In today’s youth soccer landscape, games dominate the calendar. Tournaments fill weekends, schedules stay packed, and meaningful training time gets squeezed out. The NYW Academy was created to change that, and registration for the 2026 fall program is open now.
Early Bird pricing is available through August 9th, so don’t wait to sign up!
What Is The NYW Academy?
The NYW Academy is a six-session training program built around one goal: developing better players. Led by New York State West Youth Soccer Association (NYSWYSA)’s nationally certified coaching and ODP staff, the program focuses on technical ability, tactical awareness, and building the kind of confidence with the ball that translates directly to better performance on game day.
Originally created for ODP players, The Academy opened its doors in 2015 to all eligible players across the region, no ODP affiliation required. If your child is a serious player who wants to train at a higher level, this program was designed for them.
Who Can Participate?
The Academy is open to boys and girls ages 9U through 14U. Players are evaluated on technical ability and soccer IQ, not age alone. And the program is designed to challenge and develop players at every level within those age groups.
When and Where?
All sessions are held on Sundays across six dates this fall: August 30, September 13, 20, and October 11, 18, and 25. The program is offered at five locations throughout Western New York, each led by a member of NYSWYSA’s ODP coaching staff:
- Buffalo: Ken Dev Soccer Complex, Tonawanda | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Coach: Dave Kreger, NYSWYSA Technical Director
- Elmira: Eldridge Park | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Coach: Zach Sarno, NYW ODP Coaching Staff
- Rochester: Veteran’s Memorial Park (VMP), Penfield (Sept. 20 at Rothfuss Park) | 12:00 – 1:30 PM | Coach: Jim Gentile, NYW ODP Coaching Staff
- Olean: TBA | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Coach: Colton Bly, NYW ODP Coaching Staff
- Syracuse: TBA | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Coach: Darek Panol, NYW ODP Coaching Staff
Registration and Cost
Registration is open now at a standard fee of $250. Register by midnight on Sunday, August 9th to lock in the Early Bird rate of $225 to save $25. Spots are limited and NYSWYSA reserves the right to close registration when capacity at any site is reached, so early registration is strongly encouraged.
Following are a few things to keep in mind about this year’s program:
- There is no required training kit this year. Players may wear whatever training gear they wish.
- All players must register online, as walk-in registrations are no longer accepted.
- Players who register after 5:00 PM on the Friday prior to the start of the program must bring a copy of their registration confirmation to check-in.
Click here to register for The NYW Academy. Any questions? Please contact Dave Kreger at Techdir@nyswysa.org.
Don’t Miss the Early Bird Deadline
The August 9th Early Bird Deadline is just around the corner. Whether your child is a returning Academy participant or stepping in for the first time, this is one of the best player development opportunities in Western New York, and it fills up fast. Register today and give your player the training environment that will elevate their game to the next level this fall.
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