What is Junior Academy?
Welcome to the Junior Academy Program. For the Fall of 2025, Winter of 2025/2026 and the Spring of 2026, this program is for all players born in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019. The online registration for the fall season is now open and will close July 31st. Sessions and games will start the week of August 11th, 2025.
We also have 5 week training blocks for Winter Junior Academy too. These run from November to March.
GEA Junior Academy is an exciting introduction to soccer based on what’s best for the players. The player’s individual skill development and enjoyment is at the heart of the program. All players get professional training from GEA staff members. They get practices throughout the year with small-sided games during the spring and fall seasons.The players play 4v4 to maximize touches and enjoyment.
Why Junior Academy?
Junior Academy is the first stage of the GEA Development Pathway. Led by our GEA Junior Academy Director the program is the “me and my ball” stage in a low pressure environment where individual technical development is the main focus alongside fun games that promote lots of touches of the ball. It will give your player confidence and set them up for an exciting future in soccer!
FALL 2025 JUNIOR ACADEMY
Welcome to the Jr. Academy Program for the Fall of 2025. This program is for all players born in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019. The online registration for the Fall is now OPEN and closes July 31st.
Registration is $175 for the 6 week Spring season at U4-U6 and $225 at U7 (U7 have a weekly training session & weekend game)
REGISTER HERE
Coaching Information
All teams, rosters, coaches and schedules will be emailed out to those registered the week prior to the session starting. All Jr. Academy teams are coached by volunteer parent coaches.
Uniforms
All Jr. Academy players will need a black/white reversible jersey available for purchase at Soccer Internationale, located at 132nd and Center. Cleats are optional. Shin guards are required. Players may wear shorts of their choice and long socks to cover shin guards.
All players will need a #3 size ball and a water bottle, both with their names clearly marked.
Location
All Jr. Academy Spring sessions/games are played at the Leo Royal Fields (10004-10622 US-6W, Gretna, NE 68028)
Dates
Fall Season training/games will be played on the following dates:
Saturday August 16th & 23rd
Saturday September 13th, 20th & 27th
Saturday October 4th
Times
Between 9AM-2PM on Saturdays
(SPECIFIC TIMES ARE TBD DEPENDING ON AGE GROUP NUMBERS)
U7 (2019) also train on the Tuesday before each Saturday session 5:30PM-6:30PM (Boys) & 6:30PM-7:30PM (Girls)
U4, U5 and U6 age groups are all co-ed. The U7 age group will run a little differently as this is the final stage in this program before going into our Academy Program at U8. U7 teams will no longer be co-ed.
Please contact Jono Callaghan, Jr. Academy Director at jono.callaghan@gretnaeliteacademy.com if you have any questions regarding this program.
GEA Junior Academy will enable your child to:
Have fun while learning the littlest of nuances of soccer
Gain knowledge, love and passion for the game
Develop their technical sophistication on the ball
Become elegant, confident and poised players for life
Attain high soccer awareness and smarts of the game