Greenwich United Travel and Premier
Background
Dating back to 2002, both travel soccer clubs in Greenwich (OGRCC and GSA), made a commitment to come together for several reasons:
To be able to support fully rostered competitive teams when players move from 8v8 to 11v11 at the A and B level.
To be able to align the developmental level of the players through open tryouts into teams commensurate to technical and athletic ability and tactical understanding.
To be able to provide an alternative to local premier clubs for individuals that play other sports but who might still desire to play high school soccer, yet want to play at a “premier” level of soccer.
To provide a “premier” competitive level of play (league and tournaments) that meets the needs of the players when certain metrics have been reached. The club runs this the premier part of the club at a strict BREAK-EVEN, that is in-line with the “not-for-profit” status of both the OGRCC and GSA soccer programs.
To provide coaching that develops players to a level for required for the varsity level and beyond (see table below).
To develop correct technique in a constructive, challenging, yet fun and supportive environment
Based on these reasons Greenwich United has supported four premier teams since 2004; Greenwich United Arsenal U17 – 04’s (4 players of which graduated to play in college); Greenwich United Arsenal U15 – 06’s, that produced on average 14 varsity players during 2008 and 2009 seasons at Greenwich High; Greenwich United Arsenal U14 – 09’s and won the Needham College Showcase in 2010 at U15 (this team is now the current U17 premier team); and lastly the Greenwich United Arsenal U12 – 12’s, which has just completed its first season as the #3 ranked team in CT (gotsoccer.com) and went as high as #21 in Region 1, winning its CJSA premier division and two premier tournaments.
Basis for Establishing Premier Teams
Greenwich United supports premier level teams on a team-by-team, year-to-year basis through performance metrics for that group of players. These metrics include, but are not exclusive to, reaching the semi-finals of the CT Cup, finishing in the top 3 of the south-west district division 1 and winning or finishing runners-up in competitive tournaments that other premier programs participate in during U11 (e.g. the highest bracket of Glastonbury). As a club we therefore do not promise to create premier teams each year, however we believe that the coaching in both OGRCC and GSA is providing the platform and foundation to promote a combined team in the higher premier divisions of the CJSA (Connecticut Junior Soccer Association). We believe that only if the pool of players can compete at the highest levels of premier will the club sponsor and support that team, since we do not believe in creating teams to compete at the lowest levels of premier that are simply the same if not below the standard of south-west district travel.
Season: Fall (start late August and end mid November); 3 practices per week and 2 tournaments
Winter (start beginning of December and end late March); 2 practices per week and 3 tournaments
Spring (start beginning of April and end late June); 3 practices per week and 2-3 tournaments
