What is Junior Academy?
Welcome to the Junior Academy Program. For the Fall of 2024, Winter of 2024/2025 and the Spring of 2025, this program is for all players born in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018. The online registration for the fall season will open June 1st and close July 31st. The online registration for the spring season will open February 1 and close March 31st. Sessions and games will start approximately two weeks or so after registration closes or when fields are open.
Fall 2024 Junior Academy season begins Saturday August 17th and Spring 2025 Junior Academy season begins Saturday April 12th. Please Note: This dates may be adjusted due to weather, etc.
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!
WINTER 2024/2025 JUNIOR ACADEMY
Welcome to the Jr. Academy Program. For the Winter of 2024/2025, this program is for all players born in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018. The online registration for the first Winter training block will open September 20th and close October 25th.
Registration is $75 per 5 week season in the Winter
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. We will host a Jr. Academy coaches meeting at the Gretna Sports Complex on Tuesday, November 5th at 6pm.
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 winter sessions/games are played at the Gretna Sports Complex (10550 S 222nd St, Gretna, NE 68028)
Dates
Winter Session 1 games will be played on the following dates:
Saturday November 9th, 16th & 23rd.
Saturday December 7th & 14th.
Times
U4 PLAYERS (Born in 2021) - 8AM - 8:50AM
U5 PLAYERS (Born in 2020) - 8AM - 8:50AM
U6 PLAYERS (Born in 2019) - 9AM - 9:50AM
U7 PLAYERS (Born in 2018) - 10AM - 10:50AM
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