Academy FAQs
The Jesters Youth Academy is a nonprofit developmental program for girls and boys beginning at age 4 and moving through age 23. It is overseen by the New Orleans Jesters Coaching Staff. Players of all abilities are welcome.
Academy coaches have played soccer at a very high level and have had individual success in the sport. In addition, they all share the Jesters philosophy on player development. Each coach is licensed by entities such as USSF, USC, UEFA and more. Each Coach undergoes background checks and are on continued training programs.
Coach Farrell played soccer for the Shelbourne Football Club in the League of Ireland. He later crossed the Atlantic to star for Salem State College in Massachusetts. While there, he competed in the NCAA Final Four. After settling in New Orleans, he became Director of Coaching for Lafreniere Soccer Club, leading them to 25 State Championships and national recognition. In 2003, Farrell co-founded the New Orleans Shell Shockers and became Head Coach. In his first season, he received the PDL’s prestigious “Coach of the Year” title after winning more games than any other team in the country. He has previously served as one of the founding board members for the US Club Soccer Association, the US Soccer Region III Coach of the Olympic Development Program for the Louisiana Soccer Association, the head scout and coach for the USL Olympic Development Program for the Gulf South, and as a member of the Executive Committee for the PDL. Currently Coach Kenny Farrell is on the Board of Directors for the NPSL and the chairperson for the developing NPSL National Youth Academy League.
If the Governor orders another shutdown of businesses that includes specialized soccer training, the Jesters will make alternative plans to make up practice time when the order is lifted. If the shutdown is such that alternative plans cannot reasonably be made up within the annual soccer Calendar, the Jesters will issue a refund for training sessions missed minus the costs of administering the program.
The Jesters Youth Academy and NPSL team interact in the following ways:
- All are under the direction of NPSL Head Coach Kenny Farrell
- Both groups share staff coaches
- It is the goal of the New Orleans Jesters that one day the NPSL team is made up of players that graduate from the Youth Academy
- They share the same uniform design
- Each child in the competitive soccer program receives one complimentary youth season ticket pass to the NPSL team’s games