Age Group and Team Naming Convention

Team Academy players are organized into age groups based on their birthdate. Our age group and team names indicate the gender and upper bound year of the corresponding birthdate range. For example, the '98B' age group represents our boys' age group comprising players born between August 1, 1998 to July 31, 1999. Depending on the number of players available, there may be one or more teams per age group.

Age Group Coordinators

An age group is led by an "Age Group Coordinator" or a head coach for all teams in the age group. The Age Group Coordinator oversees the program for the entire age group. This involves working with the coaches in the age group to coordinate team rosters and to ensure that each player is developing appropriately. It also involves setting the season schedule for games and tournaments.

Seasonal Year Age Group Calculator

Each year our teams play in appropriate U8 to U18 seasonal year age groups commonly utilized in youth soccer, to ensure good competition and learning opportunities in league and tournament play. These seasonal age groups are based on US Club Soccer demarcations. A team typically moves up to the next seasonal year age group on August 1 of each year.

Playing Levels

Each player is placed into two general team categories based on their skill level and commitment, and then assigned into teams based on the number of players. The two general team categories are: 

• Advanced category: Consists of players with a stronger skill base. These teams are developed to be immediately competing at the highest possible level, and typically attend top tier tournaments in California.
• Developmental category: Consists of players who are either new to competitive soccer, or who need time to develop basic skills and prepare to compete at the highest possible level. These teams may also participate in various playdates/tournaments within the Bay Area.

A player can move from a Developmental team to an Advanced team and vice versa within their age group based on the evaluation of the coaching staff and each player's specific needs. After each season, the coaching staff and the respective age group coordinators discuss and consider roster changes. This flexibility within the age group allows the development and progression of each player and team at an appropriate pace.

Playing up and PDP for exceptionally skilled players

For exceptionally skilled players, we may recommend that the player play up, that is, play in a higher age group. However, in our experience, it is best that these players play with same-aged players at the highest possible level of competition. Hence, a recommendation to play up is made after careful consideration by the Head Team Coach in concert with the Director of Coaching and the player's family. Additionally, several Gryphons players are recommended to and participate in the Norcal Premier Player Development Program (PDP) training pool for highly skilled players. Look at our May 2010 and October 2010 news stories on GSC player selection from the PDP training pool onto the PDP playdate rosters.