The Southern Soccer Academy Kings program is our men's USL Franchise and competes in the USL Academy as a U20 team and in USL2 as a U23 team, while the SSA Royals is our women's franchise and competes in the USL-W League as a U23 team and the in the USL Academy as a U20 team. The teams sit at the top of SSA's youth development model and provide a pre-professional pathway for male and female players.
The teams play at our multi-million dollar, state of the art home, Marathon Park, complete with two floodlit showcase fields, a 1,000 capacity stand, locker rooms, rehab room, and classroom/offices.
The season goes from May through July for the U23 teams and May through August for the U20 teams.
U20 Academy
The USL Academy League is a great platform for young and talented soccer players to develop their skills and showcase their potential to USL franchises. It provides a structured and competitive environment where players can gain valuable experience, exposure, and opportunities to advance in their soccer careers.
Player Development: The USL Academy League provides a structured and competitive environment for player development. It allows young players to hone their skills, improve their soccer IQ, and gain valuable experience against strong competition.
Exposure to Scouts and Coaches: Playing in the USL Academy League can provide exposure to scouts and coaches from professional clubs, colleges, and national teams. These scouts often attend league matches and tournaments to identify talent.
Pathway to Professional Soccer: For players with aspirations of becoming professional soccer players, the USL Academy League can serve as a stepping stone. The USL has professional teams, and strong performances in the Academy League can lead to opportunities in the USL Championship or other professional leagues.
College Recruitment: Many young soccer players aspire to play college soccer in the United States. The USL Academy League can help players get noticed by college recruiters and potentially secure scholarships to play at the collegiate level.
High-Quality Competition: The league features strong competition, which can help players improve their skills and gain valuable match experience. Playing against talented opponents can be a crucial part of a player's development.
USL-2
Development: Many players use the USL League Two as a platform to develop their skills and gain valuable experience. It provides an opportunity to compete at a high level while also receiving coaching and exposure to scouts and coaches from higher-tier leagues.
College Pathway: For many college soccer players, the USL League Two offers a competitive summer league where they can continue playing and improving during the offseason. It can also be a pathway to catch the attention of professional clubs if they hope to play at a higher level after college.
Exposure: Playing in the USL League Two can provide exposure to professional and college scouts. It offers a platform for talented players to showcase their abilities and potentially earn opportunities to play at higher levels, such as the USL Championship or Major League Soccer (MLS).
Stay Active: Some players, particularly those who are not currently part of professional teams, use the USL League Two as a way to stay active and competitive during the offseason or while looking for more permanent playing opportunities.
Geographic Considerations: USL League Two is a nationwide league with teams in various regions of the United States. Players may choose to play in the league due to its proximity to their homes or colleges, making it a convenient option.
Networking: Playing in the USL League Two can provide players with the chance to build relationships with coaches, scouts, and fellow players, which can be valuable for future opportunities and connections within the soccer community.
Pursuit of a Dream: Some players have aspirations of playing professional soccer and see the USL League Two as a stepping stone towards achieving their dreams.
Competitive Challenge: The USL League Two features a high level of competition, and players who enjoy the challenge of playing against other talented individuals may choose to participate for the competitive experience.
USL-W
Development and Exposure: The USL W League provides a platform for young and aspiring soccer players to develop their skills and gain exposure. It offers a competitive environment where players can hone their talents and showcase their abilities in front of scouts, coaches, and potentially earn opportunities to advance to higher levels of professional soccer.
College Pathway: Many players in the USL W League are college athletes who use the league as a way to stay in shape and continue playing competitive soccer during the summer months. It can also serve as a bridge between high school and college soccer, allowing players to compete at a high level before entering their collegiate programs.
Professional Aspirations: Some players aim to use the USL W League as a stepping stone to a professional soccer career. By performing well in the league, players can attract the attention of professional clubs and potentially secure contracts in more established women's soccer leagues, both in the United States and abroad.
Local Community Engagement: The USL W League often features teams in various regions across the United States, giving players the opportunity to represent and engage with their local communities. This can be a motivating factor for players who want to play for a team in their hometown or in a city they have a connection to.
Competitive Challenge: The USL W League features a high level of competition, which can be appealing to players who seek to test themselves against talented opponents. Competing in a strong league can help players grow and improve their skills.
Personal Development: Participation in the USL W League can contribute to a player's personal growth, fostering qualities like discipline, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. It can also provide valuable experiences and friendships.
Flexibility: The USL W League typically runs during the summer, allowing players to balance their participation with other commitments, such as college or work, and providing an opportunity to continue playing soccer during the off-season of other leagues.
Youth
2024 SCCL Summer League
SSA Kings and Royals will be fielding SCCL Summer teams competing in the competitive SCCL Summer League.
The focus of this league is to provide an affordable, elite-level, summer practice and game environment. SSA will be entering two teams in each age group for each gender alongside the current USL2 and USL-Academy Men's programs and the USL-W Women's program. Games will be scheduled in the months of June and July.
Playing Formats and Eligible Age Groups:
2014s: 9v9
2013s: 9v9
2012s: 11v11
2011s: 11v11
2010s: 11v11
2009s: 11v11
20008/7/06s: 11v11
*Rosters have a maximum pool of 26 players; 18 players maximum for each game day roster
Registration Fees: $510
Practice Schedule: 1 practice per week, plus a week-long camp at Marathon Park
Uniform Details: Registration fee includes 2 Full SSA Kits
Simon Davey - Executive Director/General Manager
sdavey@ssaelite.com - 678 876 9261
Simon has been with SSA since 2012. Born in Swansea, Wales he enjoyed a long playing and coaching career in the UK, including playing experience with Swansea City, Carlisle United and Preston North End. After finishing his playing career, Simon took on a variety of professional coaching roles, including coaching Barnsley FC in the English Championship League to whom he took to the F.A Cup semi-finals while beating Liverpool and Chelsea on the way. Simon also holds a UEFA 'Pro' License.
Simon has also been a guest speaker at the NSCAA national convention, Director of Coaching at the Disney Soccer Academy and a coach on the GA Olympic Development Program. In april 2019, he was elected to the board of US Club Soccer, a national association member of US Soccer,
Garreth Barker - USL Technical Director
gbarker@ssaelite.com - 657 269 7710
Garreth has spent over 23 years working in professional football in England. Prior to joining SSA in February 2021 Garreth was at the helm for five years of a large professional football club as Academy Director and U18s coach at Rotherham United Football Club in the English Championship and League 1. Prior to this appointment Garreth held the the position of Academy Coach working as an Asst. with the EDS Premiere League U21s squad at Bolton Wanderers Football Club in the Premier League.
His previous position to this was a four year tenure as Academy Director and U18s coach at Blackpool Football Club in the Premier League, English Championship and League One. Garreth held positions prior to this as Academy Director / U18s coach and Center of Excellence Manager at Morecambe Football Club and Preston North End FC respectively. Garreth has recently been elected to the National US Technical Committee for the USL and will be helping to steer technical policy in the coming months and years. He holds a UEFA Pro Coaching License , Football Association Academy Managers License , Football Association Advanced Youth Award and the League Managers Association Diploma in Football Management.
Jack Coulton - SSA Kings & Royals Youth Program Director
jackcoulton@ssaelite.com - 770-548-5862
Jack Coulton joins the front office staff at SSA Kings as Men's USL-Academy U20 Head Coach and Youth Academy Director. Jack had previous experience in the USL W League & USL2 respectively.
A native of Coventry, England, Coulton has extensive experience at the youth, collegiate and professional levels, most recently serving as the Head Coach of USL W League Royals franchise. He also held assistant coaching and lead recruiting positions in the Men's USL2 program in addition to acting as the Senior Academy Director of SSA Youth branch.
He played collegiately at Reinhardt University, earning a degree in sports studies followed by a Master of Science on Sports Management at Georgia State University.
Marathon Park
3598 Marathon Cir, Austell, GA 30106
Why the USL Academy U-20 League?
The USL Academy League is a great platform for young and talented soccer players to develop their skills and showcase their potential to USL franchises. It provides a structured and competitive environment where players can gain valuable experience, exposure, and opportunities to advance in their soccer careers.
Player Development: The USL Academy League provides a structured and competitive environment for player development. It allows young players to hone their skills, improve their soccer IQ, and gain valuable experience against strong competition.
Exposure to Scouts and Coaches: Playing in the USL Academy League can provide exposure to scouts and coaches from professional clubs, colleges, and national teams. These scouts often attend league matches and tournaments to identify talent.
Pathway to Professional Soccer: For players with aspirations of becoming professional soccer players, the USL Academy League can serve as a stepping stone. The USL has professional teams, and strong performances in the Academy League can lead to opportunities in the USL Championship or other professional leagues.
College Recruitment: Many young soccer players aspire to play college soccer in the United States. The USL Academy League can help players get noticed by college recruiters and potentially secure scholarships to play at the collegiate level.
High-Quality Competition: The league features strong competition, which can help players improve their skills and gain valuable match experience. Playing against talented opponents can be a crucial part of a player's development.
BIRTH YEARS, OTHER DETAILS
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BIRTH YEARS, OTHER DETAILS
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BIRTH YEARS, OTHER DETAILS
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