GRASSROOTS ACADEMY

Every Grassroots session this season, plus Thursday night footskills, a focused technical session with UEFA A licensed Technical Director Ryan Borcyk. $400 for the year.

Grassroots Academy is our full-season program for players ages 4 to 8. One registration covers every Grassroots session we run this year, and Thursday night footskills, a focused technical session on the ball. It is the same welcoming introduction to soccer, with a lot more of it.

The program is led by Ryan Borcyk, Hilton Heat’s Technical Director, and supported by parent volunteers who coach within the club.


Academy players go further:

  • Season-long development instead of a single five week block
  • More repetition, which is what turns new skills into habits
  • Weekly footskills on top of regular Grassroots sessions
  • Real comfort on the ball that carries into team play

What Makes the Academy Different

  • Every session, all season. One registration covers every Grassroots block we run this year, with no signing up again each time.
  • Thursday night footskills. A focused technical session on what a player can do with the ball at their feet.
  • Coached by Ryan Borcyk, our Technical Director, who holds a UEFA A License.
  • Technique that sticks. How a four year old learns to strike a ball becomes the habit they carry at fourteen.

Grassroots Academy - $400/Season

Grassroots Academy gives your player full access to every Grassroots session offered during the 2026-27 year, plus weekly Thursday night footskills, a focused technical session with Ryan Borcyk (schedule to be announced). For ages 4 to 8.

Register for Grassroots Academy

What to Bring

  • A soccer ball
  • Cleats or sneakers
  • Shin guards
  • A water bottle

Background and Further Reading

Developing soccer skills early helps players feel confident and comfortable on the ball, and that makes playing with and against their peers a lot more enjoyable.

That is not just our opinion. U.S. Soccer builds its standards for young age groups around getting players more touches on the ball and keeping them involved in play. And when researchers ask what keeps kids in a sport, the answer that comes back is enjoyment. Kids who have fun keep playing.

Sources:

U.S. Soccer: How Small-Sided Standards Will Change Youth Soccer

U.S. Soccer: Player Development Initiatives

American Academy of Pediatrics: From Motor Skills to Sports Skills