PRE ACADEMY: Players U7/U8

2025_2026 Season: 2018/2019

Rush Union's Pre-Academy program is a unique opportunity for younger players to advance their soccer skills in a fun, safe, game oriented environment. Our Pre Academy runs in conjunction with our Academy Program and players train twice per week with our professional coaches. The season runs from August through May, with a break during December and January. 

Pre-Academy will help your child improve their motor skills, ball skills and self-confidence using fun-packed, small sided games. This is the ideal way for U7 and U8 players to enhance the progress they are making playing Developmental soccer, and is the natural way for players to begin the transition from our Youth Developmental Program. 

Rush Union is leading the way in Player Development at all ages and our Pre-Academy program based on our unique age appropriate training curriculum that develops players better than anywhere else while allowing them to foster a love for the game. Please note that Pre Academy is a year long program combined of the Fall and Spring Seasons. 

RUSH UNION ACADEMY

Players 9U thru 12U 

2025_2026 Season: 2017 to 2014

Academy level soccer in Georgia is considered to be one step up from recreational level soccer and provides a good introduction to the player and family commitment required by Select soccer.

Our Academy program is designed to develop players (9U-12U) in a more structured and professional environment to give them the technical and tactical skills to prepare them for higher level competitive programs. Our aim is to develop individual players for the long term and not compromise for victories in the short term. For example, some coaches (and a great many parents) encourage younger players to play a long ball game because they are uncomfortable with their players under pressure at their own end of the field. This "long ball" philosophy is counterproductive to long term development. At Rush Union Soccer we allow our players to play from the back in order to keep possession. They will occasionally give up the ball and more goals may be scored on them in the short term, but they will be comfortable with the ball and technically more competent in the long term. Soccer is a game of mistakes, we will allow our players to make them and learn from them. This is a vital part of development.

All players are encouraged to practice at least two nights per week and are offered a third night of speed and agility training. The Academy typically plays matches on Saturdays and some Sundays during each season against Academy teams from other clubs in Metro Atlanta. A balance of home and away matches are played.

Academy coaches specialize in developing the youngest players and sharing their love of the game. All head coaches hold youth coaching licenses and are compensated by Rush Union.

Rush Union Soccer strongly believes that the Academy Program is the best development option for children leaving recreational level programs. The training program is unmatched for preparing the youth player for higher level competitive programs.

Fees for the Academy Program are similar to those for a Select program and they reflect the higher level of commitment, training, and coaching provided to these promising players. The Rush Union fees include registration, coaching fees, athletic training fee, referee fees and field usage. Players must also pay team fees in the spring and fall, which include variable team-specific costs such as tournament fees and travel reimbursements for the coach. Uniform costs are NOT included in fees.

RUSH UNION SELECT

Players 13U thru 19U

2025_2026 Season: 2013 to 2007

The Competitive Program represents the highest level of club soccer available to players in the 13U age group and above.

Rush Union Soccer teams compete in Southeastern Clubs Champions League (SCCL), National Premier League (NPL-Boys) and Developmental Players League (DPL-Girls)

It is the intention at Rush Union Soccer to offer competitive players the opportunity to compete at the highest level possible. We believe in creating an environment that is challenging, both technically and tactically, and that stimulates the players to reach their highest potential and personal goals.