OPSC Academy Program Philosophy

“If you are not trying to get better, you cease to be good” FC Nantes Youth Academy.

The Academy program was created to support the development of advanced players with high potential to prepare them to the next level. Our pre-academy program support the development of players that have potential but have not yet acquired all technical or tactical skills to move on to the next level.

Overland Park Soccer Club Academy Primary Soccer Uniform

Teams practice 2-3 times a week and play in highly ranked local and out of state tournaments. All OPSC academy teams are expected to participate in KS State cup competition. Pre-academy teams are expected to compete in Presidents Cup. Academy teams are expected to play in either the Heartland League and/or Midwest Regional League.

Our program is inspired by European training programs and the TIPS: Technique-Intelligence-Personality-Speed (developed by the Dutch Youth Program). OPSC Academy is based on a 3Ts program which emphases Technique, Tactic and Team. Our objectives are to develop players that are comfortable with the ball with or without opponent pressure in a possession style game. However, we develop players that have the confidence of dribbling and encourage player’s creativity and own initiatives. Training sessions are based on small sided games, rondos and possession games.

Program Benefits

All academy teams practice on turf surfaces in order to develop technical and tactical skills at the highest speed.

All academy staff coaches are highly experienced and licensed through National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Goalkeeper licensed staff offers additional GK training.

The program offers mini-CAMPs and training sessions free of charge to the players. These are offered to all academy and pre-academy players. Sessions are run by the academy staff offering a chance for some players to be seen and trained by different coaches than the team they play for.

We are affiliated with English professional team West Ham United and we offer an annual CAMP run by WHU academy staff coaches. Players have an opportunity to be scouted and invited to a National ID CAMP and from there be selected and invited to train with WHU Youth Academy in London.

Expectations from players 

Playing the game of soccer builds many important life skills. We, as coaches and as parents, can help to initiate and to nurture these qualities at a young age. Winning with respect and loosing with dignity, becoming a team player and helping a partner in difficulty, demonstrating a commitment to reach an objective, following the rules and respecting authority (the coaches and referees), showing compassion to teammates and opponents, being punctual, disciplined, dedicated and never giving up are some of the qualities we particularly emphasize.

Program Achievements

OPSC competitive program was created only four years ago but has already made its mark.

Players recruited by Sporting KC juniors:

Joshua Chong former player with OPSC Monaco (coach: Christophe Nicot)
Julian Sanchez former player with OPSC Sevilla (coach: Alexis Consuegra).

Players invited to WHU Youth Academy in London:

Last year, our partner West Ham United identified 12 OPSC players that were invited to the WHU
National Identification CAMP. At the National CAMP over 150 players selected from all over United States followed WHU training sessions under supervision of WHU coaching staff. At the end of the CAMP 24 players were further selected and invited to train for a week with the WHU Youth Academy in London (UK). We are proud that two of the selected players are OPSC.

Jonathan Bass OPSC Real Madrid (coach: Christophe Nicot)
Kevin Grinstead OPSC Monaco (coach: Christophe Nicot)