What is Real Arkansas?
Real Arkansas was formed in 2017 as the competitive branch of Maumelle Soccer Club. For the 2018 season, Real Arkansas will also represent the competitive branches of Arkansas Valley Soccer and Conway United Soccer (formerly Arkansas Rush). Real Arkansas is a unique affiliation as Maumelle SC, Arkansas Valley, and Conway United remain independent and local focused organizations with local teams but join together to share resources and playing opportunities to benefit our players.
how does this affect my team?
By combining our resources, we anticipate offering a better experience to every team.
13U to 19U Teams
13U to 19U Teams
- Premier teams will be overseen by Real Arkansas Director of Coaching Alex Burgess. Local teams will be overseen by the local clubs. We understand players come to soccer for a variety of reasons and our new structure has competitive levels for each player.
- Premier level players will be exposed to more college coaches, more player identification events, and more showcase style events at the highest level offered in Arkansas.
- Players and parents searching for an environment to prepare for high school soccer will find more directed training and special functional training sessions to give more in depth training opportunities.
- 15U eighth grade players who have seen their age group split due to the US Soccer mandated “age group shift” to birth year rostering will have opportunities to play locally or play in major Spring Tournaments as an age pure Real Arkansas team to continue finding competitive appropriate playing opportunities.
- Many 11U to 12U players will be largely unaffected by the agreement. All teams will be overseen by the local clubs with guidance from Real Arkansas Director of Coaching Alex Burgess and Real Arkansas Technical Director Paul Kimbrough.
- We look to create high level competitive 9v9 teams at each local club every year. In the event that an appropriate competitive level team is not offered in a location, players may be offered a spot with a developmentally appropriate team in another practice location.
- Player rostering will be organized to give each player the maximum opportunity to develop to the best of his or her abilities. Our agreement allows for fluid player sharing between all Real Arkansas teams. Local club staff will make recommendations for player sharing between teams.
- Competitive Teams will be placed in the appropriate division of Arkansas Premier Clubs, the new US Club Soccer League founded in 2018. Recreational teams will continue to play in the appropriate division of the Central Arkansas Recreational League. All Real Arkansas teams will have access to any US Soccer sanctioned tournament.
- The 10U program is a primary focus area for Real Arkansas with the appointment of Ben Holmes as Club Academy Director. Coach Ben will be responsible for making sure all players are prepared for the appropriate competitive level upon rising to 11U by leading practices and improving coach communication. Coach Ben is also tasked with ensuring Real Arkansas has a complete intra-club Academy League for the Fall of 2018.
- Team formation, local scheduling, and coach selection will remain at the discretion of the local clubs. While there will continue to be opportunities for games against other clubs, the 10U and Academy Programs remain local and player development focused.
- 100% of your registration fee will go to support your local organization and the implementation of the Real Arkansas curriculum will be at the discretion of the local club with input from the Real Arkansas Club Academy Director.
- First Touch, Micro Soccer, and In-House Recreational Programs will continue to be organized through the local clubs. All decisions on coach selection, team formation, and scheduling will be made through each local club. Your experience should be similar or better to what you are currently experiencing.
- The club Technical Staff led by Micro-Soccer Director Sloane Bertke will develop and share curricula and practice plans to each team. While there will be recommended best practices for every team in practices and games, the implementation of those will remain at the discretion of the local club.
- Real Arkansas will host jamboree and mini-tournaments at each location throughout the year that younger teams may opt to attend. 100% of your registration fees will go to support your local organization.
why ARE WE COMING TOGETHER?
Our leadership strongly believes this is what’s best for all our soccer players. We can solve a number of challenges that exist. We can pool our coaching and administrative resources. Ensured in our agreement is transparency in intellectual property between each location. Each member club is able to benefit from our club’s combined 106 years of soccer in Arkansas. We will provide opportunities for all our players unlike any other club in Arkansas.
We were restricted from participation in the US Club Red River Premier League in 2017-18 as separate clubs. Our club leadership has worked to open every available opportunity to our players. Our Premier level teams will be able to participate in this top level of soccer in the Fall of 2018.
We remain excluded from ECNL and Developmental Academy and thus not permitted to have our teams participate at an even higher level. Our agreement targets developing our players to their maximum potential and striving for higher player development pathways.
Most importantly, we have a place for every player, regardless of development level. As a club with over 2,000 members, we become a destination for competitive soccer that will hopefully reduce the cost of travel soccer for everyone. Joining our premier teams will allow greater flexibility for players, coaches and team creation because we’ll have a larger talent pool. Financially, we will be a more attractive club to sponsors and donors. We will be in a position to enhance the player development programs, coaching education, and offer greater value to our club’s families.
We were restricted from participation in the US Club Red River Premier League in 2017-18 as separate clubs. Our club leadership has worked to open every available opportunity to our players. Our Premier level teams will be able to participate in this top level of soccer in the Fall of 2018.
We remain excluded from ECNL and Developmental Academy and thus not permitted to have our teams participate at an even higher level. Our agreement targets developing our players to their maximum potential and striving for higher player development pathways.
Most importantly, we have a place for every player, regardless of development level. As a club with over 2,000 members, we become a destination for competitive soccer that will hopefully reduce the cost of travel soccer for everyone. Joining our premier teams will allow greater flexibility for players, coaches and team creation because we’ll have a larger talent pool. Financially, we will be a more attractive club to sponsors and donors. We will be in a position to enhance the player development programs, coaching education, and offer greater value to our club’s families.
what does the club leadership look like?
- Premier Level Teams will be lead by Real Arkansas Director of Coaching Alex Burgess. Coach Alex is the recipient of the 2018 Arkansas Competitive Coach of the Year and will also continue to serve as Director of Coaching for Maumelle Soccer Club.
- Academy Level Teams will be lead by Real Arkansas Academy Director Ben Holmes. Coach Ben will also serve as Site Manager for Conway United Soccer Association.
- Micro Programming will be lead by Real Arkansas Pre-Academy Director Sloane Bertke. Coach Sloane will continue to serve as Director of Player Development for Arkansas Valley Soccer Association.
- Program Development and Coaching Education will be lead by Real Arkansas Technical Director Paul Kimbrough. Coach Paul will continue to serve as Executive Director for Arkansas Valley Soccer Association and Technical Director of Conway United Soccer Association.
Upper level policy decisions are approved through the Real Arkansas Board, a nine member committee, appointed through the board members of the member clubs.
will it cost more to play soccer?
We do not see this as increasing the cost of soccer. In fact, we anticipate the average family’s total soccer costs will go down. Your cost to participate in soccer is determined by three main components: club fees, team expenses, and travel expenses.
1. Club Fees and Registration Fees
1. Club Fees and Registration Fees
- Club fees cover your local clubs cost to offer you an elite soccer product. Field maintenance, staff salaries, and player insurance are some of the major items paid for by your club fees. Club fees will be the same for all players registering for Real Arkansas through your home club.
- Team fees cover specific team expenses and your net cost will vary based on team schedules. League registration, referee fees, coaching stipends, and tournament entry are some of the major items paid by your team expenses. Team fees will vary based on the specific plan for each team. The club never profits from Team Expenses.
- Travel expenses are never collected by the club and vary based on team plans, league composition, and tournament location. Real Arkansas looks to minimize travel costs for our families through appropriate tournament selection, club travel options, and standardized league scheduling.
will my club fees go to paying other club's liabilities like field costs?
No. All club fees collected will go to supporting only the home club that collects them. Each member club is responsible for managing its own administrative staff and home fields.
How Does This Impact My Team's participation in Leagues, State Cups, and Regional Tournaments?
Real Arkansas competitive teams, Maumelle Soccer Club, and Arkansas Valley Soccer Association are members of the Arkansas Premier Clubs. All competitive teams will have access to National Premier Leagues, Arkansas Premier Clubs League, US Club Soccer State Cups, and US Club Soccer Regional and National Championships.
How Will Tryouts Work?
All players will be evaluated by Club staff with input from coaches. Tryouts will be held at each local club. Players are encouraged to attend multiple sessions in multiple locations if possible.
When are tryouts?
Check club website for specific dates, initial tryouts will be at the end of May and beginning of June:
Will coaches play favorites in team selection?
Primary team recommendations will be made by Real Arkansas Director of Coaching Alex Burgess and Technical Director Paul Kimbrough. All players will be evaluated by club staff as well as coaches in order to protect against any allegations of favoritism.
How Will coaches Be SELECTED?
Real Arkansas Premier Coaches will be assigned by Real Arkansas Director of Coaching Alex Burgess and Real Arkansas Technical Director Paul Kimbrough. Preference for coach assignments will be to existing club coaches.
Local team coaches and local training staffs will be assigned by local club directors.
Local team coaches and local training staffs will be assigned by local club directors.
Will We host tournaments?
Real Arkansas is planning to host several events starting in the 2018-19 season.
- Prestige Friendlies, Maumelle Fall 2018
- Academy Tournament, Conway, Fall 2018
- RussellMANIA, Russellville, Spring 2019
- Pre-Academy Jamborees in each local club, 2018-19
Will We ONLY PLAY OUR OWN TEAMS NOW?
No. All Real Arkansas teams remain members of US Soccer and are able to play teams from any other US Soccer member - as friendlies or in League / Tournament Play. 9U and 10U Academy teams will join the newly created Real Arkansas Academy League.
HOW Will TEAM NAMES BE STRUCTURED?
Each team will be identified with the club name Real Arkansas, their team designation followed by the gender and birth year of the team.
- Real Arkansas Premier - for Real Arkansas club-wide premier teams.
- Real Arkansas Gold - Top Team for local Maumelle or Little Rock teams
- Real Arkansas Black - Second Team for local Maumelle or Little Rock teams
- Real Arkansas Blue - Top Team for local Conway teams
- Real Arkansas White - Second Team for local Conway teams
- Real Arkansas Red - Top Team for local Russellville teams
- Real Arkansas Gray - Second Team for local Russellville teams
DOES THIS MEAN i HAVE TO DRIVE FARTHER TO PLAY SOCCER?
In most cases, no. For most of our members, families will be able to select their home park for all practices and home games. At Real Arkansas staff recommendations, players may travel to other locations to get additional training opportunities.
Premier teams will train together each week through a Club and Coach organized schedule, potentially rotating locations. Other teams will train solely in the home market. Every effort is made to minimize travel while offering an elite player development program.
Premier teams will train together each week through a Club and Coach organized schedule, potentially rotating locations. Other teams will train solely in the home market. Every effort is made to minimize travel while offering an elite player development program.
