25 Jan Triple J Spring 2024 youth league to kick off Feb. 17; club rosters open
Wings FC U8 Team Coach Phoenix Pahl takes part in a practical session during the Guam Football Association Youth Coaching Certificate Course held Jan. 12-14. Pahl took part in the course in preparation for the 2024 Spring season of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League, which kicks off Feb. 17.
“I’ve played football for almost all my life and recently, I was inspired to give back to the community that had supported me as a player by coaching the next generation of youth players,” said Pahl, who recently completed the Guam Football Association Youth Coaching Certificate Course. “I enjoy being able to help Guam’s youth players as much as I can and it really brings me joy every time seeing them make progress in their development.
“The youth league is really the start of everything for youth players. It’s also great for the players’ parents: one, it gets the kids out of the house and helps get rid of some of their excessive energy by playing a sport outdoors, and two, it may potentially open doors of opportunity – their kids may develop a passion for the sport at the elite level and maybe their kids eventually play college soccer, or become pro and also represent our island in international competition,” added Pahl, who currently coaches in the U8 Division.
The 2024 Spring season of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League will officially kick off Feb. 17 and will feature five age divisions: U6, U8, U10, U12, and U15. An all-girls division also is featured in the U6, U8, U10, and U15 age divisions.
In order to play in the youth league, players’ parents must contact one of the participating member clubs to register and also attend training sessions. A listing of participating clubs is available online at https://guamfa.com/gfa-programs/all-leagues/youth/spring/registration-form/
Once registered with a club, players’ parents will be directed to also register with GFA to be placed on the team roster on game days. The entire registration process with the clubs and with GFA is done online via PowerUp Sports.
Pahl said Wings FC is open to accepting new players. In addition to Wings FC, teams from 12 other GFA member clubs participate in the twice-yearly youth league and may still have openings in their respective rosters: ASC Trust Islanders FC, Bank of Guam Strykers FC, Crushers FC, Dededo Soccer Club, Guam Shipyard Windward Wolverines SC, Quality Distributors FC, NAPA Rovers FC, Sidekick SC, Southern Cobras, Southern Heat, Tiger FC, and Tumon Typhoons FC.
All youth league matches will be played on Saturdays. League sponsor Triple J Auto Group is celebrating its 40th year anniversary this year, as well as moving into 11 years with Guam Football Association and the youth league.
In order to prepare for the upcoming youth league, the GFA Technical Department recently held its first GFA Youth Coaching Certificate Course and GFA “D” Coaching Certificate Course of the year. The next GFA YCC and D Coaching Courses will be held in May in a southern village location, and again in August ahead of the 2024 Fall season of the youth league.
The GFA Technical Department is also offering the GFA Goalkeeping Coaching Certificate Course Feb. 9-11 for coaches with at least the GFA “D” Coaching Certificate. Two GFA “C” Coaching Diploma courses will be held this year – one in April and one in June. More information on coaching courses are online at https://guamfa.com/education/coaches/courses/
The GFA Referees Department will be offering a GFA Introductory Referees Course Feb. 1-3. Currently, the introductory referees course is full; however, for more information about the next course or to get on the waiting list, send an E-mail message to GFA Director of Referees George Stewart at [email protected]