Marquette Soccer Academy
CLUB HISTORY
Formed in 2002, Marquette Soccer Academy provides elite level coaching for players in both Marquette and throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Based in Marquette and training at the Kaufman Sports Complex, we offer camps, development programs, competitive soccer, select teams as well as opportunities to play and develop abroad.
Norman Power, Marquette Soccer Academy and Power Soccer School Director, started humbly with one team and ran camps throughout the UP. The creation of the UPFA league allowed for UP league play and more local competition. The UPFA United concept allows the best players in clubs from around the UP to play in the highest level tournaments and train with the best UP players and coaches.
Club Philosophy
Our youth soccer program is dedicated to helping players reach their maximum potential both on and off the field. We want our players to do the best they can in life as well as in soccer. We recognize that the most important aspect of youth sports is the opportunity to teach important life-lessons to impressionable children. All players have the opportunity to benefit from the values taught through teamwork, effort, responsibility, and commitment. MSA understands that children learn from and are influenced by the adults involved in our organization. Accordingly we demand the highest standard of behavior from everyone involved within our organization.
We are a program focused on development rather than results. At the U10 (7v7) group equal playing time will be given to each player in line with optimal player development models from scientific research. As the players progress to U11-U12 (9v9) game time is still spread out, however the aim is to be more competative at this age. The focus is still on development, but we encourage players to have the desire to compete. We as coaches still focus on developing a style of play that players can be successful with moving forward. Winning tournaments can be great experiences and develop wonderful memories, but we think it is important not to lose sight of the fact that sports should be fun, especially at the ages mentioned. As the players get older and reach U13+ (11v11), our emphasis is still on development. Players are training with the aim of competing and developing more advanced tactical concepts. At U16+ is the only time we base winning as a reflection of performance as we prepare players for college and beyond.
Competitions we enter will be as challenging for the players as possible. We encourage challenging situations to force mistakes as that is how players learn and improve.
We promote sportsmanship, responsibility, accountability and fun!
