Welcome to the South Jersey Barons & Banshees Youth Academy

Our Mission
To promote the development of youth soccer players through age appropriate technical, tactical, physical and psychological training. 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.
 
Goals and Objectives
The Barons offer an array of player and club development programs to the South Jersey soccer community. 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, foriegn exchange programs).
 
It is the objective of the South Jersey Barons to create the right environment for the elite youth soccer player to reach their own true potential. In order for this to be accomplished, the player must be committed to the same goals as the Barons. In order to reach these goals, the player must be focused on each task.

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!
 
Technical Director
Scott Middlemass is the Technical Director of the South Jersey Barons Youth Academy. Scott played professionally soccer over a 12 year period.
 
Coaching Philosophy’s
Safety - Ensuring that all of our coaching is conducted in a safe and secure environment is our utmost concern.

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 Barons maintain their reputation and also guarantees continuity in our coaching philosophy.

Understanding - All South Jersey Barons’ coaches 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 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.
 

The Youth Academy

The South Jersey Barons Youth Academy is going into it’s 8th year. In 2007/08, we will have 19 teams competing in age groups betweeen U8 - U20. Training is conducted on a year round basis.

Tryouts: Tryouts are announced on our webpage www.sjbarons.com for all age groups, both boys and girls. The tryouts are open to the public.

Where: Our teams currently train at Winslow High School in Winslow Township.

Ages: The Academy fields teams in age groups between U8 - U20 for both boys and girls.

Tuition includes: uniform, bag, tracksuit, training kit, minimum of three tournaments, all league fees, all costs related to training and coaching the teams.
 
South Jersey Barons: The Vision

Technical Department
The technical Department is made up of some of the top collegiate and professional coaches in the region.
 
Ocean City Barons
The Ocean City Barons Men’s Senior Team will play in the in P.D.L of the USL (United Soccer Leagues). The team will be entering into it’s 10th year and is looking to make it a very successful season. The Barons team consists of some of the top professionals and college players in the area. The Barons will play all their home games at Carey Stadium, Ocean City.

USL Super-20 Teams
The U20 Teams compete in the SYL Super-20 League, this league consists of the best U20 teams in the country. The league bridges the gap between Youth Soccer and High level amature soccer such as the PDL and the W-League. The team includes the best High School Seniors, College Freshmen and Sophmores.
 
South Jersey Barons/Banshees Youth Academy
This is our most competitive and highest level of individual development. These players have generally made a higher level of commitment and make up the backbone of our youth teams. The training curriculums are very similar to the Player Development Centers but the intensity of training and the demands on the players are at a significantly higher level. Groups are developed around appropriate competitive levels and movement up and down will depend on the player’s individual performance. These teams will compete in the highest competitive level available with individual development and long-term objectives as the primary concern.

Youth Services
The South Jersey Barons take pride in professional players but the main focus for us is to create professional people. We monitor the players grades as well as help them prepare for college. We lay all of the ground work for the players in their college search. Parents of our players must go through a parent education course before their children can play. In anyway we can we are their to support our players.

Medical Support
The Barons have the top medical doctors in the area from all specialization’s on board with us. Our players will not only have preferential scheduling, appointments and treatment when any injury arises, Pre and Post medical testing will also be done to every youth player. They will be supporting us every step of the way.