

Skills Institute at Nittany Valley Sports Centre
Session Information Below!
Registration for Fall Session will open in August
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!
Steve Greecher
SGreecher@thecentrepa.com
(814) 689 1802 Ext: 105
- 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.
Educate. Develop. Inspire.
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.
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.
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.
