About the Patriots Program

Mission Statement:

Motto:

Interested players should contact General Manager Volkmar Heratsch for information on joining the Academy.

The Patriots' soccer operations are run by Academy Director Festus George and Head Coach Ahmad Saksouk. General Manager Volkmar Heratsch (Red team) and Team Managers Kristin Butterfield (White team) and Laura Lawrence (Blue team) lead the administrative support team. Our fully committed parents contribute a great deal to the success of our team in many other very important ways.

We currently have three teams (Red/White/Blue) that play in the National Capital Soccer League (NCSL) and the Old Dominion Soccer League (ODSL). Competing at this level does require special commitment and dedication both on the part of a player and their family. Our desire is a team of motivated, athletic, skillful players with an outstanding positive team culture, and the area's best trainers, whose sessions are challenging, fun and effective.

We are about training for the long-term. We emphasize technical training over tactics in the early years. Our short-sided teams will combine at U13 to form two full-sided teams. During the next 10 years, players change both physically and mentally. Our goal is to allow them an environment in which they can adapt to each phase of their development. Parents should keep this in mind and not set unreachable expectations for their child in the early years. Sit back and enjoy.

We practice as a team at least 2 times a week. Regular season games are usually held on Sundays across the DC area, but at the younger ages are usually limited to Northern Virginia. The expectation is for all players to attend every game, if possible. These league games are non-results-oriented until U11 so coaches are able to identify windows of opportunity to expand a player's experience on the field.

We generally plan on attending 4 tournaments on average per season. Families should be prepared for the possibility of at least one away (overnight) tournament per season:

Fall Season - Columbus Day Weekend

Fall Post-Season - Pre-Thanksgiving Tournament

Pre-season Spring (usually March)

Post-season Spring - Memorial Day Weekend

We also schedule some special events during the season (i.e., fund raisers or parties to help with team bonding). We often arrange scrimmages or Festivals with other teams as an inexpensive means for trying out our developing skills.

Summer: We plan on taking a break from official team soccer activities from the end of June through July for families to schedule vacations and other summer fun (camps, etc.). Our trainers typically have very fun soccer camps during this time so the boys can keep in touch with the ball while having their summer fun at camp. There may be opportunities for knock-arounds and friendlies if you are in town.

Winter: During the winter, our best technical training occurs. The main focus is on technical training, one on one with the ball. We typically sign up for a local indoor league to keep the game in mind. Weather permitting we practice twice a week, outdoor on a turf field and/or indoor at a local elementary school. We typically take a break during the end of December and pick back up in January.

REQUIRED. We have enough team jobs for everybody to do something. Team jobs will be covered at the first team meeting after tryouts. The team manager leads this effort.

We encourage fundraising and sponsors to help cut the costs of tournaments and training.