FC Glen Rock Competitive Soccer

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Recreational Soccer (Glen Rock Soccer Club)

• There is no selection/tryout process. Coaches provide brief player ratings to ensure the formation of fair and balanced teams for the following season.
• All players who register make and are assigned to a team.
• All players receive equal playing time and play a minimum of half of each game.
• There is a one-time registration fee, which includes training once per week, GRSC jersey, socks, and soccer ball.
• The season runs in the fall only from September through late October/mid-November.
• Players benefit from the opportunity for social interaction with their friends and other players their own age, physical fitness aspects of the game, and developing better soccer skills.
• Age brackets are based on school year birth ranges: August 1st to July 31st of the following year, not birth year.
• Pre-K through 2nd grade time commitment is once per week on the weekends, while 3rd through 12th grades typically participate twice per week - one midweek practice and one game on the weekend.
• No standings are kept in League play; teams are redrafted each year.
• Coaches are parent volunteers.

Travel Soccer (FC Glen Rock)

• All players are evaluated/assessed by a professional trainer and must try out for a team prior to the beginning of the seasonal year, typically in April or May. Players will be placed on a team that is in the best interest of his/her development.
• Players selected for FCGR teams are committing to playing for their team for a fall and spring season (the "seasonal year"). The fall season runs from September through mid-November and the spring season runs from March - mid-June. 
• Time commitment is bigger: two midweek practices each week, game on weekend, fall and spring tournaments.
• The cost to participate is higher. Players selected for FCGR teams are financially committing to their team for one seasonal year.
• Age brackets are based on the calendar year: January 1st to December 31st, not school year birth ranges.
• Equal playing time, while encouraged, is not guaranteed.
• Teams qualify for League competition based on performance in the previous season.
• Additional costs can be incurred (i.e. for travel, additional tournaments, etc.).
• Coaches must be licensed.

What? Registration is now closed for the 2023-2024 seasonal year tryouts for players born in birth years 2014, 2015, and 2016. Players in these birth years can still receive an evaluation and should contact us at  FCGlenRock@gmail.com to arrange one.

Where? TBD

When? TBD

Can't attend tryouts? Please contact us at FCGlenRock@gmail.com to arrange for a player evaluation.

Player evaluation process? Player evaluations will be conducted by independent trainers from United Soccer Academy (USA), FCGR's training partner. Evaluators will use a format employing small-sided games. This allows the trainers to evaluate players based on key in-game soccer components including game understanding/decision making, initiative and focus, technical skills, and physical ability. 

What to wear and bring? T-shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, soccer cleats, water, soccer ball. Important Note: players should not wear their current travel training gear or game jersey or any affiliated program jersey. The tryout process is independent and unbiased, and this policy is designed to help enforce that.

Cost? There is no cost to try out for a FC Glen Rock team. 

When will I hear if my child is selected for a team? You will be notified as soon as possible after your player's evaluation.

The season is broken into two halves, collectively called the "seasonal year": 

-- Fall: teams start training in mid-August and matches are held from September - November

-- Spring: teams start training in March and matches are held from March - June

Practices: Teams will practice twice per week with their professional trainer starting in mid-August for the Fall season, and March for the Spring season. Practices are 1.5 hours long. Specific days and times are generally decided when field allocations become available several weeks before the start of each season. 

Games: Depending on the age bracket of the team, there are typically 6-10 games in the Fall and 6-10 games in the Spring played on the weekend. Occasionally there are times when games need to be played mid-week due to weekend scheduling conflicts. Half of fall and spring games are played at home while travel time to away games should not be more than 45 minutes.

Tournaments: Teams will participate in one tournament during the Fall season, and one tournament during the Spring season. It is possible that individual teams may enter additional tournaments based on discussions between the team's Coach and Trainer. Tournaments are typically held over holiday weekends such as Columbus Day and Memorial Day.

The costs required to field and operate travel soccer teams are higher than GRSC's recreational teams due to the extra expenses that are involved. The FCGR player program fee for the 2023-2024 fall and spring seasonal year has not yet been determined, but includes all core expenses related to the team:

• Professional training twice per week and at weekend matches
• Uniform including home and away jerseys, shorts, socks
• Practice jersey
• Tournaments
• League and Referee fees
• State and National registration fees 
• Player insurance
• Team equipment (i.e. corner flags, game balls, first aid kit)
• Administrative expenses

Fees are billed for the entire year upon acceptance to a team and can be paid in full or with a $295 deposit and two additional installments payable in August and November. 

Financial grants are available: Since the Club believes that no player should be denied participation due to financial constraints, FCGR will award grants to any player demonstrating financial need. 

The amount of the grant is case-based and is for a single seasonal year (fall and spring).

The Club's player development philosophy and programs are guided by our long term player development plan, which calls for creating training environments where the focus is on the development of our players and not on the short-term objective of winning a game or medal. FCGR's goal is to develop players ultimately to play at the high school level by providing support structures and programs for our teams, players, trainers, coaches and parents to implement this player-centric programming at every level of the game.

Our training philosophy further involves implementing an age-appropriate training curriculum at all levels to ensure the best development of our young players. By understanding the correct pillars of development at each stage of a player’s growth in soccer -- technical, tactical, physical, psychological -- trainers, coaches and parents will work together to ensure that our players’ education in soccer is being correctly facilitated.

While FCGR believes winning isn't everything, our commitment to success is unwavering. We measure success not by wins and losses, but how our players develop on and off the field. In our player-centric environment, individual player development is the most important outcome. This player-centric focus guides every decision FCGR makes as a program.

FCGR's long term player development model is just that - long term. The program aims to provide a standardized and structured support plan to guide our teams, trainers, coaches and parents in order to assist all of our players in reaching their maximum potential in the beautiful game.

We believe players need to learn from trainers who are trained in, and understand, the four pillars of soccer development: technical, psychological, tactical, and physical. Upwards of 90% of player development takes place at practice sessions so it's critical to have trainers that can connect with the players and gain their respect. As such, FCGR teams are trained by trainers from United Soccer Academy (USA).

United Soccer Academy has been training and developing soccer players for over 30 years and  possesses the most experience of any youth soccer training organization currently in Glen Rock. 

USA's professional trainers undergo rigorous background checks, are hired with relevant qualifications (at least two years' coaching experience and a minimum UEFA "B" coaching license or US equivalent), and have a history of working with children in soccer.

Finally, an office with over 45 full time, year-round support staff complements a management team of experienced soccer education professionals, all supporting the Club and USA's training staff.

All teams will need parent coaches. Coaches must possess a minimum NJ Youth Soccer State Certificate (formerly the NJYS "F" Certificate), complete a Safe Sport class, and complete a background check. 

The State Certificate is a 6-7 hour course offered regularly by NJYS, while Safe Sport is a 1.5-2 hour online course.

If you are interested in becoming a parent coach, please contact us as fcglenrock@gmail.com.

No. We understand that competitive travel requires a significant amount of time and that children are involved in other activities. However, we do encourage FCGR players to participate on a GRSC recreational team to gain even more match experience and touches on the ball.

A discount off of the Glen Rock Soccer Club registration fee will be offered to FC Glen Rock players who also participate in a GRSC fall program. The discount will be retroactive for any player already registered in one of GRSC's fall programs.

Yes. Many competitive travel soccer players, particularly at the younger ages, play two sports during the same season, including baseball, football or lacrosse, or participate in other activities such as dance or playing an instrument. 

Any player who anticipates scheduling conflicts should make the Club or coach aware of the conflict before the season begins, or as soon as possible so that appropriate plans can be made for practices or game schedules. 

Gold, black and red are the colors of FC Glen Rock and will be featured on the FCGR uniform.

The red and black stripes are a reference back to the colors of the Glen Rock Soccer Club.

The Dutch Lion is a reference to the Dutch families who originally settled the borough now known as Glen Rock, NJ.