Gunner Goals for Every Level

1. Emphasis on enjoyment and becoming a team
2. Try to experience many positions, including Goalkeeper
3. Lots of work on individual ball mastery, ball control, passing, first touch and shooting skills
4. At the completion of this stage, the players should be familiar with all positions on the field and grasp the fundamentals of the game of soccer

Experimentation is encouraged! The team will attempt to "play soccer". Pass and build with the ball to develop all round skills, rather than play the easier "long game". During matches, we will lose many times to teams that are physically mature and will play "long ball", without attempting to pass. Results are not important.

Emphasis is on
1) individual ball skills
2) small-sided games (3 vs. 3, 4 vs. 4 and micro soccer)



At the completion of this period, the players will know what is expected of them at each position. They will still maintain a possession game, even when it is difficult, against more physically mature teams.

At the under-13 level, we expect the team to match up well with most teams of similar physical development. They are prepared for the more competitive level of under-14, which emphasizes competition for starting places and playing time.

Training emphasizes:
1) bias toward individual ball skills and technique
2) small sided, building towards larger area games 5 vs. 5, 7 vs. 7 and 8 vs. 8
3) slight tactical considerations

The Under-14 team will undertake a foreign tour (England for the Boys and Scandinavia for the Girls) to expose them to the higher levels of soccer.



Two teams at the same age may be utilized to instill a high work ethic and competition for places. Tactical work is added to practice time, with the players becoming familiar with principles of attack and defense.

We expect the team will match up well with teams in CYSA-South and hope progress through state cup.

Training emphasizes:
1) individual ball skills
2) small sided games - building to 11 vs. 11 - attack vs. defense
3) tactical principles of the game (positional play and game savvy)
4) academic awareness and preparation for college academics... to be a well-rounded student-athlete
5) health and nutrition

These teams will undertake a foreign tour to continue to expose them to the highest levels of soccer.

College and Beyond

Our graduating class in 2004 have been offered scholarships to several schools including; Westmont College, Point Loma University, CSU Monterey Bay, and CSU Bakersfield. Our graduating class in 2003 produced six collegiate players. Our graduating class in 2002 produced eight collegiate players. This Year's College-bound Gunners Alumni

Previous College-bound Gunners Alumni

T. J. Brown CSU Bakersfield 2004 Andrea Carlson Westmont College 2004 Sean Collins UC San Diego 2004 Katie Dunn CSU Bakersfield 2004 Krystke Immel CSU Bakersfield 2004 Amanda Meyer CSU Bakersfield 2004 Tommy Montgomery Stanford University 2004 Rachel Stumm Westmont College 2004 Brian Jacobs UC San Diego 2003 Lyle Martin CSU Bakersfield 2003 Mark Perez CSU Bakersfield 2003 Wayne Stonecipher CSU Bakersfield 2003 Atephine Whitley CSU Bakersfield 2003 Anton Arrade Mesa CC 2002 Kyle Dekam CSU Bakersfield 2002 Mike Dixon Colorado School of Mines 2002 Aaron Heworth San Francisco State 2002 Nalalie Mckinley CSU Bakersfield 2002 Kevin Saiki Westmont College 2002

College Recruiting Process Every player is informed of academic requirements and the variables involved in attracting the attention of colleges of their choice.

"The Gunners gave me the skill and the inspiration to play at the college level." -Anton Arrade

 

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