National coaches to assist in youth club development

[January 26, 2016 – Harmon, Guam] In order to assist youth soccer clubs with player development, licensed coaches from the Guam Football Association technical department will be making scheduled visits to club training sessions as part of its new Club + Player Development Program (C+PDP).

“There is great potential among many of Guam’s youth soccer players to succeed at higher levels of the sport,” said Gary White, GFA Technical Director and head coach of the Matao. “As witnessed during last year’s home matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Joint Preliminary Qualification Round 2, we’ve worked to develop a successful and unique playing style that has been globally recognized.

“It is imperative that training begins at the youth club level to better prepare elite athletes for the United Airlines GFA National Academy and youth national teams, before selection to Guam’s senior national teams – the Matao and Masakåda – once eligible,” White added.

The C+PDP is meant to strengthen club teams for league play, as well as develop individual players to help grow the sport of football in Guam. GFA licensed coaches will visit youth clubs and work with club coaches in running training sessions.

Five of thirteen youth clubs already are on schedule. The remaining clubs are encouraged to contact the GFA Main Office to provide a preferred date for their club visits.

Scheduled clubs are:

• Monday, Jan. 25 – ASC Trust Islanders

• Tuesday, Jan. 26 – Sidekick SC

• Wednesday, Jan. 27 – Strykers FC

• Thursday, Jan. 28 – Guam Shipyard Wolverines

• Friday, Jan. 29 – Tumon Typhoons SC

In addition to club visit dates, the GFA technical department also has released official dates for the United Airlines GFA National Academy girls’ division open tryouts for the new U9 and U11 age divisions.

Open tryouts for girls will be held at 6 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 10 a.m. on Feb. 6 at the GFA National Training Center. Open tryouts for the United Airlines GFA Goalkeeping Academy girls’ division also will be held on the same dates. Birth years eligible for U9 are 2007 and 2008 and birth years eligible for U11 are 2005 and 2006. Birth years eligible for the National Goalkeeping Academy are 2005, 2006, and 2007.

For inquiries about the C+PDP or the National Academy, contact the GFA Main Office at 637-4321 or E-mail[email protected]