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E.L.I.T.E. Soccer & Basketball Academy
Phoenix Rising
Competitive Play for Advanced Players
Phoenix Rising™ is the next step for advanced players who are ready for more challenge than recreation soccer but may not yet be prepared for full ESBA Travel competition.
This program serves as a bridge between recreational play and competitive travel soccer by helping athletes strengthen their technical skills, improve game awareness, build confidence, and prepare for higher-level team expectations.
Phoenix Rising is ideal for motivated players ages U8–U14 who show commitment, potential, coachability, and a desire to grow in a more structured training environment.
Best Fit For Players Who:
Have completed or participated in recreation soccer
Show strong interest in improving
Are ready for more structured training
Need additional development before ESBA Travel
Want to build confidence before competitive tryouts
Demonstrate effort, coachability, and commitment
DEVELOPMENT MODEL
Phoenix Rising™ prepares motivated recreation players for the next level of soccer. Through advanced skill training, game awareness, teamwork, and competitive preparation, players build the confidence and readiness needed before entering ESBA Travel Soccer.
Players receive advanced instruction in:
Technical Skill Development
Dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting, first touch, ball control, shielding, and 1v1 attacking.
Game Awareness
Spacing, movement off the ball, supporting teammates, decision-making, transitions, and understanding team shape.
Competitive Mindset
Effort, discipline, resilience, confidence, coachability, focus, and learning how to compete with purpose.
Team Play
Communication, passing combinations, defending as a unit, attacking with teammates, and understanding roles on the field.
Speed, Agility & Coordination
Age-appropriate footwork, balance, quickness, body control, and athletic movement.
Travel Readiness
Players are introduced to the expectations of competitive soccer, including commitment, attendance, training habits, teamwork, and game preparation.
Phoenix Rising
Phoenix Rising is designed to help players transition from basic recreation soccer into a more competitive development pathway without the immediate pressure of full travel soccer.
Age and Play Rules
Younger players are permitted to play up, but older players cannot play down.
Tryouts
Tryouts are required for Phoenix Rising.
Practice
Practice will take place on Tuesday from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm at
Alice B. McCullough Field or North Laurel Park field 1.
Note: monthly practice schedules will be posted at the beginning of each month
Games
There will be 8 games in the Fall & 8 games in the Spring.
Games are typically played on Sundays and sometimes Saturdays.
Games will be played at either Alice B. McCullough Field or North Laurel Park field 1.
Games will run 30 minutes for U8 - U10 and 40 minutes for U9 - U11
(Games are played in-house against other Phoenix recreation teams or other clubs when feasible).
Gender Rules
There are no coed teams allowed in the Recreation Program.
Uniforms
Jerseys and/or uniforms are available for purchase.
Required Equipment
Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child has the proper size ball, shin guards, soccer cleats and water.
Phoenix Rising
Family Discounts
Families with three (3) or more children participating in Phoenix Raising Youth Development or Phoenix Recreation may qualify for a family rate.
Please contact us PRIOR to making payment for your players’ registration to have your fees discounted.
Requests submitted AFTER payment has been processed will receive the discount as a credit on account to be used for future ESBA program registrations.
Requests must be made prior to the first game of the season. Retroactive discounts will not be provided.
Empathy. Resilience. Teamwork
E.L.I.T.E. Soccer & Basketball Academy (ESBA)
Two Sports. One Purpose. One Academy
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