About HPSA 

The mission of the Highland Park Soccer Academy (HPSA) is to help youth soccer players within our community develop into superior soccer players while becoming strong leaders.  Our vision is to set the standard of excellence in club soccer by providing professional coaching, tested curriculum, and advanced skills training programs.

We believe sports is one of the greatest training grounds for life. When the intrinsic values of sports are properly modeled and taught, kids will have the groundwork needed to be successful in life. This is why we train the total athlete by incorporating the best skill instruction with character, core values and leadership training. Once they complete our soccer program, we believe the seeds will have been planted and cultivated that develop a well-rounded person.

Community 

What distinguishes HPSA from traditional soccer clubs is that we intentionally recruit players from within the Highland Park School District. HPSA is the only soccer club in North Texas to have this community-driven priority.  In 2004 the Highland Park Soccer Academy was formed at the request of former Highland Park High School varsity soccer coach Beal Pumphrey.  Although the Academy has evolved significantly over the years, its two foundational purposes remain: community and development.

Development

We value the powerful leadership of a coach, and we use our professional coaching staff to develop leadership within our players as well. We believe that a coach’s impact and influence on our players will far transcend the boundaries of “playing soccer.”  HPSA coaches serve as trusted mentors to help navigate players through the land mines of sports and life.

We utilize competition as a valuable tool to teach and motivate players.  At HPSA, competition is not a three-letter word spelled W-I-N.  We are not attracted to the distorted vision that advocates winning at any cost.  We embrace competition in its truest and purest form and teach players to view it as a reflective mirror that reveals the strengths, weaknesses and the true identity of players and teams, and we do this one practice and one game at a time.

Age Groups 

Soccer teams are formed based on the birth year of its players.  For instance, male players born during 2015 are on the 15B team, and females born during 2009 are on the 09G team.  Certain circumstances enable players to “play up” on teams older than themselves, such as a player on 09B playing for the 07B team.  However, players can never play down, or play on teams whose birth year is later than their own.

Academy

From ages 5-8, players are classified as Academy.  At the Academy level, HPSA’s curriculum is designed to be developmentally driven with careful intention taken to create a positive learning environment where players begin by developing confidence, after which skills and ability can be established.  Winning games is a natural progression for teams in the Academy, but not the primary goal.

Pre-Select

Between ages 9-10, players transition to Pre-Select and begin to train more competitively, which includes additional practices and games at more competitive leagues.  Often, these teams will play in two different leagues simultaneously and therefore have 2 or more games per week.

Select

By the time playersare age 11 and until they graduate from high school, players are classified as Select. Often, these teams will play in two different leagues simultaneously and therefore have 2 or more games per week. Our generic fact sheet posted with NTSSA is located here.

Practices

HPSA teams train throughout the entire calendar year, and all team practices and games are mandatory.  Excused absences include family vacation, summer camps, school events, illness, and family or religious conflicts.  Absences must be approved by a coach or team manager.

During the school year, HPSA follows the HPISD school calendar and makes every attempt to adhere to a policy that if students are out of school, practices and games do not take place.  While Academy games and tournaments are intentionally scheduled around the HPISD calendar, some conflicts may occur, particularly around Spring Break.  Select teams should expect exceptions to the HPISD calendar.  Weather often plays a primary factor in these exceptions because when games are canceled due to weather, leagues are forced to reschedule a high number of games during an ongoing season while relying on favorable weather and field availability.

Requirements for practice:

• HPSA practice uniform, including soccer socks and shin guards
• Soccer ball, properly inflated. Ball sizes: U7-U8 Size 3, U9-U12 Size 4, U13-U18 Size 5
• Water

Uniforms

The player’s required uniform includes the following:

• Home (white) and Away (navy) Jerseys,
• Game/practice shorts,
• White and navy socks,
• Practice jerseys,
• Warmups for games during cooler weather.

These are to be purchased at Not Just Soccer (NJS) and while ordering online is available, for first-time purchases, we strongly recommend going into NJS to try on the uniforms and warmups because, we have learned, players may need different sizes for tops and bottoms, especially with the game warmups.

HPSA sends the player’s jersey number in a welcome email.  If a player prefers a specific jersey number, they may request it by asking the coach.  However, jersey numbers 7, 9, 10 and 11 cannot be requested and are assigned by the coach.  Jersey numbers are assigned based on availability in the player’s current team, and in some cases, available numbers in the team one year older, in case they play up for any reason.

Cleats, shin guards and a ball are required for practices and games.

HPSA Cold Weather Uniform Policy

HPSA warm-ups are required as part of the standard kit purchased by all players.  Warmups are purchased at Not Just Soccer and trying them on prior to ordering is encouraged due to sizing.  Long sleeves and tights may be worn, but are not required.  If worn, long sleeves and tights must match the game uniform (Home: White, Away: Navy).

Pricing

A word about Private Skills Training

Private skills training are conducted separately from HPSA.  Arrangements and payments are made with and to the coach and are not included in team player fees. To avoid any conflicts, players should not participate in private training with their own team coach.  Parents agree to release, discharge and/or otherwise indemnify HPSA, its affiliated organizations and sponsors, their employees, associated personnel and volunteers as a result of their player’s participation in the private training.

Private Skills Training does not:

• • Guarantee playing time,
  • Improve chances of team selection,
  • Substitute for or make-up a missed team practice, or
  • Reverse an unexcused absense.

Under 9 & YOUNGER (Academy)