Built Differently.
Trained Like Saints.
An elite, invitation-only program in partnership with Southampton FC. Small rosters, four nights a week, tournament-only play. No league grind. No mega-club stacking. Real attention. Real development.
Until the 2026 season begins Rosters are being built. Inquiries are welcome — invitations extended on a rolling basis.
Established 2017
The SIA Model
The Anti-Club.
By Design.
Most "elite" youth soccer is a numbers game. Mega-clubs stack rosters, juggle teams, and let development happen by accident. Saints International Academy was built to be the opposite.
More players. Less attention.
- 60+ player rosters split across stacked teams
- League grind that prioritizes results over development
- Bench time for anyone not in the "A pool"
- Coaches juggling three or four teams at once
- Pay-to-play volume, regardless of fit
Small rosters. Maximum development.
- Small, hand-selected rosters — every player matters
- Tournament-only play — intensity, not volume
- Real reps for every player, every session
- Coaches focused on you — not four other teams
- Invitation-only — fit matters more than fees
We don't stack rosters. We build players.
The Southampton
methodology. In Columbus.
SIA is built in direct partnership with Southampton FC — an English football club globally renowned for its youth development pipeline, with decades of Premier League heritage and a long track record of producing players for the top flight. Now in its ninth year, that partnership shapes how we train, how we evaluate, and how we develop players right here in Ohio.
— 01
Methodology
Training framework grounded in Southampton's player-first development model. Skill, decision-making, and game intelligence — not just running drills.
— 02
Standards
Selection, evaluation, and coaching benchmarks held to a professional academy standard. SIA players are measured against a real bar — not a club average.
— 03
Pathway
A real development arc — from the SIA roster, through high-level tournament play, with the eyes of a top English club on what comes next.
What an SIA Year
actually looks like.
No league grind. No filler sessions. SIA is a 12-month commitment built around four high-intensity training nights per week and tournament-only competitive play.
4×
Nights per Week
12
Month Program
0
League Games
∞
SoccerBot360 Access
Four Training Nights per Week
A real development schedule — not a token "elite" practice tacked onto a club season. Players train four nights a week, every week, with structured, periodized sessions designed around the Southampton FC methodology.
Year-round consistencyTournament-Only Play
No league schedule. No bad-weather Saturday slogs. SIA players compete in high-level tournaments only — the kind of environments where development actually shows up, against the kind of competition that pushes it forward.
Quality over volumeSoccerBot360 + Tech-Fusion
Full access to SoccerBot360 — SFA's exclusive, state-of-the-art training technology — plus Tech-Fusion sessions combining SoccerBot360 and Speed Court. Tools no other Columbus academy has, used as part of the weekly program.
Exclusive to SFASmall Roster. Real Reps.
Rosters are intentionally kept small. Every player gets meaningful coaching attention, meaningful training reps, and meaningful tournament minutes. No benches stacked with paying customers.
Invitation-only
The Same Tech
Pro Clubs Use.
SFA is the only facility in Columbus with SoccerBot360 — the 360° AI-powered training arena used by Premier League and Bundesliga academies. Sharper touch. Faster decisions. Real measurable progress.
SoccerBot360 in the U.S.
1/3
facilities nationwide.
One is here.
SIA Isn't For
Everyone.
We're honest about that. The 4-nights-a-week, tournament-only, full-year commitment is real. It's not a fit for every player — and it shouldn't be. Here's who thrives at SIA.
Players who are all-in.
- Soccer is the primary sport — not one of three or four
- Self-motivated — wants to train, not just be made to
- Already playing at a competitive level with room to grow
- Family is ready for a real time commitment — four nights every week
- Open to tournament-only play over a league grind
- Wants coaching that pushes them — not just praise
Players who are still exploring.
- Splitting time across multiple competitive sports
- Looking for casual, lower-volume training
- Want a league-game schedule with regular weekend matches
- Newer to competitive soccer — still building fundamentals
- Need a more flexible weekly schedule
- Prefer team-based experience over individual development focus
If your player sees themselves on the left — let's talk.
If they're better suited to the right, our Weekly Academy is the right fit.
How an Invitation
actually happens.
SIA isn't a tryout. We don't run open sessions with 80 kids and a clipboard. The path to a roster spot is a conversation, an evaluation, and — if it's the right fit — an invitation.
Step One
Inquiry
You share your player's age, current club, and where they are in their development. We respond within 48 hours.
Step Two
Conversation
A direct call — usually 20 minutes. You ask the hard questions. We share what SIA actually looks like, and whether it's a fit.
Step Three
Evaluation
If the conversation goes well, your player is invited in for a closed, no-pressure evaluation session at SFA. Coaches observe, then debrief with you.
Step Four
Invitation
If your player is the right fit, an invitation is extended. From there, you decide. No high-pressure deadlines. No sales calls.
Inquiries are rolling — invitations extend until rosters fill
There's no application deadline. Each age group has a small, set number of spots — and once it's full, it's full. Inquiring sooner gives your player the best chance of being evaluated while a roster is still open.
Honest Answers.
No Sales Pitch.
The questions parents ask most often before inquiring. If yours isn't here, just ask.
01 What age groups does SIA serve?
SIA serves competitive youth players, with rosters built by age group. Specific age tiers for the 2026 season are confirmed during the inquiry conversation, since roster composition depends on the strength and fit of each year's invited group.
If your player is U10 or above and serious about development, it's worth inquiring regardless.
02 How much does SIA cost?
SIA tuition is discussed directly with families during the inquiry conversation — not published publicly. Two reasons: the program is invitation-only, and we want to be sure the structure is the right fit before any conversation about cost.
What we can say: SIA is a real, year-round commitment, and tuition reflects that. It's not a fit for families looking for a budget option, and it's not priced like a mega-club's marquee team. Worth the conversation.
03 Can my player still play for their current club?
This is a real conversation worth having. SIA is a four-nights-a-week commitment, and most families find that combining it with a full club season creates burnout and schedule conflicts. Some players run both for a transition season; many move to SIA full-time.
We've helped families navigate this before. Bring it up in the inquiry call — we'll talk through what works.
04 What does "tournament-only play" mean for our family?
No fall/spring league schedule. No weekly weekend games. Instead, SIA players compete in high-level tournaments selected to push their development — regional events, select national-level tournaments, and showcase events.
Tournament schedules are shared with families in advance so travel and time-off can be planned ahead. Travel costs (when applicable) are separate from tuition.
05 What does the Southampton FC partnership actually deliver?
Three things. Methodology — the training framework and curriculum is grounded in Southampton's player-first development model. Standards — our selection, evaluation, and coaching benchmarks are held to a professional academy standard, not a club average. Pathway — players develop with an eye toward what comes next, with the credibility of a top English club behind the program.
What it's not: a guaranteed trial in England, a signing pathway, or a marketing badge. It's a development partnership — and it's been live since 2017.
06 Is there a tryout? Do I pay to be evaluated?
There's no open tryout. Evaluations are by invitation only, after an initial inquiry and conversation. You don't pay to be evaluated.
If we don't think the fit is right based on the initial conversation, we'll tell you — and likely point you toward our Weekly Academy program instead. We'd rather have an honest "not now" than waste anyone's time.
07 What if we want to leave mid-season?
SIA is a 12-month program with a real commitment, and tuition reflects that. Specific withdrawal terms are spelled out in the program agreement at the invitation stage — before any decision is made.
If something genuinely changes — injury, relocation, family circumstances — we'll have a real conversation about it. We're not in the business of holding families hostage.
08 We're not sure if my player is "elite enough." Should we still inquire?
Yes. The inquiry costs nothing and takes ten minutes. We've seen plenty of players come in under the radar and earn an invitation, and we've also had conversations where we recommend a different SFA program for now and circle back next season.
You don't need to self-disqualify. Inquire and let the conversation happen.
Grind Now.
Shine Later.
The 2026 season begins July 1. Invitations are extended on a rolling basis until rosters are full. If your player is the right fit — start the conversation.
Begins July 1, 2026
12-month program · 4 nights / week
Soccer Field Academy
2901 E. 4th Ave, Columbus, OH