What Is Club Soccer?

Kids of all ages want to find someplace where they belong, whether that’s joining a club at school or looking for community organizations. For many young children and teenagers, girls’ soccer is a place they can call home. However, we understand that parents have lots of questions about joining a soccer team. At NJ Crush Elite Girls Soccer Club, we strive to adequately answer all your questions and explain the fundamentals of club soccer and our expectations. Our coaching staff is excited to work with athletes from all over Bergen County, Essex County and Cedar Grove, NJ. Learn more about our girls’ soccer clubs and how your child can get involved.

Let’s Start With Definitions

Children interested in sports have several options to get involved. Some may be able to play on school teams, while others might want to participate on community teams. Club soccer is a type of community program that aims to provide athletic opportunities for teenagers and younger children. These clubs are dedicated to giving athletes a safe place to learn the game and develop a passion. Many of these programs are available all year round.

What Does a Girls Soccer Club Entail?

Once parents understand the basics of girls’ club soccer, their next question is often about what the activity entails. While expectations may vary by program, athletes who join club soccer should be prepared for a few different things, including:

• High Levels of Commitment: At NJ Crush Elite Girls Soccer Club, we expect a high level of commitment from our student athletes. Whether they’re just starting out or hoping to make one of our top teams, players should anticipate practicing several nights each week.
• Competitive Play: Competition is a staple of many club soccer programs. Our players are highly competitive and recognize the importance of healthy competition. We stress good sportsmanship during each of our games.
• Off-Season Training: Training all year round is crucial for athletes who want to really hone their skills. We offer numerous programs during the winter months to keep players on their toes.
• Top-Notch Coaching Staff: The coaching team at NJ Crush Elite Girls Soccer Club is unmatched. We strive to bring in only the best coaches to help our athletes grow and develop a passion for the sport.

How Athletes Benefit From Club Soccer

Beyond learning the game and pursuing an interest, club soccer offers players a world of benefits. The coaching staff at NJ Crush Elite Girls Soccer Club is committed to providing a fun and educational environment to all our players where they can take full advantage of all these benefits:

Sense of Dedication

A strong sense of dedication can take someone far in life. Cultivating commitment early is a great way to promote this trait in other aspects of life. Children who learn to be dedicated at soccer practice might also be more committed to good grades, family responsibilities, and part-time jobs.

Physical and Mental Health

Participating in club soccer is an excellent way to encourage good physical health habits. Soccer helps children stay in shape and maintain a healthy relationship with exercise. With some help from our nutrition consultant, players also develop a good understanding of healthy eating. In addition to physical health, sports are also good for mental health. Exercise is known to reduce all of the following mental health concerns:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Depression
• Negative mood
• Low self-esteem
• Social withdrawal

Opportunities to Make Friends

It’s essential to develop social skills as children reach adolescence, and participating in club sports is the perfect way to ensure your pre-teen gets a chance to make some like-minded friends. Many of our players make friends for life during their time at NJ Crush Elite Girls Soccer Club. We love seeing teammates support each other on and off the field!

Develop a Passion for the Game

One of our priorities is to cultivate a passion for soccer. Many of our players start at a very young age, and we’re proud to see those 5-year-old goalies transform into well-rounded teenage athletes. When children feel passionate about something, they’re more likely to be motivated for success, come out of their comfort zone, and feel a sense of empowerment and fulfillment. Our coaching team works with each individual athlete to understand their reasons for playing and their athletic goals for the future.

Promote Sportsmanship and Positive Traits

Children who stick with club soccer are likely to see a boost in lots of positive traits. For one, many athletes develop a good sense of sportsmanship. They know how to handle a loss but also how to win while respecting the other team. Our players develop all the following attributes:

• Empathy
• Kindness
• Acceptance
• Cooperation
• Self-worth
• Self-reliance

Offering a Slew of Additional Resources

Girls club soccer is about more than just practicing and competing. At NJ Crush Elite Girls Soccer Club, we’re proud to offer a range of resources for our players. We strive to help our athletes achieve their full potential, whether that’s playing on our most competitive teams or focusing on their physical health. Learn more about the resources available to our athletes:

Nutrition

Without proper nutrition, it’s challenging to play club sports at an advanced level. We know that many children and teens struggle with their nutrition, so we employ a nutrition consultant to mentor the athletes in our program. Laura holds a degree in nutrition from Montclair State University and serves as a nutrition educator for multiple community organizations.

Player Development

It’s our goal to offer as many programs as possible to encourage player development. Whether it’s providing training sessions all year round or offering targeted skills practice, our coaching staff strives to cater to each player’s needs. We hold several technical training practices, including sessions focusing on the following:

• Ball control
• Passing
• Dribbling
• Heading
• Finishing
• Tactical
• In attack
• In defense

Cognitive and Mental Skills

A positive attitude is essential when playing club sports. But we know that most children struggle to maintain this positive mentality. If your player is having a hard time with mental toughness and motivation, we’re happy to work with them via our cognitive skills program. Gary Pritchard and Sean Pritchard are our Certified Mental Skills Coaches, and they have decades, combined, of experience coaching youth sports. They offer our players’ group sessions that include worksheets, props, stories, visuals, real game experiences, zoom virtual meetings, and in-person events and workshops.