Who is eligible?
Any players ages whose birthdate falls between 8-1-91 and 7-31-98 are eligible to play in the U13-U19 program age groups for 2010-11.

Team Selection Process
Our coaching staff will be evaluating players based on the four components of soccer:
1) Speed – Pure speed, mental speed, and technical speed
2) Personality – players who are enthusiastic, have the desire to learn, demonstrate good character, and possess a positive attitude.
3) Intelligence – problem solving, decision making, composure, understanding different systems of play, and roles and responsibilities on offense and defense.
4) Technique – quality of first touch, ball mastery, and the efficiency and comfort level of the skills needed to play the game.

How the teams will be formed?
Plan A: Ideally, we would like to have 29 players at each level on a total of two teams. The first team would consist of the GYSA mandated roster minimum of 11-12 players who consist of the “A” level players in the age group. The other 17-18 players would consist of the “B” level players and would be placed on the second team.

This would allow a free movement of players from the second team to the first team on a week-to-week basis to reward those players who have excelled in training and games, as dictated by the age group coach. In turn, each team would roster 14-15 players for each week’s games. It will be the coach’s discretion to move players permanently as he or she desires during the course of the season.

Plan B: For those age groups in which the Lightning do not possess 29 players in an age group, Lightning will look to fill one strong team of 15-17 players (depending on dynamics and needs of team) in that particular age group.

Training Schedule and Training Priorities
All U13-U19 teams train three times a week with sessions running for one and a half hours. These teams will be under the direct supervision of an assigned staff coach and the Director of Coaching. The emphasis in training will be on Speed, Personality, Intelligence, and Technique.

Game Schedules
Games are organized by the state and can take place anywhere in the state of Georgia. 

For More Information
If you have any further questions or queries, please contact any of our AFC Staff.