Garden City Centennial Soccer Club Travel Program 

The Garden City Centennials Travel Program offers a more advanced level of soccer for players ages 8 to 18.  U9-U11 players must be Garden City residents or attend a school located in Garden City (e.g., St. Joe's, Waldorf, St. Anne's, etc.).

 

FAQs 

What commitment level is involved?

Teams practice twice a week during the season. Long Island Junior Soccer League and Cup games are played on Saturday or Sunday, depending on the age group, against teams throughout Nassau and Suffolk, as well as Queens. The regular season lasts 8-10 weeks. Teams usually enter tournaments, which are often held on holiday weekends.

 

All U9 through U12 teams are required to participate in the Pre-Season East Meadow tournament the week before Labor Day and a Connecticut Columbus Day Weekend tournament selected by the Centennials.  Teams are also strongly encouraged to participate in a Memorial Day Weekend tournament.  

 

Preseason practices may begin in late July, and again in January.

 

All U9-U11 players are not be permitted to be rostered on a soccer club other than the Centennials.  While we encourage our players to play multiple sports throughout the year, the Centennials are looking for players to commit their soccer efforts to their team and teammates throughout the season.  Any player in violation of this policy may be removed from Centennials travel team roster at any time.

 

How are players selected to a travel team?
Tryouts are held for each age group starting in late May/early June, prior to the end of the school year. All age groups are based on birth year, not school grade.

 

Tryout dates are posted on our website, our social media pages (FB,Twitter and Instagram) and published in the Garden City News in May.

 

All travel teams are required to tryout on an annual basis with the full understanding that no spot on any team is guaranteed. The Garden City Centennial Soccer Club allows for player movement to ensure competitive teams and to reward individual player growth.

U9 through U13 teams are selected by outside, independent evaluators and select members of the Centennials Travel Committee.  New U9 teams (typically those finishing 2nd grade or those who are age eligible) will undergo a two-day tryout during which individual performances will be tested through a combination of passing, shooting and dribbling drills, and small/full sided games. 

 

For existing U9 through U13 teams trying out for the fall season, players will be evaluated and selected by independent evaluators (including team trainers) during the tryouts with in-season input provided by team coaches and trainers. Input on returning players includes feedback related to soccer abilities, progression, participation, sportsmanship, and commitment level.

 

Selection to a travel team and ensuring an enjoyable and successful travel program for everyone requires a commitment by parents, coaches, volunteers and players.  Selection of travel teams is based on tryouts and a strong commitment to attendance is expected for practices, games and tournaments. Please keep this in mind when determining if your child will try out.

 

If my son or daughter does not try out for or make a team, can he/she tryout for again next year?

Absolutely!  In fact, we encourage children to try out for a travel team whenever they feel ready.  We realize and understand that children mature and physically grow at their own pace.  As we have said before, all travel teams are required to try out on an annual basis with the full understanding that no spot on any team is guaranteed.  Our travel program allows for player movement to ensure not only competitive teams but also to reward individual player growth, whenever it may occur.  Keep in mind that U9/U10 play 7 v 7, U11/12 play 9 v9 and U13 and older play 11 v 11.  At each of these levels, rosters need to expand creating opportunities for new players to join the travel program.  Please encourage your son or daughter to keep playing and keep trying!

 

How is playing time for each child determined? 

For U9 and U10 teams, playing time is evenly distributed over the course of a season (not necessarily on a per game basais). This is also subject to a player's commitment (attending practices, games, tournaments). The philosophy at this level is to 1) develop the young soccer player's technical skills, 2) increase the understanding and employment of team tactics, and 3) make the team experience fun.

 

At the U11 level and beyond, the game understandably becomes more competitive. While we still stress the preceding principles, playing time will be more at the discretion of the coach.  Decisions will be based upon the player "earning" time through exhibiting work ethic and skill in practice and games, as well as attendance at team practices, games and tournaments.

 

How are travel coaches selected?
Travel coach candidates will be solicited in early April on our website, social media pages and through advertisements placed in the Garden City News.  Interested coaching candidates will be directed to request an application from the Travel Committee. The Travel Committee interviews candidates in late April/early May and makes its recommendations to the Board of Directors at the May directors' meeting. The Board of Directors then votes to approve the coaches as presented by the Travel Committee. All travel coaches are required to obtain at least the 4 X 4 Diploma Class License from the Long Island Junior Soccer League.

 

Who trains the travel teams?

The Centennials have partnered with Royal Sporting Group Training, led by Carlo Acquista, to train our U9 through U12 teams.  Carlo, a former St. John's player and the current head coach of the Division 1 Fordham University men's soccer team is the GC Centennials Director of Training.  Royal Sporting trainers lead at least one of the two training sessions per week during each season.  Find out more about the Royal Sporting trainers here.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             

 

Teams will also participate in holiday weekend tournaments such as Columbus Day weekend and Memorial Day weekend tournaments.