What is the OSL & GGS’s Developmental program?

The Developmental Program is focused on teaching young athletes to have fun playing soccer and learning the fundamentals of the game.  The program is for players U3 to U12 boys and girls, in which teams are formed by geographical region, and for players who want to play together with their friends or schoolmates. It is the foundation of our club and is designed to encourage our players to develop a passion for the game and enhance their technical skills.

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The Developmental Program is also perfect for players taking their first steps in the game and features games against other teams within the club of a similar skill level.  These developmental routes a young athlete can pursue with GGS, will give any child a great start to our competitive program.

 

GGS’s Program Coordinator, DOC, and coaching staff provide the resources, equipment, and materials for the volunteer coaches through coaches’ meetings, clinics, and game/practice day appearances. Some team coaches are volunteers and are supported by GGS’s professional trainers. However, we do our best to bring some competitive coaches to reinforce sessions and evaluate each player’s development. The primary focus of the program is to offer age-appropriate training.

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• Mini Kickers- U5-U6 plays 3v3

• Mini Kickers- ages U7-U8 play 4v4

• Future Stars- ages U9-10-11-12 plays 7v7

• GGS’s Bridge Program U8-U12 -  8 sessions / 60 minutes

• GGS’s First Touch U3-U4 -  8 sessions / 45 minutes
   

What does the GGS Soccer Academy Developmental Program offer?

• Top-level qualified and experienced staff

• All coaches follow long-term age-specific program

• Highly technical development philosophy based on the modern possession game

• Guided discovery approach to foster player thinking, problem-solving and decision making

• Focus on player development.

• Inter squad games

• One training session per week for U8-U12 years old

• 1players’ evaluation per year season

• Bridge Program sessions available (optional)

 

What are the benefits for my children, and what other things do the children learn in these classes?

• Practices consist of activities where each child has their own ball, and each week, they will be taught a different skill. At the end of the program, each child will be given an evaluation which will cover each major area that they have received instruction in.

• Without realizing it, each child will be working physically and therefore improve their anaerobic threshold.

• With the use of balance coordination agility, endurance and speed exercises, we teach motor skills. Discipline, team work and sportsmanship are also encouraged.

• No other sport expects players to move a ball with their feet at speed, while moving their body. This help each child with their coordination.  Also, soccer has been shown to help children improve their concentration levels.

• Team sports help children learn to work as a group and socialize with each other! GGS’s coaches are committed to mentor and have and positive impact on each child.

• By learning in a fun environment, hopefully we can foster a love of exercise which in turn will help combat the huge problem of child obesity. 

• For some children, this may be the only opportunity for them to access this level of coaching due to financial or time restrictions on their families.

• The program fee will include registration to US Soccer. Those children wishing to pursue the sport further, or identified as having potential will be invited to join GGS Soccer Academy at the appropriate level.

 

What do I need to do to join GGS’s Soccer Academy Developmental Program?

Throughout the whole year, you are able to join the GGS Soccer Academy. Before starting the Fall and Spring seasons, we do hold Players Assessment and Placement and ask athletes to do their best to attend these events.  If you are unable to come, you can still be placed into one of our Developmental Program. To do so, please contact GGS's Director of Coaching or Technical Director and we will invite the player to a training session to properly place them to a team suitable with their ability level and age.

 

What is Players’ Assessment and Placement?

GGS’s main goal and commitment is to develop soccer players at all levels. However, is our goal to to give our player the “BEST” soccer experience possible and help the children nurture their passion and motivation to learn soccer.

Doing the Players’ Assessment and Placement, we expected to accomplish better results on building teams on the same level. This way, avoiding awkward situations like a team beat another program team for 12 or 10 goals difference. Therefore, it is vital we place players on and make teams with a good balance of players’ level.  

What do I wear and bring for players’ assessment and placement?

Players must wear soccer appropriate clothing. This includes cleats and shin guards, and bring a soccer ball and water bottle. 

 

Can players play in an older age group?

Yes, we will evaluate all requests to play up. Players are expected to play in their age appropriate groups. A year makes a big difference in the physical and the emotional growth of a child. For the most part, playing up can provide a good opportunity for the success and development of a individual player. However, during the tryout process, the GGS coaching staff will rigorously evaluate any players interested in playing up by their ability to do so and a team’s need. In addition, GGS staff will look at playing up on a player by player basis, taking the player’s development as our priority.

 

Can players play on a younger age group?

No, players CANNOT play down with younger players. For example, a player born in 2008 CANNOT go and play with the 2009 Birth Year age group.

 

What does Birth Year Mean?

Birth year means that players will play in the age group of the year of their birth. The Birth Year calendar dates run from January 1st to December 31st. For example, if you are born between Jan. 1st and Dec. 31st, 2005, you will play in the 2005 Birth Year age group.

 

Are there any benefits to playing Birth Year?

The main benefit for playing Birth Year is for developmental purposes. At the local level throughout our state, it will allow for better development because it will push individual players, raise the competitive standards, improve team competition and create more meaningful league games.

 

• Birth year chart for the 2018/19 Season: Click Here

 

When and Where are games played?

ALL games will be played on Saturdays morning ages U5- U12 Girls& Boys will play GGS in-house league games at home.

 

Where are games played and practices held? 

All games and practices sessions will be held at Jim Beech Recreation Center Address: 1820 A. D. Mims Rd, Ocoee, FL 34761. All practices will be Fridays and games Saturdays morning.

 

How many sessions and games I will have during each Season?

8 sessions and 8 games.

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When will practice and games start up?

For more information about practice and game days, please check the Developmental Program page for the age group of your child to find out program schedule.​

 

How and when do I get my uniform?

During registration, you will be asked the uniform size for the participant. All orders will come to our staff, who will distribute to each team and individual player at the first week of the season. Please make sure to choose correct size.

 

What is the COST?

For more information about cost, please check the Developmental Program page for the age group of your child in order to find out the correct cost.​

 

What additional expenses will I have?

NONE.

 

Is financial assistance available?

Scholarships are NOT available at the Developmental Program.

 

What is the Bridge Program?

This is an eight-week program designed to introduce and prepare young and talented players with desire and passion to play at the competitive level. Players participating at the Bridge Program will train one extra day during the respective developmental season they are playing at.

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The main objective of this program is maximizing player development of our young athlete's. By adding another soccer practice during the week, increasing training frequency, with more repetitions, improving their soccer fundamentals, motor skills, balance, coordination and set new standards and goals.

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What is the First Touch program?

The First Touch is a program designed to introduce Girls & Boys ages U3 & U4 players to play soccer for the first time in a small-sided setting.  First Touch will allow players to learn the basic concepts of soccer in a fun environment that will set the foundations for a lifetime of enjoyment in the sport.  Focus will be placed on basic techniques and movement, but mostly on FUN!!

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First Touch is a unique opportunity to introduce your child to soccer. This program will offer 45-minute sessions for you and your child. Both of you will have fun working together with a GGS coach. The coaching staff will present basic ball skills and coordination games. It will give your child a great start to this lifetime sport and will also prepare them for GGS's Mini Kickers Program.

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What is the Mini Kickers Program?

The Mini Kickers program at GGS is a program designed for Girls & Boys 5-8 years old players. It is focused on teaching young athletes to have fun playing soccer and learning the fundamentals of the game. ​At this level, it is important that players become familiar and develop an understanding of the game and its rules, as well as, develop individual technical skills. The objective of this branch is to provide a pleasant environment for the players while maintaining the integrity of the game in order to teach useful values and life lessons. It will give your child a great start to this lifetime sport and will also prepare them for GGS's Rising Stars Program. 

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What is the Future Stars Program?

The Future Stars program at GGS is an introductory program into soccer for the youngest generation. It is program designed for Girls & Boys 9-12 years old players. It is focused on teaching young athletes to build  agility, footwork, basic understanding of soccer, listening skills, and teamwork in other to help prepare young children for the competitive level. Each session will engage the players in a fun and playful environment. The objective of this program will be to help develop a young athlete's motor skills, balance and coordination. It will give your child a great start to this lifetime sport and will also prepare them for GGS's Competitive Program. 

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What the traveling competitive team does different than a developmental team?

A traveling competitive team plays with other teams in and out of the state of Florida, instead of just at the home club. Some travel is involved but it is all within an hour and half of home. Teams start traveling at the U8 age competitive level for both boys and girls.

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How much does the competitive program cost per year?

For more information about costs and payment plans for the competitive program please check the page for our competitive program. Click here

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Will the program be fully insured?

Yes, by enrolling the children into US Club Soccer, they will automatically be covered. Further details can be provided if necessary.

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How often can GGS run the Developmental Program league?

We will run the developmental program in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.

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I have more than one kid, can I get a discount?

Yes, we do offer sibling discount. Please check the costs and discount at the page Developmental Program

 

Are there professional coaches/trainers during the training session?

YES! GGS coaches and trainers are professional, licensed, experienced, and with huge soccer playing and training backgrounds. They will run a 30-40 minutes session, them, players will go to their respective voluntary coaches and play small sides games for another 30-40 minutes.

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My kids played league soccer with other program and hardly touched the ball so they learned nothing.  What do you do different?

We follow an expertly designed fun teaching curriculum. Each week a different skill is taught through imaginative, fun child recognized themed games. Practices consist of activities where each child has a ball each. Age appropriate level of difficulty is carefully considered and children play with their own age group.