2024 Summer Competitive Traveling Program
The GGFSC Summer Competitive program is GGFSC's top offering for soccer players who want to develop their skills to a higher level and compete in tournaments and other games against talented competitive teams throughout the region. The competitive program involves travel to other cities in North Dakota, Minnesota, and sometimes other states. Summer is a beautiful time to be out on the pitch and prior competitive experience is not required. What are you waiting for? Join now!
NEW THIS YEAR
- We will continue the success from 2023 of offering Practice Squad-only registration. This is an offering for summer competitive training to players who have limited availability and/or who do not desire to commit to a travel schedule. These players will participate in practices only, with no travel, tournament, or game participation. Competitive practice squad players will be placed with the team associated with the registrant's age. Registration as a practice squad player will not result in placement on a travel team, and will not require any travel. Practices will begin mid-April and run through the third week of July, with the week of July 4th off. See the Practices section below.
- Revised tournament schedule. Over the last several years, we have ended our season mid-July by attending the Fishback Classic tournament in Brookings, South Dakota. Unfortunately, the Fishback tournament is moving their tournament dates to much earlier in the summer in 2024, which would not allow for all of our teams to participate. In order to keep our season length the same, we will be returning to USA Cup in Blaine, which is offered the same weekend that Fishback normally takes place. We will also be attending the NSC All-American Cup as usual in the beginning of the season as well as host our own Greater Grand Forks Tournament. Optionally, teams can also choose to participate in the Bemidji 6v6 Tournament and the Tri-City Summer Classic Tournament in Fargo.
- Price Changes. We are changing our prices based on projected tournament and other costs for 2024 as well as after a careful review of the Competitive Program's overall financials for 2023. The USA Cup is a more expensive tournament to participate in than Fishback, and so for our U8-U10 players, the cost will increase by $45. For our U11 and up players, the cost will decrease by $35, however, we are attending one less tournament. If your team elects to go to an additional tournament (such as Fargo), charges for attending that tournament will be charged separately.
- New uniforms. Our contract for our current uniforms has expired and we have been working on a new contract. This means that all players will need to purchase new uniforms this year. We are very excited as we have seen some of the preliminary designs and they look fantastic! We hope to have samples available soon and will be in contact (and update this page) when new uniform orders can be made.
REGISTRATION
- Make sure you have a GGFSC account (register by clicking the register button above)
- Find the appropriate age division in the "Registration Listing" section at the bottom of the page, click the appropriate button, and follow the instructions. For program registration purposes, age divisions are grouped by program cost.
- Registration deadline: Sunday, January 14, 2024
- Registration will be closed at midnight on the date above. (Please try to not wait until the last minute to register as you may run into problems with your account or the registration process).
- After the registration deadline, the executive board will evaluate the total number of registrants per age group and determine the number of teams, and which teams, that will be created. The board will advise the Director of Coaching of the teams and roster sizes, and the Director of Coaching will begin to determine player placements on teams for the 2024 season.
- Age groups may be combined as needed based on final registration numbers. If certain teams/age groups are short players, registration may open up in those age groups for late registrations. Late registrations will incur a $50 late fee.
SEASON DATES
- Around April 15 - July 14, 2023
- Try-Outs for U17-U19: Most likely in February (dates TBD)
- Full practice schedule begins the week of June 3. Details below.
- We take Monday July 1 through Sunday July 7, 2024 off for the Independence Day Holiday
COST
As indicated in the "New This Year" section, U8-U10 prices are increasing $45 (same number of tournaments as last year), while U11 and up are decreasing (but one less tournament included from last year).
Girls and Boys U8-U10 (3 tournaments): $475
- Or choose a 5-month payment plan of $95 per month
Girls U11-U14 (3 tournaments): $575
- Or choose a 5-month payment plan of $115 per month
Girls U15-U19 (3 tournaments): $545*
- Or choose a 5-month payment plan of $109 per month
- *The overall cost for this group is less due to the high-school season not allowing girls this age to start the competitive season until the high school season has finished. (HS Girls State Tournament is May 31-June 2)
Boys, U11-U19 (3 tournaments): $575
- Or choose a 5-month payment plan of $115 per month
Practice Squads (Boys & Girls): $150
Please note that our website adds a $3 processing fee to registrations. The processing fee is not a credit card fee (the club pays additional credit card fees for all credit card transactions). If you use a payment plan, the processing fee will be added to each installment. If paying by check, you must still include the $3 fee as the website charges the club regardless if a payment is made by check or credit card. This fee pays for the maintenance and hosting of the website.
Hotel, uniforms, and travel costs are not included and are the sole responsibility of the registrant’s family.
SCHOLARSHIPS
We do have some scholarships available for families in need. If you are in need of a scholarship, please submit a scholarship application to [email protected] by January 7, 2024. This will allow us enough time to review the scholarship application before the registration deadline and give you time to decide whether to enroll based on the scholarship decision. For the application form, please visit our GGFSC Hardship Application page. Please note that previously due balances must be paid in full for scholarship applications to be considered.
TEAM MANAGER CREDITS
Team managers who manage at least three tournaments receive a $150 credit toward registration per club policies. There is only one team manager per team and the team manager is chosen by the Club Administrator. If you are interested in becoming a team manager, please contact us at [email protected].
PAYMENT PLANSAs indicated above, you may sign up for a payment plan instead of paying the entire fee upfront.
There are five payments:
1: When you sign up
2-5: on the 10th of each month (January 10, February 10, March 10, April 10).
Please note that from time to time, the payment plan may error. This could be due to an expired credit card. It could also be due to an error in the system. It is still your responsibility to make the payments. Should something happen with the automatic payments, you will receive a communication from the club asking you to make a payment.
Players who have not paid their balances (current season and past) in full by April 14, are ineligible for practices, games, and tournaments until the balance has been paid in full.
AGE DIVISIONS
Age divisions are based on birth year.
Please visit our age breakdown page explaining what division your athlete belongs in for the August 2023- July 2024 season.
- U8-U10 teams are considered non-competitive. They typically play jamboree-style tournaments, get fairly equal playing time, and rotate through several positions. U8-U10 teams will participate in two out-of-town tournaments plus the Grand Forks tournament. Optional tournaments are also available.
- U11-U12 play in competitive-style tournaments, but get mostly equal playing time. Players begin to be moved toward position specialization. U11-U12 teams will participate in two out-of-town tournaments plus the Grand Forks tournament. Optional tournaments are also available.
- U13-U16 play in competitive-style tournaments. Playing time is at the discretion of the coach (though all players will get some playing time). U13 -U16 teams will participate in two out-of-town tournaments plus the Grand Forks tournament. Optional tournaments are also available.
- The U17-U19 division is our senior division and is a combined age division (there will NOT be separate age group teams within the division) and play in competitive-style tournaments. Tryouts may be needed to determine the season roster (see below). This is considered our most competitive age group and playing time is at the sole discretion of the coach. The U17-19 teams will participate in two out-of-town tournaments plus the Grand Forks tournament. Optional tournaments are also available.
Remember, the Summer Competitive Traveling Program is about more than games and playing time. GGFSC’s main focus is player development.
COACHES
GGFSC Coaches are licensed by US Soccer (or equivalent), hired by GGFSC, and supervised by the GGFSC Director of Coaching, Scott Nordin ([email protected]). If you are interested in coaching, download a coaching application here. We do allow the Director of Coaching to hire parent coaches.
TEAM FORMATION
Players will be assigned to teams by the Director of Coaching and the coaching staff based on their age. It is our goal to keep teams as age pure as possible and to minimize movement between age groups. In cases where we are forced to move players, we will be moving up the most skilled (as recommended by the Director of Coaching & Coaching Staff) from the age group below.
Specific details on team formation for an age group are dependent upon the number of registrants. General considerations for the 2023 season include the following:
- Age-pure team formation remains a priority whenever possible through age U16. However, this does not preclude the formation of combined birth year teams when numbers and/or player skill composition dictate that as a favorable option.
- If registration numbers allow, two U17-U19 teams (one for boys and one for girls) will be rostered based on a try-out process. Tryouts will be held late January or early February 2023. U17-U19 players not rostered on the competitive team will be offered participation on the Competitive Practice Squad and may participate in all practices. Should injuries occur, or if a rostered player is otherwise unable or ineligible to play, a squad player may be moved on to the rostered team at the discretion of the coach. While we don’t anticipate this to be the case in 2024, if there are enough registrants for two teams in this division, an A and a B team will be created.
- Going forward, based on club member input, GGFSC will prioritize not fracturing age-pure teams with strong registration numbers. Very strong consideration will be given before fracturing an age-pure team for the benefit of an older or younger team that does not have adequate numbers for a team. If there are not enough players for a certain age group to form an age-pure team (i.e. there is a significant shortage of players), and the age-pure teams below and above have full or nearly-full rosters, there may not be a team for players in that certain age group. If the age group above needs a select number of players to make an optimal roster, the players in the age group that is short may be offered to try out for the team in the age group above. Players will also be offered to participate in the Competitive Practice Squad. Refunds will be given to players who do not have a team and GGFSC will work with players to find other options for the season.
- Player movement may still occur at the discretion of DOC and coaching staff.
- For age U13 and above, if there are enough players to form two teams in an age group, the DOC will determine whether it is beneficial to roster two even teams or to make A and B teams. This determination may involve the use of tryouts, which would most likely be held in February of 2024.
- Divisions that do not have enough players registered may either be combined with other age-appropriate divisions (must play as higher age group) or canceled outright. Registrants of canceled divisions, or competitive registrants not placed on a traveling team for any reason, will receive refunds and be given the option to join a Competitive Practice Squad.
The approach outlined above will guide our team formation as much as possible while we also consider the players' development, competition, balance, participation, and fun.
Assignment of players to teams will be made at the discretion of the DOC, which may include evaluation using a tryout process. Players who do not make a team will be offered to participate with the Competitive Practice Squad.
Roster caps are as follows (these are MAX sizes, in most cases, teams will have a more OPTIMAL roster size):
U8-U10 age divisions: Max roster 12 players (7v7 on field)
U11-U12 age divisions: Max roster 16 players (9v9 on field)
U13-U19 age divisions: Max roster 18 players (11v11 on field)
For the U17-U19 teams, while the max roster size is 18, it is at the discretion of the coach and the Director of Coaching to determine the optimal roster size during the tryouts.
In some cases, guest players may be used to fill roster spots. Guest players will be charged $125 per tournament in which they participate.
PRACTICES
Tentative Start Time: Monday, April 15
Practices from April 15 through the end of May will be held Mondays and Wednesdays. Specific times for these sessions will be announced at a future time. Due to limited availability of some coaches until late May, teams may not have individual team practices until that time. For April through late May, practices will likely involve combined age groups.
The week of June 3, we will start practicing three times per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays). Practices may be substituted for friendly games. Practice days are subject to change.
The last practices will be held Thursday, July 11 (before the USA Cup tournament).
Girls participating in the Middle School and High School soccer programs may attend practices as able and as their coaches permit. They cannot play competitive games until the middle school or high school season is completed. U15+ girls will not start practices until the end of the high school season.
Note: practices will be scheduled around the GGFSC Rec Program in April/May for girls and boys in those age groups. This allows you to participate in both the rec program and the competitive program. Participating in both programs for this age group is highly recommended.
Actual practice days and times will be announced after teams have been formed and is based on coach and field availability. Practices are usually after 5pm.
While the season ends after our last tournament in mid-July, we will provide opportunities to participate in a Fall Select Competitive program.
PRACTICE SQUAD
To extend opportunity for summer competitive training to players that have limited availability and/or who do not desire to commit to a travel schedule, GGFSC is offering a competitive registration option that would allow participation in competitive practices only, with no travel, tournament, or game participation. Competitive practice squad players will be placed with the team associated with the registrant's age and/or skill.
Practice squad players are considered part of the summer competitive program and must follow and comply with all requirements of the program, including signing a player code of conduct and completing all compliance mandates.
Registration as a practice squad player will not result in placement on a travel team, and will not require any travel. While rare, and as a last resort, should a team be critically short for a game or tournament, practice squad players may be asked to join a team for that game or tournament should they be interested. In such a case, an additional fee will be assessed. Players (or parents of players) on the practice squad should not have any expectation of participation in competitive games or tournaments.
TOURNAMENTS
GGFSC will travel to two (2) mandatory out of town tournaments as well as attend the mandatory Greater Grand Forks Soccer Tournament in Grand Forks. See details in the 2024 Tournaments section below.
These tournaments are required and the registration cost and coaching costs for these tournaments are included in the registration fees. Note that unforeseen things can happen (such as cancellations or a team not being accepted into a tournament) and the tournament schedule is subject to change.
Individual teams may attend optional tournaments if there is interest among the players and coaches. Current options include the one-day Bemidji 6v6 tournament and the Tri-City Summer Classic in Fargo. Attending optional tournaments would add additional cost to cover the tournament registration and coach pay. Teams will only attend if there is enough interest on the team to form a roster.
FRIENDLY GAMES
We will be scheduling friendly games throughout the season with area clubs, based on specific interest by coaches and families of each team. Some will be in Grand Forks while others may be out of town, but we do not want to travel any further than the Fargo area for friendly games. Each team will have a maximum of two friendly games included in the cost of the program. More friendly games may result in additional charges.
MID-SEASON BREAK
GGFSC will break in observation of Independence Day July 1 through July 7. No games or activities will take place during this period.
UNIFORMS
Uniforms must be purchased by registrants. As noted above, we will have new uniforms this year and all participants (except Practice Squad players) must purchase our new uniforms. More information and order forms will be available soon. Uniform orders and questions about uniforms may be emailed to [email protected].
Uniform Order Form [PDF] - Coming Soon!
Guest Uniforms: Guest players, or players still awaiting uniforms, may rent a uniform from GGFSC for $30 per week needed. All guest players must buy socks ($12).
Summer Competitive Kick-Off Meeting (Date and time TBD)
We will be holding a Summer Competitive Kick-Off meeting sometime before the season starts (most likely in early April)
Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] or stop into our office on 24th Ave during office hours. We'd love to hear from you!