TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

The Jersey Knights offers a number of training opportunities to club members. All players participate in our School of Excellence. Under the direction of Training Director, Pedro Lopes this soccer specific clinic enables our players to continue their soccer development with an emphasis on fundamentals. Included in the School of Excellence is instruction on all technical skills needed to play successfully. In addition, players are exposed to tactical applications, a fitness program, and the psychological aspects of the game. All players participate in our agility and coordination program. Goalkeepers participate in our comprehensive Goalkeeping Program under the direction of Jim Casey, our goalkeeper coach.

The Knights offer a comprehensive college program that assists players and parents with the college process. This daunting task can be overwhelming. Our coaches are successfully networked with the college coaching community and are knowledgeable about this process including organizing resumes, how and when to contact coaches, tournament exposure, the NCAA Clearinghouse, etc. We offer seminars geared for this exact purpose. Our "Coaches Corner" is designed to give  coaches, parents and players the opportunity to share soccer related topics and ideas. 

SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE

The Jersey Knights School of Excellence is a comprehensive fundamentals clinic provided to all teams of the Knights Soccer Club. Its focus is to stress the proper technical and tactical skills for players of all ages. The program is tailored to the level and needs of each team. The program is divided into 3 teaching groups. The Fundamental/Technical Group consists of players ages U9 thru U12. The Developmental/Tactical Group will consist of playersteams U-13 and U14. The Advanced Group will consist of all teams U-15 and older.   Advanced group training normally takes place during the Spring season as the older teams do not play in the fall due to high school soccer commitments. Players U15 and older that wish to participate in the Fall season Training program are welcome and should see the training director to plan their program. The program runs once per week for consecutive weeks during traveling season. All teams will be participating. Every team will be assigned a trainer from our pool of licensed staff. Each trainer will work on the day’s topic. Trainers will follow the designated program set down by our Director of Coaching, Pedro Lopes. This session serves as one of the teams practices during the week.   There are a limited number of openings for players who are not currently on a Knight’s team and wish to continue their soccer development. For more information about the requirements for this contact: Pedro Lopes   Each session also provides an opportunity for goalkeepers to improve their skills. Goalkeeping coach, Jim Casey, directs the Goalkeeping Program and  will be at each School of Excellence to work with all goalies. Younger players who wish to "explore" the possibility of becoming a goalie are encouraged to participate. Goaltenders train separately from their team at least one time per week and should expect to work with the goalkeeper coach for the entire session.    During the School of Excellence developmental teams will cover topics that include: ball skills (Coerver), passing, receiving, shooting, defense,  goaltending skills, as well as agility, speed and coordination work. Our advanced group will be exposed to a curriculum that is designed specifically for them by our training director. These sessions will be more tactical in nature and will be run by our staff trainers (who are college level coaches). The focus will be to prepare our players to play at the highest collegiate level that their natural ability will allow. Technical work will continue to be emphasized as well as individual and team tactics. In addition, all teams will participate in education programs that will help our players and parents to better understand the what is needed to make the proper college choice for them. Our advanced players will be counseled through seminars and individual meetings with our staff of college coaches.     Every School of Excellence session will conclude with a period of free play for all players to explore and try new things in an unrestricted environment. Trainer will supervise and encourage players to experiment and have fun!