202-709-7381
E.L.I.T.E. Soccer & Basketball Academy
P.L.A.Y. Youth Initiative
P.L.A.Y - PREVENTING LIMITED ACCESS FOR YOUTH
Affordable Recreational Development
Every Child Deserves the Opportunity to Play
P.L.A.Y is a community-centered recreational soccer and basketball program designed to provide affordable, positive, and developmental sports opportunities for youth regardless of financial circumstances.
Youth soccer has become a pay-to-play system.
- Travel fees
- Uniforms
- Tournament costs
- Training expenses
For many families, this can total thousands of dollars per child per season.
That means:
Talented kids are being left behind
Families are forced to say “no” to opportunity
Potential is lost—not because of ability, but because of finances
P.L.A.Y.™ (Preventing Limited Access for Youth) is an initiative created to help children participate in sports and developmental opportunities regardless of financial circumstances. Through sponsorships, donations, mentorship, and community partnerships, P.L.A.Y.™ helps remove the financial barriers that prevent many talented youth from accessing training, recreation, travel competition, and positive developmental environments.
The P.L.A.Y.™ Youth Initiative is focused on:
Development over pressure
Participation over exclusion
Confidence over criticism
Opportunity over financial limitation
Mission and Vision
Mission Statement: To prevent financial limitations from restricting youth participation in sports, leadership development, coaching, and life-changing opportunities.
Vision Statement: To create a safe, affordable, and empowering recreational sports environment where young kids and youth can develop:
Confidence
Character
Teamwork
Discipline
Physical wellness
Social connection
Core Programs
1. Phoenix Raising Youth Development™
2. Phoenix Recreation™
3. ESBA Soccer & Basketball (League & Travel)
Phoenix Rising Youth Development - ages 5 -7
A holistic youth development and mentorship program designed to help children develop confidence, leadership, emotional resilience, character, discipline and positive identity through sports, coaching, and leadership building.
For ages 5-7, development is focused on:
Fun
Movement
Confidence
Coordination
Listening
Teamwork and Creativity
At this age, children learn best through play, repetition, encouragement, short activities and positive reinforcement
DEVELOPMENT GOALS ( Ages 5 - 7)
⚽ Soccer
Ball familiarity
Dribbling confidence
Coordination
Basic passing
Spatial awareness
Balance & agility
🏀 Basketball
Ball control
Hand-eye coordination
Footwork
Passing basics
Shooting mechanics
Confidence moving with the ball
🧠 Social-emotional
Listening skills
Emotional regulation
Taking turns
Encouraging teammates
Resilience after mistakes
Positive communication
AGE-APPROPRIATE COACHING
At ESBA, ages 5–7 are not trained like miniature professionals.
They are developed as:
Children first
Athletes second
Because confidence, joy, and development matter more than early pressure.
The Phoenix Raising Youth Development program runs continuously throughout the year in 12-week sessions in the Fall and Spring. Players can select the dates & times that fit into their schedule (as available). Players can either attend individual sessions or sign up for the full 6-week session.
SESSION STRUCTURE (60-Minutes)
1. Welcome & Warm-Up (10 min)
Goal:
Excitement
Movement
Engagement
Mindset
Activities:
Freeze tag
Animal movements
Cone races
Follow-the-leader
Coaching Style:
Energetic
Encouraging
Interactive
2. Ball Mastery & Coordination (15 min)
Soccer
Toe taps
Dribble through cones
Red light / green light
Shark attack dribbling game
Basketball
Stationary dribbles
Dribble races
Bounce & catch
Dribble freeze game
Focus:
Comfort with the ball
Confidence
Coordination
3. Skill Development Stations (15 min)
Soccer Stations
Passing Gates
Kids pass through cone gates.
Shooting Fun
Shoot at mini goals.
Obstacle Dribbling
Dribble around cones and hurdles.
Basketball Stations
Layup Footwork
Basic step progression.
Passing Targets
Chest pass to targets.
Shooting Spots
Close-range form shooting.
4. Small-Sided Games (15 min)
Soccer
3v3
4v4
No goalkeepers initially
Basketball
3v3 half court
Modified rules
Focus on spacing and movement
Purpose:
More touches
More participation
Better decision-making
5. Team Circle & Confidence Close (5 min)
End every session positively.
“What did you improve today?”
“Who encouraged a teammate?”
“What was fun today?”
Finish with:
Team cheer
Positive affirmationSoccer
Phoenix Raising Youth Development
Fall 2026/Spring 2027 FEE Schedule
PHOENIX RECREATION™
Affordable Recreational Development Before Travel Competition
Ages 8 - 11 | Soccer & Basketball
A structured recreational soccer and basketball program designed to provide:
Affordable participation
Skill development
Positive coaching
Recreational competition
Athletic confidence
for youth ages beginning their developmental journey.
SOCCER RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL
The ESBA Phoenix Recreation Program™ for U8–U11 soccer focuses on building confidence, coordination, ball mastery, and a love for the game in a positive and development-centered environment. Players are introduced to age-appropriate technical skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, first touch, spacing, and basic game awareness through fun, engaging activities and small-sided games. The program emphasizes creativity, teamwork, and decision-making while helping young athletes develop discipline, communication skills, resilience, and confidence both on and off the field.
Recreation
The Phoenix Recreation program was designed to allow all boys and girls, regardless of experience, the opportunity to play the game of soccer and basketball. All players involved in the Recreation Level are guaranteed 50% of game play time.
Age and Play Rules
Younger players are permitted to play up, but older players cannot play down.
Tryout Dates
No tryouts required for recreation. Every player who registers will be accepted in the recreation program and will be placed on a team.
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.
(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 Recreation
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.
BASKETBALL RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL
The ESBA Phoenix Recreation Program™ for U8–U11 basketball is designed to help young athletes strengthen fundamental skills while developing character and sportsmanship in a supportive recreational setting. Players learn dribbling, passing, shooting, footwork, defensive positioning, and movement through interactive drills, skill stations, and game-based learning. The program prioritizes development over pressure by creating an encouraging environment where children can improve athletic coordination, build self-esteem, learn teamwork, and develop a strong foundation for future recreational or competitive basketball opportunities.
Empathy. Resilience. Teamwork
E.L.I.T.E. Soccer & Basketball Academy (ESBA)
Two Sports. One Purpose. One Academy
Maryland-Based
Email: [email protected] Phone: 202-709-7381
© Copyright 2026 Buckingham Consulting Group, LLC. All rights reserved.
