2024 U8-12 Academy Teams and Training

Email myelton@bristolsportsplex.com to register and for questions.

The Soccer Academy offers high-quality coaching in Bristol, emphasizing an innovative, fun academy model. Our culture promotes player expression, aiming to nurture players who are passionate about soccer for life.

Join Our Teams:

Soccer Evaluations!

Bristol Sportsplex invites young athletes to our exclusive evaluations! With limited spots for a personalized review, these sessions are your kid's chance to secure a spot in our elite soccer programs. Open to all skill levels, these evaluations are a fantastic opportunity to get noticed. Each evaluation has just 20 spots – so act fast! Don't miss out on these free sessions! To complete your registration, simply click the right category below!

The Plex is committed to using our state-of-the-art facility to bring highly experienced coaches to Bristol and empower our local coaches with support and training.

The Plex Soccer culture is based on a belief that soccer is a game that allows players to express their personalities and creativity in a fun, competitive environment. We call such players footballers and our purpose is to make footballers who can compete at their highest level on club and school teams.

We make footballers by teaching fundamentals and decision-making within a fast-paced environment that maximizes the number of touches on the ball. The field, itself, is modeled after the mini-pitches built throughout Germany. The small size of the field maximizes the speed of play, number of touches, and opportunities to score goals. The culture, size of the balls, training equipment, and coaching philosophy are all intentionally designed to develop highly technical players who will love and play the game for a lifetime.

The Bristol Sportsplex Soccer facility was built and designed by Matt Lavinder. The winningest coach in King University Men’s Soccer history, Lavinder has been growing soccer in the TRI for 25 years. He holds the highest coaching licenses in the country, including the USSF A License, USSF National Goalkeeper License, USSF National Youth License, and the NSCAA Premier Diploma. As part of his licensing, Lavinder has done coursework at Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid, Spanish FA, and the Columbus Crew. As a founder of Tri-Cities United, Lavinder helped the local club become one of the first affiliate clubs of FC Dallas. Along the way, Matt has helped develop countless coaches, college players, and a few professionals. With the Sportsplex, he hopes to connect local players with authentic footballing culture, a proven philosophy of coaching, and exceptional coaches.

Meet The Team

Matt Yelton

Soccer Director

Matt Yelton is a seasoned figure in the soccer realm, having left an indelible mark at each stop in his journey. Initiating the women’s soccer program at King University and achieving national glory with four national championships at Lee University are just glimpses of his rich legacy. His vision in youth soccer was further displayed as the Director of Coaching at Red Wolves, emphasizing talent nurturing. At Bristol Sportplex, he serves as the linchpin, directing our soccer program to new heights, all while contributing his expertise to the ETSU women’s team. Matt's depth of experience and strategic prowess ensure that Plex's soccer program is in expert hands.

Matt Lavinder

Owner

A stalwart in the world of soccer, Matt Lavinder's legacy began as a revered captain at King University. His credentials, such as the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma and USSF licenses, highlight his unwavering dedication to the sport. Transitioning from assisting the Duke Women’s team to being the winningest men’s coach in King University's history, Matt's journey has been one of consistent excellence. With his purchase of Bristol Sportsplex in 2020, he has infused his vast soccer knowledge into the facility's programs. A staunch Arsenal FC supporter and a hands-on leader, Matt ensures Bristol Sportsplex's soccer initiatives meet the gold standard.

With a career in fitness and coaching, Tiffany is the General Manager of the Plex. She oversees the soccer program and provides administrative support for the Plex Soccer Academy.

Tiffany Scardo

General Manager

A soccer prodigy from King University, Annie ranks second in career goals and assists in Tennessee High history. Her transition from a top player to an academy coach was seamless, reflecting her deep understanding of the game. Her coaching style is heavily influenced by her rich playing background, which makes her an invaluable asset to our academy.

Annie Elliott

U12 Girls Coach

As a former D1 student soccer athlete, Pam's illustrious journey includes representing Colombia's U17 and U20 national teams and making a mark in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Her dedication and prowess were evident in her college soccer tenure at both Austin Peay and ETSU. Transitioning from the field, Pam's coaching career spans 7 years, where she has trained both boys and girls, ranging from as young as 5-year-olds to high schoolers. A testament to her coaching excellence is the district championship she clinched with University School for both the boys and girls' teams, especially notable since she pioneered the position there. She boasts an academic background with a bachelor's in Computer Science and Information Systems from Austin Peay and a master's in Brand and Media Strategy from ETSU. An interesting tidbit about Pam? She's multilingual, comfortably conversing in English, French, and Spanish, adding a touch of global flair to our academy.

Pam Penaloza-Wilson

U12 Boys Coach

Hunter Meade

U10 Boys Coach

A true soccer enthusiast with 15 years of coaching experience, Hunter’s journey began as a player at Virginia High School, then at University of the Cumberlands, and later at Galaxy Futbol Club. His commendable achievements include being named the VHSL State Soccer Coach of the Year in 2016, coupled with several regional and conference recognitions. He has previously steered teams at Virginia High and Tennessee High with distinction. Off the pitch, Hunter has a fascinating claim to fame as a place kicker for University of the Cumberlands, boasting a record 63-yard field goal. Educationally, he holds a bachelor's in Mathematics and Secondary Education.

Henrik Guenther is a formidable presence on the soccer field, known for his academic and athletic prowess. Joining the SoCon All-Academic Team and the Honor Roll, he started all 14 matches in Fall 2021, contributing to three clean sheets and providing an assist during a memorable 4-2 victory over Radford. Overcoming an injury in Spring 2021, he made significant contributions in six appearances. Before joining ETSU, he showcased his talent at Limestone University, earning a spot on the All-Conference Third Team and excelling in Marketing Management.Henrik Guenther's extensive experience and accomplishments on the field, complemented by his academic achievements, make him a valuable addition to the Bristol Sportsplex coaching team, where he shares his defensive skills and strategic insights to inspire young athletes.

Henrik Guenther

Coach

Serge Gomis

Coach

Serge Gomis, a standout player known for his consistency and skill, has made significant contributions on the field. With appearances in all games in 2017 and a notable performance in 2016, Serge has been a key player for the Bucs. His ability to set up goals and his impactful presence in matches underscore his importance to the team. Originating from Dakar, Senegal, Serge's soccer journey is marked by achievements, including earning a spot on the All-SoCon first team and demonstrating leadership on the pitch. Serge Gomis brings his distinguished playing career, marked by significant contributions and assists, to Bristol Sportsplex, where his expertise and leadership qualities greatly benefit the training and development of young soccer talents.

A captain and assistant coach at King University, Brian Elliott was a standout player at Bearden High School, which won numerous state championships during his career. Brian, a PA at Appalachian Orthopedic, brings a wealth of high level experience as a lead coach in the academy.

Brian Elliott

U8-9 Academy Coach

Sam Ferguson

U8-9 Academy Coach

Before winning two conference championships with King University, Sam was named the Knoxville Player of the Year during his senior year at Christian Academy of Knoxville. While at CAK, Sam led the team to 4 straight state championships. Sam is the Vice President of New Again Houses Franchising.

Jack Perry is celebrated for his academic excellence and performance on the field, as recognized by his SoCon All-Academic Team and Honor Roll accolades. With significant playing time, Jack made his mark by scoring a crucial goal and providing an assist in pivotal games, showcasing his versatility and impact. His journey from high school standout to a pivotal player in college, underscored by his commitment to Sport Management, highlights his dedication to both his sport and academic pursuits. Jack Perry's journey from a high school standout to achieving collegiate success is a testament to his dedication and skill, which he now brings to Bristol Sportsplex, contributing to the nurturing and growth of aspiring soccer players with his deep understanding of the sport and academic discipline.

Jack Perry

Coach

Criss Golden

U10 Girls’ Coach

Criss Golden helped lead King University to two conference championships as a player. He then went on to be an assistant coach at King before launching a career in banking with Eastman Credit Union. Criss is an exceptional coach and Arsenal supporter.

Physical Therapist & Sports Performance Trainer

Ryan Sparks

Dr. Sparks is a licensed physical therapist who runs Sparked Rehab and Athletics out of the Plex. In addition to providing programming for injury prevention and rehab, Ryan offers high performance training to improve the speed, agility, and strength of Academy players.

Plex Academy

Ready to join our team?

Calling all soccer stars born in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 - we're recruiting now! Whether you're a fierce girl ready to rock the field, or a strong boy with the spirit of a champion, we want YOU! Be part of a team, make new friends, and take your skills to the next level with us. Send us a message to learn more.

Send Us A Message

1-on-1 Private Sessions

Private soccer training allows our coaches to focus on the player's holistic development. This includes a focus on skill development, nutrition, strength, and conditioning.

Schedule Session

Soccer Academy FAQs

The purpose of the Academy is to connect Bristol players with top coaches who will develop creative players in a fun, challenging environment that maximizes repetitions. It is our ultimate goal to empower young players with self-confidence and freedom to take risks.
We think it’s healthy for young players to play other sports. The Plex offers a similar tennis academy. Nov & Feb remain flexible to allow for participation in winter sports. The Academy model allows for flexibility around vacations and we understand there are things in life that are more important than soccer.
Our Academy teams compete as Tri-Cities United teams locally and in occasional tournaments. TCU and the Plex work closely together and share a philosophy of player development. At U13, players move on to Kingsport based 11v11 TCU teams that compete in D1, 2, and 3 state leagues.
Most training sessions are at the Plex from 5:30–7:00 PM, but U10–12 teams will typically have one session/wk on an outdoor field in Bristol.
U8 & U10: Tue/Thur - 5:30 – 7:00 PM
U12: Mon/Wed - 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Middle/HS: Mon/Wed - 4:00 – 5:30 PM
June & July: 1 session/wk
Aug–Oct: 2 sessions/wk + games
Nov: 1 session/wk + optional free play
Dec & Jan: 1 session/wk + optional indoor leagues
Feb: 1 session/wk + optional free play
Mar-May: 2 sessions/wk + games
The cost for 12 months of training is $1500, payable in monthly payments between August and January.
There is a $250 discount for siblings and scholarships are available. For players on TCU teams, there will be a team fee to pay for state player card, referees, and tournament fees.
We aspire to provide an affordable, high-quality environment by investing in great coaching rather than excessive travel.