        Travel Program - The MCUFC's objectives are to support youth travel soccer to develop skills for the U8-U19 players and to instill appropriate behavior and good sportsmanship. We also hope to instill the passion for the game, not only in the players, but also for the parents, coaches and the general community. Many volunteers run the MCUFC. The Board Members, Committee Members, Coaches, and the many parents give their time and effort to make the MCUFC a fun learning experience for all. We currently have three levels of Travel Soccer (Academy, Junior Academy and Senior Academy).

Academy (ages 7,8,9,10)

        Starting in the fall of 2007, all U9/10 Travel Soccer started to play in an “Academy” format for league play in Indiana Youth Soccer. This was different from the regular travel format that was been offered in the past for this age group. The impetus for this change was to mainly to provide a fun and more positive playing environment as these children transition into their first years of the travel soccer experience. An Academy is when a club/association keeps a collection of players within an age group as opposed to placing them on individual teams. Some Academies do not “cut” or “tryout” younger players, and all children that want to play are accepted. In the Indiana Youth Soccer model, clubs will retain the option to select players, but the no-cut policy is recommended. The Academy is an idea that is being used in many areas of the country and around the world. There are no “A, B, and C” teams in these Academies, as players stay in pools and can be moved back and forth according to their progress and development throughout the seasonal year. The emphasis is on developing players and FUN! The Academy approach embraces the idea that young players still have a lot of learning and growing to do in the game. The Academy approach also recognizes it is more developmentally appropriate toplace the young players in anenvironment where they receive more training than matches. This approach would allow clubs to keep players in a pool, foster
development over winning and let these young players play freely. Each club’s Developmental Academy would play non-results-oriented competition against other club Academies organized by the various Indiana Youth Soccer travel leagues.

(http://www.soccerindiana.org/UserFiles/file/Vince%20Education/9-10%20travel/Academy%20Rationale%20document.pdf)

Junior Travel (ages 10,11,12,13,14)

Junior Travel is the beginning of a true travel format. In Junior Travel you will play 4 home games and 4 away games. Away games are schedule within 80 miles from the Clubs playing against each other. If the Clubs distance is greater than 80 miles a neutral site will be given. The teams will practice a minimum of twice a week up to three times a week.

Senior Travel (ages 14,15,16,17,18,19)

Senior Travel is a continuance of Junior Travel but at the High School ages. Again you will play 4 home games and 4 away games. Away games are schedule within 80 miles from the Clubs playing against each other. If the Clubs distance is greater than 80 miles a neutral site will be given. The teams will practice a minimum of twice a week up to three times a week.