Carolina Ascent FC is thrilled to host Charlotte Soccer Academy for a special CSA Day at American Legion Memorial Stadium on Saturday, November 8th!
CSA families will have the opportunity to attend at a discounted rate, and select youth players will be randomly chosen to take part in exclusive pregame activities. A select group will have the honor of holding the American Flag and Center Circle Banner during the National Anthem.
The excitement doesn’t stop there! Families who stay until the end of the match will have the chance to take a postgame photo on the pitch—a memory to last a lifetime!
We can’t wait to see you at the stadium for an unforgettable day of soccer, community, and fun!
Carolina Ascent FC vs. Ft. Lauderdale United FC
Saturday, November 8, 7pm
American Legion Memorial Stadium
1281-1238 Armory Drive, Charlotte, 28204
Charlotte Soccer Academy is proud to announce the appointment of Steven James as the club’s new Boys Director of Coaching (DOC) for our Uptown Program.
With multiple years of coaching experience and a proven track record in player development, James brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and passion to the role. He has previously served in leadership and coaching roles at UNC-Greensboro, Catawba College, ODP Regional team and Carolina Core FC NPL staff coach.
“We are thrilled to welcome Steven James to our club,” said Executive Director Brad Wylde. “His experience and dedication to developing players and coaches align perfectly with our mission to foster excellence, character, and growth on and off the field.” As Director of Coaching, Steven will oversee the Uptown youth development pathway, support and mentor the coaching staff, and work closely with families to ensure a positive, competitive, and inclusive soccer environment for all players.
Steven James added, “Starting my new role as Director of Coaching with Charlotte Soccer Academy fills me with a deep sense of excitement and responsibility. This opportunity allows me to bring my experience and passion to a community that values excellence both on and off the field. I’m especially looking forward to collaborating with the coaching staff, supporting player growth at all levels, and helping shape a positive, unified culture throughout the academy”.
Dan Dudley, CSA Uptown Sectional Director
Steven James, CSA Uptown Director of Coaching, Boys and Youth Academy
CSA is excited to offer our second year of Competitive Futsal! We have added options for older player this season!
The CSA Futsal program has been implemented and created as an “add on” program for your player’s development. The programs are set up so they do not interfere with your current club team schedule! Teams will train and participate in league games and at least one tournament.
Teams formed by age and gender based on the results of tryouts.
TRYOUTS ARE MANDATORY! September 7: u9-u12 Tryouts, boys and girls September 14: u13-u19 Tryouts, boys and girls
Futsal is a 5-a-side version of futbol played on a hard flat surface (court) just a bit bigger than a basketball court, with a smaller, low-bounce ball. Futsal was created in Uruguay in the 1930s as a way to play futbol indoors. It spread quickly throughout South America and is widely acknowledged as a key factor in the development of talent there as well as in Spain and Portugal. Players like Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldinho, and Neymar Jr. all played futsal when they were young and recognize its role in their success in futbol.
Futsal is a great sport on its own merit and its popularity is growing in the US and across the world. In the US we now have both a men’s (est. in the early 1980s) and women’s national team (est. 2024) for futsal and we are looking forward to the first ever Futsal Women’s World Cup in 2025!!
Benefits of Futsal
Futsal is widely recognized in the US for its value in technical and tactical development for young soccer players. The parameters of the game (small-sided, low bounce ball, no walls, limitations on GK, 4 second restarts, etc.) help develop certain skills better than other versions of futbol. Here are a few aspects of the soccer game that Futsal is particularly good at developing:
technical ability in tight spaces
1v1 ability (attacking and defending)
movement off the ball to create space and unbalance defenders
quick decision making
precision passing
creative and opportunistic finishing
combination play in tight space
defending in 2s and 3s
GKs reaction speed and ability/comfort with their feet.
FutsAl Technical Training Sessions
Technical Training Sessions For Ages U6-U19 – All Levels of Experience!
Overview of Futsal
Futsal is a 5-a-side version of futbol played on a hard flat surface (court) just a bit bigger than a basketball court, with a smaller, low-bounce ball. Futsal was created in Uruguay in the 1930s as a way to play futbol indoors. It spread quickly throughout South America and is widely acknowledged as a key factor in the development of talent there as well as in Spain and Portugal. Players like Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldinho, and Neymar Jr. all played futsal when they were young and recognize its role in their success in futbol.
Futsal is a great sport on its own merit and its popularity is growing in the US and across the world. In the US we now have both a men’s (est. in the early 1980s) and women’s national team (est. 2024) for futsal and we are looking forward to the first ever Futsal Women’s World Cup in 2025!!
Benefits of Futsal
Futsal is widely recognized in the US for its value in technical and tactical development for young soccer players. The parameters of the game (small-sided, low bounce ball, no walls, limitations on GK, 4 second restarts, etc.) help develop certain skills better than other versions of futbol. Here are a few aspects of the soccer game that Futsal is particularly good at developing:
technical ability in tight spaces
1v1 ability (attacking and defending)
movement off the ball to create space and unbalance defenders
quick decision making
precision passing
creative and opportunistic finishing
combination play in tight space
defending in 2s and 3s
GKs reaction speed and ability/comfort with their feet.
CSA Futsal Technical Training 2025-2026
The CSA Futsal program has been implemented and created into CSA as an “add on” program for your child’s development as a soccer player. The programs are set up to so they don’t interfere with your current club team schedule.
Futsal Technical Training is appropriate for all experience levels for ages u6-u19. Focus is on individual technical development and ball mastery. Perfect for any players who want to want to focus on improving their technical ability through futsal.
Training blocks of 5 sessions per block offered. 5x1h training sessions. $125 per block or $400 for all 4 blocks. Make-up sessions will be available upon request.
Block 1: Sundays from September 21-October 19
Block 2: Sundays from October 26 – November 23
Block 3: February 8 – March 8
Block 4: March 15 – April 9 (no session on April 5)
Players will be separated into smaller groups by ability for some parts of the sessions.
Girls Winter College ID Camp: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Boys College ID Camp: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Charlotte Soccer Academy’s College ID Camps offer players a unique college-prep experience by directly introducing and exposing players to college coaches while also preparing them for their season. The format will allow players to experience the style and procedure of college coaches’ training sessions and the coaches will have an opportunity to work up close with the players to assess their training habits and performance in games. In the afternoon, CSA coaches will oversee full-sided games to allow the college coaches to rotate, observe and evaluate all attendees. The camp will also include a Q&A Session with College Coaches.
CSA College ID Camps are open to any and all interested players. Camp capacity is limited by field/facility space only.
We recommend the following resource for college bound athletes.
Technical Session Rotations with College Coaches (2 x 30 min)
11:00 am-12:00 pm
Small-sided Games with College Coaches (2 x 20 min)
12:00-1:20 pm
Lunch – Players provide their own lunch
1:20-1:45 pm
Q&A with College Coaches
1:45-2:15 pm
Technical Warm-up
2:15-4:15 pm
11 v 11 Games, video services provided by Soccer Reelz
4:15-4:30 pm
Camp Closing
Registration Fee and Policies
Both CSA and non-CSA players are welcome and encouraged to attend. CSA College ID Camps are open to any and all interested players. Camp capacity is limited by field/facility space only. T-shirt provided for all registrants.
$170 Early Registration through Sunday, November 16. $195 beginning Monday, November 17.
Register Early – Space is limited! A waiting list will be made available if the camp reaches capacity prior to the registration close date. Wait-listed players will be considered on a space-available basis after registration closes.
Individual Withdrawal Policy: Cancellations subject to $25 admin fee. No refunds after the registration close date.
Event Cancellation Policy: In the event that the camp is cancelled in advance, registrations will be transferred to the next CSA College ID Camp.
Sessions are intended for players in Grade 9 through 12 and preference will be given to players currently in high school. Current 8th graders interested in attending are asked to register to the 8th grade waiting list and will be added on a space-available basis. There is no fee to join the 8th grade wait list; you will be asked to pay only if accepted. Please complete all forms and continue through the registration process until a confirmation of registration is received. Any 8th graders registering to the full program will be transferred to the wait list.
The list of colleges and universities scheduled to attend will be listed here and updated periodically!
Boys Camp Attendees February 2026
Catawba College (NCAA Div II)
Clemson University (NCAA Div I)
Converse University (NCAA Div II)
Flagler University (NCAA Div II)
Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte (NCAA Div III)
Lenoir-Rhyne University (NCAA Div II)
Lindenwood University (NCAA Div I)
Longwood University (NCAA Div I)
Mars Hill University (NCAA Div II)
Presbyterian College (NCAA Div III)
Roanoke College (NCAA Div III)
University of Chicago (NCAA Div III)
UNC Asheville (NJCAA Div I)
USC Upstate (NCAA Div I)
Virginia Tech (NCAA Div I)
Virginia Wesleyan University (NCAA Div III)
Wofford College (NCAA Div I)
Girls Camp Attendees February 2026
Info Coming Soon!
College Attendance at Previous ID Camps
Boys Camp Attendees February 2025
Barton College (NCAA Div II)
Belmont Abbey College (NCAA Div II)
Carson-Newman University (NCAA Div II)
Clemson University (NCAA Div I)
Converse University (NCAA Div II)
East Tennessee State University (NCAA Div I)
Flagler University (NCAA Div II)
Gardner Webb University (NCAA Div I)
George Washington University (NCAA Div I)
Hampden Sydney College (NCAA Div III)
Johnson & Wales University (NCAA Div III)
University of Lynchburg (NCAA Div III)
Mars Hill University (NCAA Div II)
Pfeiffer University (NCAA Div III)
Sewanee: The University of the South (NCAA Div III)
USC Lancaster (NJCAA Div I)
USC Upstate (NCAA Div I)
Virginia Tech (NCAA Div I)
Virginia Wesleyan University (NCAA Div III)
Winthrop University (NCAA Div I)
Girls Camp Attendees February 2025
Appalachian State University (NCAA Div I)
Auburn University (NCAA Div I)
Belmont Abbey College (NCAA Div II)
Campbell University (NCAA Div I)
Clemson University (NCAA Div I)
College of Charleston (NCAA Div I)
Davidson College (NCAA Div I)
Duke University (NCAA Div I)
East Carolina University (NCAA Div I)
Elon University (NCAA Div I)
Emory and Henry University (NCAA Div II)
Furman University (NCAA Div I)
Greensboro College (NCAA Div III)
High Point University (NCAA Div I)
Gardner-Webb University (NCAA Div I)
Georgia State University (NCAA Div I)
Guilford College (NCAA Div III)
Lander University (NCAA Div II)
Lees-McRae College (NCAA Div II)
Lenoir-Rhyne University (NCAA Div II)
Methodist College (NCAA Div III)
North Carolina State University (NCAA Div I)
UNC Charlotte (NCAA Div I)
UNC Greensboro (NCAA Div I)
University of North Florida (NCAAD Div I)
Pfeiffer University (NCAA Div III)
Presbyterian College (NCAA Div I)
Radford University (NCAA Div I)
Spartanburg Methodist College (NAIA)
University of Tennessee (NCAA Div I)
University of Virginia (NCAA Div I)
Wake Forest University (NCAA Div I)
University of West Georgia (NCAA Div I)
Western Carolina University (NCAA Div I)
Wingate University (NCAA Div II)
Winthrop University (NCAA Div I)
Colleges that attended February 2024 Girls ID Camp Appalachian State University ~ Auburn University ~ Campbell University ~ Charlotte Coastal Carolina University ~ East Carolina University ~ Elon University ~ Furman University Georgia State University ~ Lander University ~ Pfeiffer University Queens University of Charlotte ~ UNC Greensboro ~ USC Lancaster ~ University of Virginia Wofford College ~ Carolina University ~ East Tennessee State University Purdue University ~ University of Georgia ~ Virginia Tech ~ Spartanburg Methodist College Clemson University ~ Lees-McRae College ~ Radford University ~ James Madison University Georgia Southern University ~ Mercer University ~ Wake Forest University ~ Coker College University of Florida ~ Allen University ~ Mississippi State University ~ Western Carolina University University of South Carolina ~ Emory & Henry ~ Guilford College University of Tennessee ~ Brevard College ~ Catawba College
Colleges that attended December 2023 Boys ID Camp
University of Mount Olive ~ Radford University ~ Coker College ~ Clemson University Gardner Webb University ~ Wingate University ~ Coastal Carolina University ~ Charlotte ~ Guilford College ~ East Tennessee State University ~ College of Charleston Johnson & Wales University ~ USC Lancaster ~ Virginia Military Institute ~ Converse University Mars Hill University ~ Lynchburg College ~ Liberty University ~ Barton College Winthrop University ~ Queens University ~ Steven Gerrard Academy ~ University of Alabama Huntsville
Charlotte Soccer Academy Uptown Announces JoHnathan Brabson as New NPL Boys Director of Coaching
Charlotte Soccer Academy Uptown is proud to announce the appointment of Johnathan Brabson as the new Director of Coaching for the Boys NPL (National Premier Leagues) program, effective August 1st.
With an impressive background in high-level player development and team leadership, Brabson brings over 25+ years of coaching experience at the College, and Elite Youth Level including Head Coach at Queens University of Charlotte, Interim Head Coach at Wingate University, Associate Head Coach Winthrop University (17 years), ODP Coach (NC & SC), Region III Staff Coach (2014) and DOC with Discoveries Soccer Club (2017-2019), he’s guided competitive CSA teams in leagues such as Piedmont Conference and E64 and he holds a Premier Diploma License with the United Soccer Coaches.
“We want to thank Catey Stewart for all she has done for our Boys groups and we’re thrilled to bring Johnathan Brabson on board in a greater capacity as we continue to elevate our NPL program,” said Dan Dudley, Uptown Sectional Director. “He has a strong vision for the future of our Boys program and a proven track record of developing players (Boys and Girls) who compete at the highest levels, Collegiately and Youth”
As NPL Boys Director of Coaching, Brabson will be responsible for leading the strategic direction of the 13U-19U Boys NPL teams, mentoring coaching staff, and ensuring a consistent, high-performance development pathway aligned with the club’s values and long-term goals including our 11U & 12U Pre-Elite NPL teams.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to prepare players for the next level, based on what they want. That next level could be ECNL, High School Team, ODP, or College. I am excited to work with this group of coaches and players”, Johnathan Brabson.
Coach Johnathan will be getting around all our teams during pre-season team camp meeting coaches, players and families in person prior to the start of the season.
For more information about Charlotte Soccer Academy Uptown programs, please visit www.charlottesocceracademy.com or contact Dan Dudley, Sectional Director
