Roadrunners FC Pre-Academy Program Overview
About
Our Pre-Academy teams are for girls in U13-U14 age groups looking for a competitive travel soccer environment. Our Pre-Academy coaches are professionally licensed, CPR certified, Safe Sport certified, and background checked. The length of commitment is 10 months and the calendar runs from mid-August to early-June. Our Pre-Academy teams train twice a week, play league games on the weekends during the fall and spring seasons, and participate in a fall and a spring tournament.
Training Locations and Home Game Locations:
Leagues
Our Pre-Academy teams are members of the National Capital Soccer League (NCSL). The DeMatha Soccer Academy Technical Staff will place our Pre-Academy teams in leagues and divisions that will provide an appropriate level of competition.
Tournaments and Events
Our Pre-Academy teams will participate in two local tournaments. One fall tournament at the conclusion of the fall competitive season and one spring tournament at the conclusion of the spring season. Teams can play in additional events for an additional cost. Teams may also elect to participate in the Maryland State Cup or Presidents Cup at an additional cost.
10-Month Calendar
Fall: Pre-Season
Mid-August
Player and parent kickoff meeting
2 weekday training sessions
Focus is on developing fitness and individual technical skill and introducing tactical principals
Fall: Competition Season
September, October, November
2 weekday training sessions
League games
Fall Tournament
Focus is on applying technical skills and tactical principals in a game environment
Winter: Developmental Season
Winter: Pre-Season
March
Player and parent kickoff meeting
2 weekday training sessions
Focus is developing fitness and individual technical skill and introducing tactical principals
Spring: Competition Season
Annual Costs
Commitment Fee:
Club Membership Dues:
$550
The club membership dues go towards club administrative staff, technical staff, operations staff, risk management/background screenings, club insurance, equipment purchase and capital improvements, club marketing and communications, and coaching education.
Team Fees:
$1450
The team fees are applied to support the following costs: league fees, tournament fees, coaching fees, field rental fees, lighting costs, indoor facilities rental fee, referees, Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) and United States Soccer Federation (USSF) player registration and rostering
Total Cost:
Payment Plans
Families will have the option to enroll in payment plans. There is an additional 3% initial enrollment fee with every payment plan to cover third-party transaction fees. Player’s commitment fee will be debited on the first Friday in Ju1y. Recurring billing will begin on the second Friday in Aug and will be debited each subsequent month. Payment plans options are outlined below:
Uniforms:
All players are required to purchase a uniform package. Uniform packages run on a two-year cycle. This is an additional cost and is not included in your dues and fees. Moreover, family and players have the option to purchase additional gear through the club store. When a player accepts their roster offer they will be sent a link to our team store where they can customize and purchase their uniforms. Required items are listed below:
Important Club Policies
While we do expect all parents and players to review our complete DMSA handbook, we have highlighted a few policies for you below.
Commitment Policy
When a family accepts an invitation to join a DeMatha Soccer Academy team, they are making a commitment to the DMSA program for the 10-month soccer season. The commitment is for this entire 10 month-year period and not for a specific soccer season (Fall, Spring) or training period (Summer, Winter).
This commitment is important for two reasons. Each year, DMSA incurs expenses and makes resource commitments based on the total number of players who commit to the 10-month soccer year. Financial and resource commitments are made based on the number of families who accept the yearlong program commitment and many expenses are incurred in advance.
Payment Plan Policy
For those families that find it difficult to make one full travel team fee payment in one payment by the commitment date, DMSA offers payment plans. When you accept your player's team placement, you will be asked to either pay the seasonal fee in one full payment, or in installments with a Payment Plan. The Payment Plan divides the fee into 3 or 6, or 10 installments: the commitment fee is due by the initial commitment deadline, the remaining balance of the fee is broken into installments. After your initial payment, your credit card will be automatically charged for the remaining installments.
If you have issues processing your credit card payment, please email [email protected] and we will direct you to our website host’s customer service contact.
Scholarship Policy
DeMatha Soccer Academy (DMSA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community-based soccer organization. The DMSA leadership is committed to making the DMSA experience broadly available to qualified, committed soccer players who wish to participate. The DMSA leadership fundraises and collects donations for our Scholarship Fund, which enables the Scholarship Committee to review applications and grant awards. Because the Scholarship Committee receives many requests and has limited funding available, scholarships are granted to the most qualified applicants based on financial need and the player’s commitment to DMSA.
In order to be considered for financial assistance, players must have accepted their invitation to join the team, paid their bond fee, and enrolled in a payment plan.
Player Fee Refund Policy
The success of our teams is dependent on the players who make up each team - and their commitment to the program. After teams have been formed and player commitments have been signed, DMSA will then proceed on behalf of each team to assign coaches, assign practice fields and times, complete all player registrations, purchase training/medical equipment, as well as complete all state, league, and tournament registrations. Accordingly, we expect that all players and parents will follow through with their commitment to the program by completing all required paperwork and paying all fees in a timely manner.
Consequently, our refund policy regarding our teams is stringent and non-negotiable. After players have committed to the team requests for refunds will be treated as follows:
Any player withdrawal request made after a player has committed to the club for the seasonal year will result in no refund of the player fee.
Player dismissal due to a violation of any of DMSA Expectations and Guidelines or Club Policies as outlined in the Club Handbook will result in no refund of the player fee.
There will be no refunds granted for cancellations due to weather, acts of God, or forfeits.
Player withdrawal due to a certified medical reason will result in a partial credit towards future DMSA player registration fees or camps. A written statement from a non-parent medical professional must be provided.
DMSA will not refund player fees for any other reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pre-Academy soccer?
What is the time commitment?
Our Pre-Academy teams play in 3 seasons per year. The fall season is from mid-August to mid-November. The winter season goes from January through early-March. The spring season is from mid-March to mid-June. Teams typically play 8-10 games per season. Most games are played on Sundays, with some Saturday games. Teams usually play one or more preseason scrimmages and participate in 2 annual tournaments. Teams begin practicing 2-3 weeks before the start of each season. Practices take place twice a week. Pre-Academy players are expected to attend all team practices and games.
How far might we travel?
EDP games for our Pre-Academy age groups will be primarily in the greater Washington, DC metro area. However, on rare occasions some away games could be several hours away. NCSL games will all be in the greater Washington, DC metro area.
How do I determine the right age group for my child?
Will I get to choose my uniform number?
How do I order my uniform?
Do you offer scholarships or financial assistance?
Yes, we do offer financial based support to those in need. Please email [email protected] for additional details and the application.