Forward Madison FC Academy

What the club offers

Programming is organized around three broad levels—recreational, competitive, and elite academy play—with Tier 2 academy teams operating under the MLS NEXT umbrella and MLS NEXT standards. That Tier 2 model keeps more play regional than top-tier national travel when possible, trimming time and cost on the road while still offering routes to MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Cup qualification pathways, and strong scout visibility. Players on that tier remain eligible for high school soccer. League competition connects Madison with clubs across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, including regional tournaments that feed toward late-season championship events on the MLS NEXT calendar. Beyond games, players can train with the first team, join mixed-age training blocks, and draw on partnerships that include Eintracht Frankfurt, Amazonas, and Minnesota United as part of the broader development network.

Training rhythm, season shape, and facilities

Training density shifts by phase: about four sessions per week from July through November, roughly two to three per week from November through February, and about four per week from February through June, matching a year-long cycle that typically opens in summer and runs through late June. Exact start dates move each year, so families should confirm the current calendar when they register for identification sessions or roster placement.

Outdoor work is centered on Madison College’s Goodman Sports Complex, with full-size turf fields and lights, and on Breese Stevens Stadium, also full-size turf under lights. Indoor work includes the UW East Madison Hospital site, with a 30-by-20-yard turf area, weight-room and track space, and a basketball court used for futsal. Additional winter partnerships may be added over time.

Development philosophy and individual plans

The mission is to build a diverse, positive, inclusive training environment where young players grow technically and tactically—with emphasis on ball mastery, passing and receiving quality, finishing, and reading space and movement in attack and defense. Staff also stress mental skills, resilience, sportsmanship, leadership on the field, and balance with school and life away from soccer.

Each player works through an individual development plan with the coaching staff. Head coaches meet players at least three times a year to review feedback and targets, sometimes supported by video and performance tools. Training is tailored by position and by physical, technical, mental, and tactical evaluation, with short- and long-term goals revisited on a regular cadence. Conditioning, injury-prevention habits, sports psychology support, recovery, and player self-evaluation are all part of the holistic model staff apply with each roster.

Access, costs, and community role

The organization works to keep playing costs as low as it can and to support access for families across economic backgrounds. A tighter Madison player pool sharpens the training environment, keeps more top players local, makes pathway choices clearer for families, deepens collaboration among clubs, and improves exposure for college and professional scouting.

Contact and registration

Aaron Hohlbein serves as academy director and can be reached at hohlbein@forwardmadisonfc.com. Academy identification sessions and related registration run through Forward Madison’s Sprocket Sports registration for the current academy programs.