GFC Academy News

GFC Academy Winter 2011-12 Program.   The GFC Academy Winter program offers week night and weekend Training options, as well Sat u7u8 3v3 futsal teams.  The focus of the program is age-appropriate player development for u7u8 boys/girls, and u9u10 boys/girls.  Registration is a la carte.  Rolling admission for late-comers is allowed.  More.

GFC Academy Fall 3v3 Jamboree.  The GFC Academy Fall 3v3 Jamboree will take place on Sun, Oct 23 at Medford High School (12:00-3:00pm).  The jamboree is open to boys and girls ages 6-10.  We offer team and individual registration.  Registration deadline is May 1.  More.

GFC Player Development Academy, a weekly advanced training program for u7-u10 boys & girls, offers a head start for players with potential interest in playing soccer at the premier level.  Our Goal is TRUE COMPETENCY in the Fundamentals by age 10.  The Academy Director is Tom Mitch.  Coach Mitch is a licensed national premier level coach, with coaching experience at the recreational, premier club, ODP, high school and college levels.  Coach Mitch also has first hand exposure to various youth and professional training programs in Europe. 

Focus on Player Development:

The principal objective of the program is Player Development.  Through disciplined, organized, consistent and age-appropriate training methods, the players will develop into a group capable of playing purposeful, intelligent and mature soccer.  With this progression, the steadfast adherence to the curriculum and key concepts of play, and with the continuous and ongoing participation of the players, the ability to play winning soccer will also develop.  This program is for players who want to be skilled, smart, dynamic, impact players at higher levels.

Age/Level-Based Player Development Model:

Although incorporating various methodologies to teach the curriculum, the GFC approach is centered on the Youth Player Development Model promoted by Horst Wein, the renowned German-born youth player-development expert with the Spanish Federation (RFEF).  The model is based on the philosophy that “Children will only learn quickly, effectively, and thoroughly when the demands of the training sessions or competitions they participate in match their intellectual, psychological, and motor skills.”  For more information about this model please read Developing Youth Soccer Players by Horst Wein.

Extended Nurture Period:

Players develop and mature at different rates.  GFC acknowledges this fact within our programs in ways that profoundly impact the development possibilities for young players.  GFC Academy (for u7-u10 players) is a registration-based program, meaning that all players are welcomed to enroll.  A difference in maturity between two u8 players, for example, must be expected where player age varies by up to 12 months, and exposure to soccer ranges from 1-4 years.  GFC Academy does not select, stream, or cut players at this age and allows every child to develop in a productive learning environment.  Within our Teams programs, GFC strives to select players based on potential (various qualities of athleticism and personality), as opposed to current level of maturity or athleticism.   We then make long-term commitments to providing consistent, ongoing, and undifferentiated development experiences for all  players under GFC leadership.

The Program:*

Summer

• 2 Training Session Options per Week

• 1 Speed/Agility Session per Week 

• 1 Goalkeeper/Striker Session per Week

Fall & Spring

• 2 Training Session Options per Week

• 1 Speed/Agility Session per Week 

• 1 Goalkeeper/Striker Session per Week

• 1 6v6 Match per Week (u9u10 Teams only) Permission Required

• 1 3v3 Jamboree per season

Winter

• 3-4 Training Session Options per Week

• 1 Futsal Match per Week (3v3 for u7u8, 5v5 for u9u10) Permission Required

*Note - All Program Options are offered ala carte.  You may sign up for any or all sessions as desired, except where permission is required for advanced level programs.

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