Hi Families,
I wanted to take a moment to announce the complete upcoming LPDA Bolts tryout dates. The LPDA Bolts will play in the New England Premiership (NEP) along with other top clubs throughout New England.
What is the LPDA Bolts?
The Lexington Player Development Academy (LPDA) was established in the fall of 2008 to offer enthusiastic Lexington United Soccer players the opportunity to get top professional training and a high level of team play often associated with ‘club’ teams, but at a reduced cost and without the long commute to practice. After a decade of successfully meeting this mission, and with the club soccer landscape evolving, the LPDA joined in a partnership with the Boston Bolts in the fall of 2018. The Boston Bolts have a long tradition of excellence, with a player development focus, which made it an ideal partner as the LPDA continues to evolve and search for the best development paths for our Lexington players. The LPDA Bolts is available only to a limited number of the most committed and talented soccer players in Lexington. The LPDA Bolts is directed by LUSC Director of Coaching, Brendan Donahue.
GU11-12 LPDA tryout
Tuesday June 4th @ Lincoln Field 2
5:30pm to 7:00pm
*BU11 and BU12 LPDA tryouts Calendar Years 2008, 2009
Thursday June 6th @ Lincoln Field 2
5:30pm to 7:00pm
* There will be both a BU11 and BU12 LPDA Bolts team. A 2009 player is eligible to participate on the 2008 team if the coaches deem that he would be an impact player on the older team.
GU13-14 LPDA tryout
Tuesday June 11th @ Lincoln Field 2
5:30pm to 7:00pm
GU15-16 LPDA tryout
Tuesday June 11th @ Lincoln Field 2
7:00pm to 8:30pm
BU13-14 LPDA tryout
Thursday June 13th @ Lincoln Field 2
5:30pm to 7:00pm
BU15-16 LPDA tryout
Friday June 14th @ Lincoln Field 2
7:00pm to 8:30pm
BU17-18 LPDA tryout
Friday June 14th @ Lincoln Field 2
7:00pm to 8:30pm
There is no pre-registration necessary for the LPDA tryouts. There will be a check in 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled time slot so please arrive early.
LPDA Bolts Coaching
The LPDA is committed to providing the players in the program with top flight coaching from professionally licensed staff. Below is the 2019-20 LPDA Bolts Staff.
GU11-12 (2008, 2009) Miguel Chavez , LUSC Senior Pro Coach, LUSC Skills Academy Staff, NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, Level 4 US Futsal Coach, Former NEFC Coach
GU13-14 (2006, 2007) Miguel Chavez, LUSC Senior Pro Coach, LUSC Skills Academy Staff, NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, Level 4 US Futsal Coach, Former NEFC Coach
GU15-16 (2004, 2005) TBD, LUSC DOC will assist with this team throughout the year.
BU11- (2009) Brendan Donahue, LUSC Director of Coaching, Region 1 Olympic Development Staff, USSF A license, NSCAA Premier Diploma, US Youth Soccer National Youth, Former MYSA ODP Staff, Former DI-III Collegiate Coach (1995-2005),
BU12 (2008) Tom Heimreid, LUSC Assistant Director of Coaching, NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, NSCAA Premier Diploma, UEFA B
BU13-14 (2006, 2007) Tom Heimreid, LUSC Assistant Director of Coaching, NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, NSCAA Premier Diploma, UEFA B
BU15-16 (2004, 2005) Thomas Ballenthin – LUSC Pro Coach, DI Final Four Participant & Big East Champion at Providence College, All-New England & All-State at Lexington HS
BU17-18 (2002, 2003) Renato Capobianco, Regis College Men’s Soccer Coach, Former New England Revolution Assistant Coach, MYSA ODP Staff, Boston Globe HS Coach of the Year 2009, USSF “A” license
What is the LPDA Bolts?
The LPDA Bolts is exactly as the title suggests: a player development academy. The entire focus of the coaching staff will be to train players to play the game of soccer at a high level while promoting development and enjoyment.
LPDA Bolts Team Formation
The LPDA Bolts is a select team. Players will be chosen through an evaluation session and through invitation. Players’ selection will be based on a number of criteria: ability, potential, commitment level, and coachability.
Why the LPDA Bolts?
- To provide elite training under professional supervision for the serious player
- Give players an alternative for continued development beyond travel soccer, while remaining true to the LUSC philosophy
- Provide Lexington families with a local alternative to Premier Soccer Clubs.
- Continue to develop Lexington players within our soccer community
The LPDA Bolts is intended for serious, committed soccer players, and it is expected that LPDA families and players will manage their schedules to ensure their commitment is fulfilled. A U14 and below LPDA players’ schedule will include 5 events per week during the fall and spring seasons (including LUSC events), and 1-2 events per week in the winter. It is expected that LPDA players will attend most, if not all, of those events. The LPDA invitation will provide specifics regarding minimum attendance.
For a more complete overview of the LPDA Bolts program as presently structured, please visit the Lexington United website: https://lexingtonunited.org/
LPDA 2019/2020 Full Roster (U14 and below) Academy Requirement
- One weeknight practice throughout the fall and spring season. Girls will train on Tuesday Night; Boys will train on Thursday Night.
- Wednesday afternoon Functional Technical Training Session (full description below).
- One Sunday afternoon game in the New England Premiership (NEP) during the fall and spring (typically 8 to 10 week season).
- 8 weeks of futsal on Saturday or Sunday afternoons (Feb/Mar).
- 10 winter training sessions (Jan-Mar).
- A Memorial Day weekend or Season Ending tournament.
LPDA Bolts U15-18 Tentative Program
- 8 weeks of futsal on Sunday afternoons (Feb/March-Session 2).
- 10 winter training sessions (January-March).
- Two weekly practices throughout the spring.
- Participation in the NEP (Northeast Premier League), a member of US Club Soccer, on Sunday afternoons Spring 2020.
- A Memorial Day weekend or similar end of season tournament
There is no LUSC Commitment for HS players on the U15 and above LPDA Bolts teams
Wednesday Afternoon Functional Technical Training
Each Wednesday afternoon during the fall and spring seasons (approximately 20 sessions b/n the fall & spring), Lexington United Director of Coaching, Brendan Donahue and LUSC Assistant Director of Coaching Tom Heimreid along with other LPDA Bolts Coaches will conduct a functional technical training/injury prevention training session for 75 minutes. The goal of these sessions will be to help our academy players “prepare for the demands of the game”. These sessions will be highly focused on improving the functional skill level of our academy players. The Wednesday afternoon pool training will be done in a quality controlled environment since it is restricted to just LPDA players. These sessions are a required part of the LPDA Bolts commitment.
Note: LPDA Bolts Players will be excused from their LUSC pro clinic session. By excusing the academy players we remain consistent in keeping academy players to 5 soccer sessions a week.
The LPDA Bolts is a supplement to, not a replacement for, LUSC Travel/In-town Soccer.Academy players are required to play with their travel or in-town team on Saturdays and attend the individual team practice. Lack of commitment to your LUSC team can result in dismissal from the LPDA program.
We look forward to hopefully seeing you at the tryouts in June.
All the Best,
Brendan
