Soccer Chance Academy
Portland Adventist Academy, 8435 Glisan St, Portland, NE 97220
About
Soccer Chance Academy offers year-round competitive soccer through activities such as SCA Sleepaway Camp at Camp Cedar Ridge, SCA ID Camps, Presidents Day Camp, Spring Break Camp, SCA Juniors Sessions, tryouts, and tours to the UK that include tournaments, cultural exchanges, and sightseeing. The program also offers parent education workshops as part of its activities.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Seasonal camps and training sessions offered throughout the year, including single-day and multi-day options, as well as weekly sessions over several weeks
• Price: SCA Sleepaway Camp at Camp Cedar Ridge: $895. SCA ID Camps: $20. Presidents Day Camp: $85. Spring Break Camp: $245.
Soccer Chance Academy states that it uses the power of soccer to inspire young people through their development both on and off the field and that it believes soccer is a sport for everyone, regardless of background, appearance, or identity. Its mission statement describes a focus on inspiring and nurturing leaders of tomorrow, fostering an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing diversity within staff and athletes, and creating a welcoming and supportive community within the club.
The leadership team includes Dan Ferguson (Founder, Girls Director, UEFA B License), Joe Smith (Founder, Technical Director, UEFA A License Candidate), Ben Hanley (Founder, MLS Director, UEFA A License), Ricky Machel (Founder, Boys Director, UEFA A License), Dan Vincent (Youth Director, UEFA C License), Christian Brown (Assistant Youth Director), Abdullahi Sheikh (Assistant Girls DOC), Fernando Ibanez (Assistant Boys DOC), Jenn Tuttle (Head Coach), Alyson Dressler (General Manager), Margaret Speth (Registrar), and Dee Reddy (Scheduler). Senior staff are all UEFA B and above qualified, with listed licenses that include UEFA B, UEFA A, UEFA A License Candidate, and UEFA C.
Soccer Chance Academy is nationally recognized as a Players First-Licensed club and states that it stands with US Club Soccer in its mission to put players first. Soccer Chance Academy Portland is partnered with Portland Adventist Academy, and SCA for the Community is a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships and financial aid to players throughout the season and organizes community building events, with donations and fundraising playing a significant role in its ability to award scholarships.
The program describes a shared and transparent academy model that is underpinned by individual creativity and player freedom, with an emphasis on what an individual can do rather than what they cannot. It states that it designs learning spaces that ignite players’ imaginations, foster curiosity, and inspire innovation, and that the player is at the center and permitted to follow a non-traditional pathway. Coaches are described as taking a patient approach and not making playing time decisions based on age, size, and maturation bias, and every SCA child is stated to play at least half of every game.
Soccer Chance Academy describes a unique games program that challenges conventional approaches to field size, single-gendered teams, and age groupings, and notes that Portland-based SCA players have opportunities to travel abroad and connect closely with players in the UK. Sessions are described as characterized by variety, challenge, decision-making, ownership, chaos, and individuality, with coaches committed to minimum interference and maximum impact so that players are free to express themselves in all areas of the field, irrespective of consequence. The development team provides weekly game previews, game reviews, and training agendas, and players receive two formal evaluations each year.
The program states that coaches are committed to a strong parent-club relationship and prioritize communication, integrity, transparency, and education. SCA Juniors Sessions for birth years 2016–2019 are free. Guidelines for turf use include no pets, no gum or seeds, no food on or near synthetic surfaces, picking up litter and belongings, using marked containers for recycling, keeping glass bottles off fields, and restricting field access to players, coaching staff, and team managers, with parents and spectators seated in designated areas.
Last updated March 30, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Seasonal camps and training sessions offered throughout the year, including single-day and multi-day options, as well as weekly sessions over several weeks
• Price: SCA Sleepaway Camp at Camp Cedar Ridge: $895. SCA ID Camps: $20. Presidents Day Camp: $85. Spring Break Camp: $245.
Soccer Chance Academy states that it uses the power of soccer to inspire young people through their development both on and off the field and that it believes soccer is a sport for everyone, regardless of background, appearance, or identity. Its mission statement describes a focus on inspiring and nurturing leaders of tomorrow, fostering an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing diversity within staff and athletes, and creating a welcoming and supportive community within the club.
The leadership team includes Dan Ferguson (Founder, Girls Director, UEFA B License), Joe Smith (Founder, Technical Director, UEFA A License Candidate), Ben Hanley (Founder, MLS Director, UEFA A License), Ricky Machel (Founder, Boys Director, UEFA A License), Dan Vincent (Youth Director, UEFA C License), Christian Brown (Assistant Youth Director), Abdullahi Sheikh (Assistant Girls DOC), Fernando Ibanez (Assistant Boys DOC), Jenn Tuttle (Head Coach), Alyson Dressler (General Manager), Margaret Speth (Registrar), and Dee Reddy (Scheduler). Senior staff are all UEFA B and above qualified, with listed licenses that include UEFA B, UEFA A, UEFA A License Candidate, and UEFA C.
Soccer Chance Academy is nationally recognized as a Players First-Licensed club and states that it stands with US Club Soccer in its mission to put players first. Soccer Chance Academy Portland is partnered with Portland Adventist Academy, and SCA for the Community is a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships and financial aid to players throughout the season and organizes community building events, with donations and fundraising playing a significant role in its ability to award scholarships.
The program describes a shared and transparent academy model that is underpinned by individual creativity and player freedom, with an emphasis on what an individual can do rather than what they cannot. It states that it designs learning spaces that ignite players’ imaginations, foster curiosity, and inspire innovation, and that the player is at the center and permitted to follow a non-traditional pathway. Coaches are described as taking a patient approach and not making playing time decisions based on age, size, and maturation bias, and every SCA child is stated to play at least half of every game.
Soccer Chance Academy describes a unique games program that challenges conventional approaches to field size, single-gendered teams, and age groupings, and notes that Portland-based SCA players have opportunities to travel abroad and connect closely with players in the UK. Sessions are described as characterized by variety, challenge, decision-making, ownership, chaos, and individuality, with coaches committed to minimum interference and maximum impact so that players are free to express themselves in all areas of the field, irrespective of consequence. The development team provides weekly game previews, game reviews, and training agendas, and players receive two formal evaluations each year.
The program states that coaches are committed to a strong parent-club relationship and prioritize communication, integrity, transparency, and education. SCA Juniors Sessions for birth years 2016–2019 are free. Guidelines for turf use include no pets, no gum or seeds, no food on or near synthetic surfaces, picking up litter and belongings, using marked containers for recycling, keeping glass bottles off fields, and restricting field access to players, coaching staff, and team managers, with parents and spectators seated in designated areas.
Last updated March 30, 2026.
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