
If you are interested in being a member of our teams programs, please review the steps below for getting involved. If you are currently on track, stay on track. If you have not been participating regularly to date, please get involved now on a consistent basis. The fact is that the process of team formation has already begun, no matter what age the player. Waiting until the tryouts to get involved is leaving it far too late. Preparation, player development, assimilation, etc. needs to start well in advance of the tryout date.
GFC ACADEMY (u7-u10)
Start early and participated regularly. It is especially exciting to see so many u7u8 players making such a great decision to get involved early. This is the age we good soccer habits need to get started.
Several years of ongoing and consistent quality training to supplement a town soccer program is very much necessary to become truly competent in the fundamental skill and knowledge areas of soccer.
Ongoing and consistent means year-round participation. GFC Academy offers programs in the fall, winter, spring and summer.
Ongoing participation is important for players to continue to develop technical ability, tactical knowledge, and the requisite mentality for success.
GFC Academy offers Training, Street Soccer, Futsal, Speed/Agility, 3v3 Jamborees, and Tournament participation.
TEAM TRYOUTS
Participation is also the best way for our coaches to evaluate the players. We do not favor traditional tryouts as an adequate means to evaluate players. Instead, getting to work with players over an extended period of time provides a much clearer and fairer picture of a player’s current level and important characteristic that speak to their potential (e.g., receptiveness to coaching, eagerness to learn, etc.).
Players interested in learning more about our program are welcomed at any time to participate in a training session. Generally, a visiting player is then invited to attend several more training sessions to allow player, trainers, and parents to learn more about each other so that a well informed decision regarding future participation can be made.
Because we make a strong commitment to players in our program to help them develop, and because we encourage new players to attend training sessions at any time, a high percentage of GFC teams are pre-selected before formal traditional tryouts occur.
For players unable to get involved at an earlier opportunity, we also conduct Traditional Team Tryouts (u9+) and Open House Clinics (u7-u10) in June (and sometimes in November) of each year for interested new players to attend.
Players interested in GFC Teams should also attend the June Tryouts, whether they have been pre-selected for the teams or not, in order to create the dynamic and competitive tryout environment needed to properly evaluate new players or returning seasonal players.
GFC TEAMS
GFC teams programs offer team training and match play starting at the under-9 age group.
At GFC we regularly combine age groups (e.g., u9+u10, u11+12) in a deliberate and systematic way in order to accelerate the development of the younger players while providing the older players leadership opportunities.
GFC can provide a complete soccer development program for those who want it. In addition to regular training, matches, and tournaments, players in the GFC teams programs can participate in regular optional activities such as advanced skill sessions, strength & conditioning, fun runs, and striker/goalkeeper training.
Players must learn to play with true competence at small-sided games before they can play competently in the 11-aside game. GFC allows all players, including those on teams, to play in the match formats appropriate for their age-group (3v3, 4v4/5v5, 6v6, 7v7/8v8, 11v11). Age-Appropriate Formats.
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