The Portland Thorns Academy is an elite training program for girls and young women U13—U19.

Academy Overview

The Portland Thorns Academy is an elite training program for girls and young women U13—U19.

Our holistic approach to player development and the integration of the Portland Thorns FC is the driving force of our program. The Thorns Academy has direct interaction with the Portland Thorns FC, which includes opportunities to observe first team training, interaction with players, observation and training sessions by first team coaching staff, and tickets to Portland Thorns FC home games.

Integrated into player development is education and implementation in sports nutrition, sports psychology, strength and conditioning, fitness and recovery, and leadership skills.

We pride ourselves on having an elite coaching staff and all of our Head Coaches in the Academy hold a USSF “C” license or higher.

Our goal is for players to reach their peak performance as elite, well-rounded athletes. Our focus will be on giving players the opportunity to earn collegiate scholarships, National Team invites, and developing players to be drafted into the NWSL.

The Program

Portland Thorns Academy Program

Coaching Staff

As an Academy program, we pride ourselves in having one of the highest qualified coaching staffs in the Northwest!

SEVEN USSF “A” licensed coaches
ONE USSF “B” candidate
THREE USSF “C” licensed coaches

Services & Support

Sports Psychology Sessions - Staying Mentally Tough
Strength, Conditioning, and Injury Prevention Program
Sports Nutrition Planning
College Resource and Preparation Program
Social Media Training
Video taping of all League and National Event matches
Athletic Trainer at all Games
Video analysis access
Game film and video review sessions
Individual development plans and evaluations
Providence Play Safe Injury Management enrollment
TeamSnap Premium Access
Coaching Staff will promote players to National Camp Scouts
Coaching Staff will promote players to College Scouts

Portland Thorns FC - First Team - OPPORTUNITIES

Training at Providence Park (home of the Portland Thorns and Portland Timbers professional teams)
Monthly opportunities to interact with Thorns FC players and coaching staff
Tickets to Thorns FC home games for players (when team is playing)
Game day analysis with coach for Thorns FC games
Thorns Academy recognition/introduction at Thorns FC home game
Opportunities to observe First Team training
First Team coaching staff will observe and run training sessions

Training

Training two times a week (July)
Training three times a week (August - June)
Futsal training

The League - 2020-2021 Season

Elite Clubs National League - ECNL

The Thorns Academy will play in the ECNL starting with the 2020/2021 Season.

Teams will play up to 20 games against other teams in the Northwest Conference.

In addition to League Games, teams will participate in select ECNL National Events, based on their age group. The National Events will draw college and national team coaches/scouts, increasing the the opportunities for players to be identified for National Camps as well as College Scholarship offers.