Grand Junction Soccer Club

Competitive Development Model

Fire FC offers a wide variety of camps, tournaments, and programs designed to develop skills for all players. While many of these courses are optional, we feel it is important to explain the purpose of the variety of programs and to emphasize the degree in which players can improve over time as they participate in these programs.

Keep in mind, the following list is a holistic approach to player development and is an important part of our curriculum, although most programs are optional. In most cases, a player does not become great in one season or even in two years. The idea is that kids continue to develop their love of the game, skills, understanding of the game, etc. as they continue to mature physically. We recognize that every player has strengths. We work hard to build on those strengths while developing further skills. Where there is difficulty in skill, we strive to generate positive habits and encourage progress. With this mindset, we believe the amount of time an individual player has invested in diverse forms of development through the years is a critical factor in wins or losses in league games or at tournaments.

Often the kids considered on the lower end of the age group at u11, may end up being the best player by u15 if they have followed a program like the one below or have even gone beyond what is listed.

The first table is an example of what our stronger players are doing. The second table is the bare minimum of what is expected from competitive players.

Pathway to High-Level Soccer

Grand Junction Fire F.C. provides a clear development pathway for players of all ages, from grassroots to elite competition. Our programs guide athletes through each stage of their soccer journey, offering top-tier training, league play, and tournament opportunities to help them reach their full potential. Whether starting in our Recreational Leagues or competing in high-level events, Fire F.C. is committed to player growth at every level.

PREMIER LEVEL

Premier level teams represent the most competitive teams in a given age group and therefore players and parents are willing to meet specific expectations. Premier teams are expected to practice year round and three days per week during the fall and spring seasons.

To play a higher level of competition, our Premier level teams play in the CSA League which is against teams from all over Colorado. This does require more time and travel. With that said, Fire FC coaches keep the travel to a minimum by scheduling double-headers for away games as much as possible. Three trips per season (i.e. Fall), is usually the most any one team will travel to the front range, and there could be as few as two trips. United teams are allowed to play in CSA if they choose.

Premier teams are expected to play at multiple tournaments per year, some of which may include travel outside of the state of Colorado. High-school aged players on Premier teams are expected to participate in college showcase tournaments, with the intent of exposing Fire FC student-athletes to college coaches from across the country.

UNITED LEVEL

United Level teams usually play in the Mountain Region League (MRL) which allows them to play quality competition while minimizing the amount of travel (1.5-2 hours each way is "normal"). United Level teams teams practice three days per week during the fall and spring seasons and one day per week throughout the winter months. Teams will usually play in 2-3 tournaments per year, occasionally traveling outside of the state of Colorado. United Level teams participate in summer team camp and in winter training.

COACHING

Premier and United teams train three times weekly with one of our licensed Fire FC coaches. If your child is still searching for more training options, see our Extra Touches program page. Other "off-season" training opportunities include: 4v4 (June through July), Winter Skills (December through February) and/or our Winter Indoor Soccer League (December through February).

Guest playing opportunities in various tournaments may also be pursued. Contact Shaun at shaun@gjsoccer.org

Tryouts for Competitive Teams are usually the last week in May-first week in June: 2024-25 tryout schedule found on the tryout page.

TEAM TRAINING

There are some substantial considerations when it comes to training sessions. Team training environments are designed to embolden kids to participate as an individual and as a member of a team. They are educational with high expectations and demands as they encourage an elevated level of competition during the sessions. The training allows the players to maximize their time by constantly moving and applying skills based on the demands of the game. In the end, the training sessions do a good job of bringing the kids together and preparing them for the games.

LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS

League games and tournaments are valuable for numerous reasons:

*For teams and individuals to test themselves against competition from different cities, states or countries.
Allow us to evaluate how we are doing compared to other clubs/teams (this is obvious, but important to keep in mind that players in college will come from all over the world).
To motivate players; either through winning the tournament and allowing kids to enjoy that pride in a job well done or losing and allowing kids, coaches, and teams to understand where they need to improve.
Tournaments are fun. Kids get to stay in hotels, be with friends, go out to dinner, spend time with families and teammates, and basically have some experiences they will remember for a lifetime.
Tournaments are a source of inspiration for players. Tournaments provide an opportunity for players to train hard as an individual and as a team member as they prepare for the games and even as they reflect on the outcome after the games.