Academy Sports Club’s U13 football team are celebrating twice as hard this week, as they enjoy their FA cup win for the third year in a row this season, as well as coming top in the league, a superlative achievement for the youngsters.

And while the younger players in the U12 team play in a largely non competitive format, Academy Sports Club’s football players in the U12 age group are also celebrating wins in two one day rallies held at the beginning and the end of the season, taking the top spot in each rally.

Coach Paul Byles, who coached both teams, is extremely pleased with the boys’ performance this season.

“At Academy we teach our young players not only how to improve in their sporting prowess, but also how to develop their leadership skills and commitment,” he explained. “I believe these attributes have been well demonstrated this season and the boys are to be congratulated on their all hard work that has helped them achieve these impressive wins.”

The focus for the U11 and U13 Academy teams now turns to an international competition, as Byles prepares to take both teams to a tournament in Blaine, Minnesota in July.

The USA Cup, touted as America’s greatest youth soccer tournament, takes place from July 15-19, 2014 and features over 500 football teams, with full-length games for teams U11 through to U19s. It’s a five-day tournament with each team guaranteed playing four-games and all teams will advance to playoffs.

Academy Sports Club Head Coach Virgil Seymour said the experience will be immeasurable for the young players.

“We are really excited about our U11 and U13 participation in the USA Cup this year,” he said. “It will be a fierce competition that will require tremendous stamina and technical ability from our boys, but I know they will work hard as a team to ensure they do their best. It will be a fantastic experience for each member of both teams and we anticipate the boys will return to Cayman having grown as a player and as a person because of the experience.”

The club also had other successes with their youth teams as the U17 team won the league and the U23 team was a finalist in the FA cup.