Skills Institute

Skills Institute at Nittany Valley Sports Centre

Fall 2021 Session Information Below!
Registration is Now Open!
Sept 25-November 21st

Skills Institute is where soccer takes center stage. Rooted in child development theory, kids have a blast learning and improving technical and tactical soccer skills. Players will walk away more confident, equipped for their next right step, and ready for life’s challenges on and off the field. Players enjoy 30 minutes of age-appropriate instruction and 20 minutes of small-sided scrimmaging. Classes meet weekly for 50-minutes.

Open Enrollment, Join Anytime!

Danny Orton

DOrton@thecentrepa.com
(814) 689 1802 Ext: 104

  • English FA Prelim Badge
  • US Club/NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma
  • BSc. Honors Degree in Sport and Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, England
  • British National Shield Winner 1996

  • Classes are available for all levels of player.
  • We follow a national curriculum that has seen over 1.2m players go through this and the Lil’ Kickers program.
  • We want to provide a fun and enjoyable learning environment for every player.
  • AGES 5/6, 7/8, 9-12, 13/14.
  • Boys and Girls.
  • 8:1 Player-to-Coach Ratio.
  • Personal feedback and player-centric coaching
  • No club affiliation needed.
  • $17 per class.
  • Players receive a jersey and shorts when registering for their first season.
  • Seasons are typically 10-13 weeks long.
our covid 19 protocols

Educate. Develop. Inspire.

Register Today

We have open enrollment so you can register any time using our convenient, online process.

REGISTER HERE
View Class Schedules

Our convenient class times provide families options to accommodate multiple children and busy schedules. Find a day and time that works for you!

FALL CLASS SCHEDULE
Try A Free Class

Wondering if Skills Institute is the right fit for you? Give us a try! New customers can sign up for a free 50-minute class to experience the program firsthand. We think you’re going to love it!

TRY A FREE TRIAL CLASS

Skills Institute Level Descriptions

Designed to meet the needs of the more beginners and advanced players, Skills Institute classes combine a small child-to-coach ratio with a challenging curriculum to create a rewarding soccer experience that is more clinical in nature. Children in these classes will be introduced to more complex soccer skills and tactics and will be given opportunities to practice these during scrimmages. While the focus of Skills Institute is more clinical, classes are designed to heavily emphasize fun and effort.

The player-to-coach ratio for Level I: 5-6 classes is 8 to 1.

Skills Institute 7-8 Level I classes focus on advanced skill building through age-appropriate drills and small-sided scrimmages while still maintaining a non-competitive atmosphere. The goals of the class are to help players acquire an overall comprehension of the technical and tactical aspects of soccer—developing greater field awareness, stronger decision making skills and quicker reactions—so effective team play becomes second nature. Classes meet weekly for 50 minutes.

The player-to-coach ratio for Level I classes is 8 to 1.

Skills Institute 9-12 Level I classes focus on advanced skill building through age-appropriate drills and small-sided scrimmages while still maintaining a non-competitive atmosphere. The goals of the class are to help players acquire an overall comprehension of the technical and tactical aspects of soccer—developing greater field awareness, stronger decision making skills and quicker reactions—so effective team play becomes second nature. Classes meet weekly for 50 minutes.

The player-to-coach ratio for Level I classes is 8 to 1.

Skills Institute 13/14 Level I classes focus on advanced skill building through age-appropriate drills and small-sided scrimmages while still maintaining a non-competitive atmosphere. The goals of the class are to help players acquire an overall comprehension of the technical and tactical aspects of soccer—developing greater field awareness, stronger decision making skills and quicker reactions—so effective team play becomes second nature. Classes meet weekly for 50 minutes.

The player-to-coach ratio for Level I classes is 8 to 1.

Level 2 Coming Spring 2021

For players that have completed level 1

For players that have completed level 1

Level 2 Coming Spring 2021

Levels 3 Coming Summer 2020

Levels 3 Coming Summer 2020

Levels 3 Coming Summer 2020

Levels 3 Coming Summer 2020

Skills Institute FAQ’s

The program is 100% focused on the development, improvement and enjoyment of the players in it.  We can not get distracted by team-based training which can sometimes place winning ahead of developing better soccer players.  Winning is a part of youth sports (as well as losing) and are not bad things, but inside our program we’re not pressured by league games, league tables or any other factor that can make it difficult to solely focus on every player’s improvement.  Scrimmaging will be competitive and wins will be celebrated – as well as dealing with setbacks.

Originally, our partners in Seattle spent time travelling the world to see how academies were training kids.  One of those partners is a USSF A license coach.  Much of our curriculum comes from that research along with sitting down with other USSF and NSCAA coaches.  Our director has also spent time in Seattle talking about further curriculum developments that are coming the Fall of 2020.  Methodologies and markets are always evolving.

20-25 minutes of high-paced instruction.  Players will go through 3-5 activities/progressions in that time.  The last 20-25 minutes will be scrimmaging where the staff will ask the players to implement ideas from the training session into the game.

Players should wear indoor soccer shoes (no cleats) or plain sneakers.  Players receive a Skills Institute jersey and shorts as part of your first season with us and should wear them for the sessions.  A uniform gives kids a sense of belonging because they look like others on the team.  Shin guards are encouraged as 20-25 minutes of the class is scrimmaging.

No, all registrations are first come, first serve basis.  Players that are currently in a season do receive a priority registration window for the next season.

All SI Coaches are carefully screened to ensure we provide quality, child-centered, high energy instruction.  Each coach goes through a rigorous training process, which includes on-field and curriculum training.  Many of the coaches/instructors are licensed by national soccer organizations or are in the process of adding a coaching license.

Level 1 is the entry to the program.  As players progress through the program the coaching staff will recommend the next class for the player.  Our priority is to make sure that players are in the sweet spot for learning – it’s not to easy and not too difficult.  It must be an appropriate challenge based on the activities and the other players in the group.  Spring 2020 will see all players in level 1 and the Summer will see the introduction of level 2.

Yes, you can register online through DASH any time of the day or night!

Of course!  This could be the extra class added to your schedule to help you (and your team) improve.

Yes! We offer open enrollment, so that you can join anytime and have your class fees prorated.  This means that you pay only for the remaining class and not the full session fee.

The free trial policy is usually limited to one free class per child. However, in special circumstances a SI Coordinator may offer an additional free class to a child, particularly if it’s been a long time since the last free trial class.

No, but we do offer one free trial class to new customers to see if your child enjoys SI experience.
(Players registering for the final class of the session would be registering for one class).

You are allowed to make up 2 classes maximum within the session in which you are enrolled, subject to space availability. We typically offer many other class times, so usually this is not a problem; however we cannot guarantee that space will be available.  We stick to the 8:1 player ratio in our classes.  Please note that you cannot carryover make-up classes into later sessions.

The entire session must be paid in full at the time of registration. However, since we offer open enrollment, we do prorate class fees when joining after the season has started.

Yes, though you will need to register and pay for the additional class sessions separately.  Also note that we follow a specific class curriculum, so your player will be receiving the same information for the second class – not a bad thing, but something to note.

No, in order to maintain class ratios and consistency within the program, we schedule players for specific times and days. When registering, be sure to first determine which day best suits your schedule. Of course there may be an occasion when a make-up class is needed.  In that situation, you can schedule a make-up class for any day in which class space is available. If your schedule changes during the session, and you need to switch days, we will try to accommodate your needs to the best of our ability. However, changes cannot be guaranteed and are based on space availability.