Fresh off a convincing display in Las Vegas last October, the AKFC 98 United boys are currently undergoing preparation for a 2009 summer schedule packed full of tournament action.
After returning to their home clubs for winter training, the 98 boys reconvened in November for weekly technical work as a part of the Coerver® AK Center of Excellence, an 18-week advanced youth training and identification program geared towards developing the elite player. Throughout the school, players progressed from foundational training in speed, ball mastery, fast footwork and finishing to more advanced 1v1 and small-group attack sequences. The program wrapped with individual testing , with several AKFC players recording distinguished grades.
With the onset of the summer season in Alaska, AKFC players continue to train with their local clubs, while also attending weekly or bi-weekly training with their travel group. The training is led by Coerver® Coaching AK Assistant Director Troy Letherman and is geared towards preparing the team for their first tournament in June, the inaugural Sounders FC Adidas Cup, which will be hosted at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA, June 26-28.
From there, the AKFC 98 United boys will travel to Camp Brotherhood in Mt. Vernon, WA, for a four-day residential camp under the guidance of Coerver® Coaching NW Director TR Stoneback. Along with daily team-training, individual players will have the opportunity for position-specific functional training, including goalkeeping sessions with Coerver® NW Goalkeeping Director Andy Klubberud.
The final leg of the trip will take place over the weekend of July 4 in Burlington, WA, home of Skagit River Park and the US Club Soccer National Cup VIII, Region G Championships. Here the boys will compete in the U11 Super Group, taking on the best competition the Northwest has to offer.
Following the US Club Regionals, the team will return to Alaska and Coerver® Center of Excellence—Elite training, a new, invitation-only program designed for advanced players aged 11 through 14. Later, AKFC teams will travel to Huntington Beach, CA, over Labor Day to compete in the NHB Cup, and to San Diego for the Thanksgiving Surf Cup.
For more information about Coerver® Soccer Schools and Academies, to include the Coerver® AK Center of Excellence, or for details on AKFC teams and player opportunities, please contact Assistant Director Troy Letherman at 907.982.3459 Contact Troy Letherman or Director TR Stoneback at 206.478.3670 Contact TR Stoneback
