About Us
South Jersey Elite Barons (SJEB) Soccer Academy is a premier soccer academy catering to the U8-U20 age groups. SJEB are committed to providing a comprehensive and progressive developmental training program for the serious soccer athlete. Our goal is to create a professional training environment that will allow for all players and teams to reach their highest potential. It is essential that all our members have respect for the game, their teammates, coaches and opponents. We are committed to providing highly qualified and motivated staff members that will work diligently at teaching the game at all levels.
Goals and Objectives
Our training objective is to promote the development of youth soccer players through age appropriate technical, tactical, physical and psychological training methods. To build a reputation for developing well rounded players using a positive environment focusing on improving ability, drive, responsibility, dedication, discipline, and commitment. To become the best developmental program in the region.
The SJEB offer an array of player and club development programs to all levels of players. Consistent developmental programs, appropriate age specific implementation of the four pillars of soccer (technical, tactical, physical and psychological), competitive training and playing environment at all ages, identification and nurturing of players with exceptional ability, elimination of parental and coaching agendas from developmental process, application of appropriate year round programs, encourage players to challenge themselves by playing up or participating in higher level activities (regional or national pools, foreign exchange programs).
It is the objective of the South Jersey Elite Barons to create the right environment for the elite youth soccer player to reach their own true potential. Our staff understands the importance of providing a solid foundation for the young players. The future development and success of a young player depends on receiving correct and relevant information at an early age. We have designed a curriculum that emphasizes age-specific technical skills combined with teaching them how to make tactical decisions on the field.
To range our success, we have approached our teams with long term goals. Our most important goal is to develop the player and not use the quick fix route that uses winning as its only measurement. Our program as it progresses out of infancy has been influenced and adapted from several of the best youth systems in the world. In essence, we have taken the best aspects domestically and abroad and have tailored it to the needs of the American youth player. In short, it is our goal to develop and attract the best players in South Jersey and put them in the most demanding/competitive environment.
An environment of this magnitude will allow players to perform outside their comfort zone, which will increase their learning curve. Have you ever heard the sayings, "Practice makes perfect" or "Practice does not make perfect it makes permanent?" Well we not only think that perfect practice makes for perfect performance, but quality practice maximizes potential. This is why we wish to increase the number of times a player practices in a quality environment. It is important that we give our youth every opportunity to realize their potential!
Team Focus
U8-U10 teams - will be focusing strictly on technique and fundamentals. At this age, it is imperative that all the players become extremely comfortable with the ball at their feet and develop a foundation of tactical awareness.
U11-U13 teams - will make the transition from developmental level to the academy level. The level of commitment and expectations will increase because this age group will begin to start competing against top teams in the region through games and tournaments. The training sessions will consist of technical and tactical sessions which will enhance their knowledge of the game.
U14-U20 teams - will focus on high level training and competition, preparing them for high school and college recruitment. This is a very important time for players to be a part of a premier team that will be able to qualify and compete in reputable college showcase tournaments and regional select leagues. We are making a strong commitment to place student-athletes in top college programs and beyond. This is the time when players start to take the game more seriously and need to be in the best training environment possible.
Coaching Philosophy
Quality - Setting and maintaining professional standards is vital to safe and structured coaching. All of our coaches are therefore personally interviewed and practically assessed by our directors prior to being employed. This ensures that the South Jersey Elite Barons maintain their reputation and also guarantees continuity in our coaching philosophy.
Understanding - Our coaching staff have coached and played at all levels. Their experience in educating soccer players from 4 years old, children playing for fun, through to the dedicated professionals in Europe, results in an understanding of the problems that players encounter. As a result, the solutions we encourage players to think of are practically based.
Success - Whatever level of ability the soccer player possesses, the South Jersey Elite Barons ensure that progress is achieved through positive reinforcement. Therefore, all of the players that we coach experience success, which subsequently produces confidence in their own ability.
Action - Players thrive on as much contact with the ball as possible. For this reason we initiate the session with minimal dialogue and maximum active participation.
Safety - Ensuring that all of our coaching is conducted in a safe and secure environment is our utmost concern.