SARASOTA PARADISE YOUTH ACADEMY
ABOUT
Sarasota Paradise is building the next generation of elite players through a fully integrated Pathway to Pro Academy for boys U10-U18. Our academy is dedicated to developing well-rounded athletes by providing a structured, high-performance environment that fosters technical excellence, tactical intelligence, and personal growth. We aim to create clear pathways for
players to progress to the professional level while also supporting their ambitions to compete at top collegiate programs. Through elite training, mentorship, and exposure opportunities, we prepare players to succeed both on and off the field.
This is not just another youth program. Sarasota Paradise’s Pathway to Pro Academy is designed to develop complete players through our holistic approach, keeping the players and their love for the game at the heart of all operation. Our environment is structured with modern methodology which promotes the players’ autonomy in critical thinking and decision-making while helping them grow as young people in their technical ability, tactical understanding, physical performance and mental health, strength and well-being. Inspired and modeled by top level clubs in the world, our players and families will learn about more than soccer – we promote
a healthy lifestyle as part of the pursuit of excellence and provide regular feedback and benchmarks for development.
Built in direct alignment within our professional club, our academy gives players a clear, structured pathway from grassroots to the professional game. Our coaching staff and technical leadership, experienced in youth/academy coaching as well as the college and the pro game,
will provide a well-rounded experience for growth and development for all ambitious players who want to pursue their soccer dreams with us.
SARASOTA PARADISE ACADEMY VISION
Our vision is structured around three enduring elements: core values that define our culture, a purpose that explains our existence, and a mission that provides actionable goals, subject to regular updates to adapt to evolving circumstances.
OUR PURPOSE
Sarasota Paradise exists to; 1) bring people together and foster positive community impact, 2) create a pathways for talented soccer players and develop them to reach the world’s biggest stages, and 3) put our beautiful Sarasota community on the global map.
This purpose guides strategic decisions, ensuring the club contributes meaningfully to social, economic, and athletic advancement.
CORE VALUES
These values serve as the foundation for all Sarasota Paradise operations and interactions:
- Inspiration: We inspire through infectious positive energy and “good vibes,” motivating fans, staff, and players to embrace optimism and creativity.
- Discipline: We honor commitments, ensuring that promises to fans, stakeholders, and team members are consistently met with reliability and integrity.
- Transparency: We prioritize open communication, opting to overshare information internally and externally to build trust and avoid misunderstandings.
- Accountability: Individuals and the organization as a whole take ownership of actions, learning from mistakes to drive continuous improvement.
- Growth: We foster a learning culture, seeking daily opportunities for personal and organizational development through innovation and adaptation.
- Results: Every role is oriented toward achieving victories, both on the field through competitive performance and off the field via personal goals.
We strive to empower every player to reach their highest potential and pursue opportunities at the professional and collegiate levels.
YOUTH ACADEMY MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to:
- Develop players with the ability to play on the biggest stages in the World.
- Develop players who have the ability to be signed to professional contracts with our Sarasota Paradise USL team.
- Develop players to become good human beings and positive, contributing members of our community.
We will identify, nurture, and elevate soccer talent by delivering world-class coaching, competitive experiences, and holistic player development. We have staff who have successfully built and integrated such pathways elsewhere, and we have now joined for Building Paradise.
Together with our concrete international collaboration and high level educators on staff, we are committed to:
- Building technically skilled and tactically aware players who become critical independent thinkers and solution-oriented players and people in the complex world of sport and society
- Helping our players learn about and develop discipline, leadership, and strong character
- Supporting academic achievement alongside athletic success
- Promoting players to our professional first team and providing exposure to collegiate recruiters as well as
We strive to empower every player to reach their highest potential and pursue opportunities at the professional and collegiate levels.
OUR PATHWAY TO PRO
From Youth To Pro
- U10–U12: Foundation Phase (Technical Development & Love for the Game)
- U13–U15: Development Phase (Game Understanding & Competitive Edge)
- U16–U18: Performance Phase (High Performance, pursuit of college/pro pathways & Pro Preparation)
We will have one academy team for each age group. We are starting competition in the Fall of 2026.
League status will be announced at a later date, after our application process is complete.
In addition to a nationally sanctioned and recognized league we will be a part of, all our teams will attend a minimum of 3-4 major tournaments and showcases, and have an opportunity for a high level soccer experience with actual top level clubs in Europe, with access to their academy coaches and games against their academy teams.
Excelling players will have direct exposure to the Sarasota Paradise first team environment, creating real opportunities to advance under the reserve and first team technical staff and players.
ACADEMY LEADERSHIP & STAFF
MIKA ELOVAARA
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH OF SARASOTA PARADISE
USSF A License, UEFA B License, UEFA Football S&C Diploma, PhD
MEGAN HOPKINS
ACADEMY ADMINISTRATOR AND U10 HEAD COACH
USSF license, FAI License, B.Sc. Health Science
ROSS HOPKINS
JUNIOR ACADEMY DIRECTOR AND U13 HEAD COACH
USSF license, FAI License, B.Sc. Sports Psychology
Summer Camps
Sarasota Paradise Camps offer a complete development experience for players serious about improving their game. Guided by professional club staff, each session combines high-level training with insight into the standards and environment of a pro team, all within a positive, energetic setting that inspires the love for the game.