Youth Academy Update

As we close the chapter on the Fall 2025 season, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on what was truly a milestone year for Chicago House Youth Academy—most notably, the inaugural fall season of our West Program.

From day one, our goal has been simple: deliver on the promises we made to you. From team formation and facilities, to programming and development standards, we are proud to say that we have followed through on what we set out to build. The growth of the club has been driven not by marketing, but by belief—our best recruiters continue to be you, our parents and players, and we are grateful for the trust and support you’ve shown in sharing the Chicago House experience with others.

Coming out of the 2025 tryout cycle, Chicago House fielded 8 teams on the West side and 2 teams on the South side, a significant step forward for the club. One of our earliest priorities was establishing a true home for the West, and Prairie Path Park quickly became that anchor. Hosting all of our home matches—across 5v5, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11—helped create consistency, identity, and a strong sense of community for our players and families.

Fast forward to the winter months, and we took another major step in our development pathway with the creation of the ClubHOUSE. This space represents the foundation of what we are building into a one-of-a-kind facility in the Midwest, designed to support year-round player development and club culture.

A key part of player development is coach development, and we have made a continued commitment to investing in our coaching staff. We actively encourage all coaches—when time allows—to pursue their next coaching license and continue their education. We are incredibly proud to share some recent accomplishments:

• Elton Silva has earned his USSF B License

• Meghan Hanika has earned her USSF D License

• Declan Briggs has earned his USSF D License

This commitment ensures that our players are learning from coaches who are continually growing, evolving, and aligned with best practices in youth development.

Looking ahead to Spring 2026, our focus remains firmly on development across every level of the academy. As part of that vision, we will be introducing Academy-level teams in the following age groups:

• 2009/2010 Boys

• 2013 Boys

• 2014 Girls

These Academy teams will train once per week and compete in the NPL (Schaumburg) during the spring season. All current Chicago House players within these age groups will be provided with the opportunity to participate in the Academy tryout process, while also welcoming players from outside the club into the evaluation pool. This approach allows us to raise the overall training and competitive standard while continuing to prioritize the development of our current players.

In addition, families will see expanded programming opportunities offered year-round—across the fall, winter, spring, and summer seasons—through:

• Our Developmental Program

• The Futsal Academy

• Complete Player Performance (formerly known as HCP)

2026 Goals: Building More Than Just Teams

As we look deeper into 2026, our focus extends beyond the field. Our goals are centered on creating a true club experience that supports players and families in meaningful ways:

• Operate a Chicago House Futsal League for all age groups during Winter 2026/2027, expanding access to the game and reinforcing our commitment to futsal-based development.

• Provide service-hour opportunities for players by working home games for our Men’s and Women’s Senior Teams, reinforcing responsibility, community engagement, and club pride.

• Make the ClubHOUSE a safe, reliable space for players who may need after-school care in the event childcare options change—ensuring Chicago House remains a place families can count on.

• Host team-specific bonding experiences such as team lock-ins, movie nights, and other events at the ClubHOUSE to strengthen relationships and team culture.

We are also excited to introduce the Developmental Program to the South beginning this spring—another important step in aligning both regions under a unified development model.

As we begin planning for Fall 2026/2027, we want to be very clear:
All current members of the Chicago House Youth Academy will not be required to try out for the Fall 2026 season. Simply put—you made a commitment to Chicago House, and we have made a commitment to developing your child.

• Registration for Fall 2026 will open for current Chicago House players in February 2026

• Tryouts for players outside of the club will also begin as early as February 2026

Lastly, we know there is ongoing discussion around the transition from birth year to grade-school-based age groups beginning Fall 2026. Our goal is to avoid breaking up teams whenever possible, allowing players to play up as they are able to compete skill-wise. This will be evaluated on an individual age-group and player basis, always with development as the priority. In some cases, players may be offered the opportunity to train and compete with multiple teams, rather than being limited to just one roster.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s development and for being a part of the Chicago House community. We are proud of how far we’ve come—and even more excited about where we are headed together.

Chicago House Youth Academy