The GSC Pre-Academy includes year-round Beginning Soccer programs for children between the ages of 3 and 9. Players can join any time during the year as long as they meet the age requirement. The programs are taught by professional coaches based on the world renowned AC Fiorentina soccer development program for children. Our focus is on psycho-motor skills, agility, and technical training. A key goal is to prepare the child for the next level up of competitive soccer, but more importantly to teach the child the core values of the Gryphons: team work, commitment, and responsibility.

*Watch our Pre-Academy video*

 

Programs Offered

Below is a listing of our current program offerings for players to train throughout the year. Players are grouped and assigned to our Grasshoppies, Crickets, Lions and Eagles programs.

See below for age group descriptions and general program information. Please contact our Director of Programs if you have further questions.

 

Grasshoppies Academy (ages 3-5)

The Grasshoppies Academy is the entry-level program for the Pre-Academy. Grasshoppies is perfect for young children between the ages of 3 and 4 who have more energy than their parents. Grasshoppies prepares players for easy transitions into the Crickets Academy, and subsequently, into competitive Gryphons teams.

Ideal for: 3 and 4 year olds, or 5 year olds completely new to organized sports that may need some extra attention.

Regular Season Time: Every Sunday, 9:00am – 10:00am
Regular Season Location: Hillsdale High School turf field
Regular Season Cost: $125

 

Crickets Academy (ages 4-6)

The Crickets program is very popular with young players for whom there are no competitive leagues yet. Crickets Academy develops skills and prepares players for an easy transition into the Eagles or Lions programs, and subsequently, competitive teams at older ages.

Ideal for: 4 to 5 year olds recommended to move up from Grasshoppies by their coaches. Also, 6 year olds completely new to soccer.

Regular Season Time: Every Sunday, 9:00am – 10:30am
Regular Season Location: Hillsdale High School turf field
Regular Season Cost: $145

 

Lions Academy (ages 5-8)

The Lions started in 2013 as the Gryphons programs expanded to accommodate more skill levels and player development. This program is for those that have attended the Crickets program or are new to soccer. It develops skills and prepares players for an easy transition into Gryphons Academy teams.

Ideal for: 6 and 7 year olds, or 5 year olds recommended to move up from Crickets by their coaches. Also for 8 year olds completely new to soccer.

Regular Season Time: Every Sunday, 9:00am – 10:30am
Regular Season Location: Hillsdale High School turf field
Regular Season Cost: $145

 

Eagles Academy (ages 7-9)

Our aim is to prepare Eagles pre-academy graduates to be ready for the technical and physical demands of our first year Academy teams (U8/U9). Eagles will be exposed to all of the technical and physical training our U8 players receive, with the exception of the tactical component needed for competitive games.

The Eagles curriculum incorporates the following aspects of our U8 curriculum:

    • Technical skills: juggling, passing and receiving, dribbling, long balls, shooting, dribbling against an opponent (1v1), heading, moves / fakes, tackling
    • Psychomotor Skills: basic motor skills, postural, sensory perception, acrobatic abilities
    • Coordination Ability: combined movements, spatial & temporal skills, differentiation, reaction, balance, adaptation & transformation, rhythm, anticipation, motor creativity
    • Athletic & Physical Ability: speed (perceptive, anticipative, decisional, reaction, cyclic motor, acyclic motor, action, intervention), proprioception, articular mobility

These four basic elements are essential in player development. Exposing young players to these skills before age 11 enables them to reach their maximum potential. Eagles players will begin with the simplest of exercises to build confidence while still maintaining challenge for each individual.

The Eagles program will be lead by our U8 & U9 Academy Age Group Head Coach Orhan Muratoglu with assistant coaches under his supervision.

Ideal for: 7 and 8 year olds, or 9 year olds not ready for a competitive team but still interested in training.

Regular Season Time: Every Sunday, 9:00am – 10:30am
Regular Season Location: Hillsdale High School turf field
Regular Season Cost: $145