The Indiana Soccer Academy was founded in 2003 with the idea of providing Indiana youth soccer players with the opportunity to improve their skills to the maximum of their potential. Carlos Zavaleta, Director of the Academy, decided to build a facility that would allow players of all ages and levels around Indiana to receive professional quality instruction to augment their training needs in their quest to become the best players possible. After meeting with community business leaders and soccer experts, he realized that they all shared the same idea of building a quality soccer academy. This facility would be an all-year-round training place located in the north side of Indianapolis for players of all ages, where the academy would put together the best instructors available and in the best facility available. This dream is now a reality, and Carlos and his staff providing training to children in the area that are looking to move to the next level in the game of soccer.
Mission - "The mission of the Academy is to maximize the potential of a player to achieve the highest technical, tactical and functional skills. This will be achieved through a training program to be executed by the most qualified training professionals available who can help players achieve these goals while also helping in developing the individual through good ethics, perseverance and sportsmanship"
Vision ? ISA was founded to create and environment where kids of all ages can learn the fundamental tactical and technical skills of the game necessary to elevate them to a higher level. Most players don?t receive or receive very little proper instruction on the fundamental skills of the game of soccer from their teams alone.
Concept and Philosophy - Players can enjoy the experience through fun lessons taught by a reputable, capable and experienced staff while learning soccer skills through proven methods.
Slogan - Reach a higher level of soccer through learning methods while having fun and playing.
Carlos Zavaleta is a former professional soccer player who was selected to the U-20 National Team to be the starting sweeper of his native country of El Salvador at age 15. He signed to play 2nd division soccer at age 14 and, after the playing for the U-20 National Team , signed to be a starting defender for the First Division Club Excelsior in the professional rankings of El Salvador at age 16 where he shined as the eventual starting sweeper and captain for that club from ages 16 through 18.
He also excelled as the head coach of his Catholic High school of San Jose where he took his team to the championship game in the region while attending school there. He was also selected to play for the National Team at age 18.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1973, he landed a scholarship at top-ranking UCLA where he was an All-Star player and captained his team to the regional playoffs for 3 straight years.
He played professional ball in the American Soccer League for several years in Los Angeles after leaving UCLA. He led the California Sunshine to the Championship game and earned an All-Star status in the league.
Carlos also played with the Phoenix Inferno of the Major Indoor Soccer League where they lost in the playoffs to the eventual champions New York Arrows.
His coaching experience extends for a period of over 30 years. He has coached High School in AZ and served as head coach for the Men's program at Cal State University in Northridge, CA.
He acquired his USSF National Coaching B License in 1980 and has been a very successful youth coach in AZ and IN, serving as the U-16 Boys coach for the AZ Olympic Development Program for a couple of years.
Some of his players have achieved professional status with a couple of them selected for the Men's US National Team and Men's National Futsal Team.
The most recent US National Team player from among his pupils is Greg Vanney, who was selected to play in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan but was unable to attend due to injuries. Greg has since retired from the MLS.
Carlos currently coaches the FC Pride U17 boys Storm who have been State Champions at U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16. The Storm has been number one in the state since Carlos started coaching them at the U9 level and are current Premier Division Champions in the Midwest Regional League.
Several players from this FC Pride Storm team have committed to Division I schools.
Alex Kapsalis to Evansville,
Brandon and Charles Leonhard to Dayton,
Ben Williams to Cornell,
Dan Keller to Louisville,
Bryce Rockwell-Ashton to Wright State.
Others are in the process of committing but have not yet done so.
Carlos, we are so pleased with Alex and Austin's development through your classes; they have gained both skill and confidence that is quite noticable to us and others. When I asked Alex if he wanted to take another session, he said he wants to keep taking classes as long as allowed.
With that said, Alex would like to take the HS class on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 and Austin would like to take the Tuesday session from 4:30 -5:30.
Thanks for all of your support,
Linda Vermillion
Last season our team accumulated a record of 4 wins, 11 losses and 1 tie. We were generally unable to control the ball and, needless to say, unable to generate many scoring opportunities. The few wins we did earn were due to raw athletic ability as very few of our players could effectively dribble, trap or receive the ball and fewer still could accurately pass or shoot. The problem lied in our lack of the fundamental skills required to play the game.
This season we have the same team playing in the same league but a quite different result as we are currently undefeated with a 34-8 goals for / against ratio. We have a new player development strategy focusing on the fundamentals. In order to fully execute our development strategy, we decided to use the services of ISA.
Your skill development program has significantly contributed to our success. In fact, I would say it has been critical to our success. Our players are now confident in their ability to control the ball, are able to accurately pass and shoot and are beginning to dominate through possession and team ball control. Our team and the improvement it has seen under ISA training methods makes for a perfect "before and after" case study of Carlos Zavaleta's program.
As coaches we would like to build a strong partnership with ISA and continue to integrate elements of your training sessions into our practices and look to you for consulting and support. We look forward to even greater things to come.
Thank you,
Jim Velazquez
Westfield
I have had my three boys train with Carlos. It is the best training that they have received.
They have learned the essential cuts and moves that they need to be successful in soccer, and as they continue in their training, they are learning to execute these moves under increasing pressure and at greater speed. The moment I knew we had chosen the right trainer was when I saw the moves executed in a game.
I also have had my team train with Carlos. Every single parent who has a child on my team can attribute to the dramatic improvement that their children have experienced as a result of working with Carlos. His demeanor with children is respectful yet honest.
If you have a child interested in improving his or her soccer game, I whole heartedly recommend Carlos Zavaleta and ISA's training.
David Schweisthal
Carlos,
I just wanted to drop you a note of appreciation on completing our second year of Futsal at ISA. I am a great believer in Futsal and want to thank you for the opportunity to use it as an integral part of my team's winter training program.
As a youth coach, I have a strong preference for Futsal as my indoor training environment of choice. The lack of walls, the reduced bounce ball, and the 5v5 (6v6) format allows little leeway for players (or coaches) to gimmick poor play. Futsal provides more direct feedback, both positive and negative, than any training game I know. In Futsal, more than indoor or even the full field game, good soccer is consistently rewarded and poor soccer is penalized.
Having played with and against you over the last few years, I have always admired your playing abilities. From watching you train players at ISA, I am an admirer of your teaching abilities as well. For all your skill and experience, what I most appreciate is your ability to remember that you are training youngsters, not miniature adults. You coach the way you play: with intelligence, skill, a little humor, and a true sense of enjoyment and respect for the game.
I hope things continue to go well at ISA. Take care.
-Dan Murphy
Coach Indy Burn Travel
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Westfield Youth Soccer Association
- Development for all players regardless of age, ability, or skill
- A Players commitment and desire to play is all that is needed to be part of the WYSA soccer family
- For the betterment of the game!
