Gryphons
Soccer
 Academy

For more information on SAYSO's Gryphons Soccer Academy, call 650-593-5161, email, or use these links:
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About the Academy

SAYSO's Gryphons Soccer Academy targets youth players with above-average playing abilities. Academy players receive training from experienced and credentialed coaches using curricula appropriate for each player's age group and maturity level. SAYSO's Academy emphasizes skill development, rejects winning as a success criterion, delays teaching of overly complex strategy, rejects strict field positioning, and selects players on the basis of future potential rather than current size and speed. Academy training is consistent with the concept of using short-sided teams, smaller goals, and down-sized fields for the youngest players.

Each Fall, SAYSO selects boys and girls to play on Academy teams. The Fall Academy consists of approximately 28 practice sessions (2 per week) and 8-10 weekend (Saturday or Sunday) games. Practicing begins in late July or early August and continues through mid-November. Games begin in early September. U8 and U9 Academy teams play in Class-3 competitive leagues on Sundays. U10 and older Academy teams become eligible to play in Class-1 leagues. U10 and older games may be played on Saturdays or Sundays, depending on the league in which a team is playing.
Advantages of Academy Instruction
Formal curriculum: SAYSO coaches follow a specific curriculum at every practice. All essential skills are introduced and periodically revisited in a logical and progressive pattern. Coaches of older teams follow a similar strategy, with "elective time" and "review" practices scheduled to cover specific team needs.
 
Qualified coaches: All SAYSO head coaches are credentialed ("licensed") by CYSA, USYS, FIFA, or equivalent. SAYSO's minimum coaching license for head coaches is a state/national "D". All SAYSO head coaches have previously coached their respective age groups and are experienced competitive coaches. SAYSO coaches take the "role model" aspect of their responsibilities seriously and follow SAYSO's behavioral guidelines.

Head start: SAYSO uses age-appropriate methodology to introduce teams to the skills, strategies, and psychologies of competitive players approximately 2-3 years before most other teams. This head start is rarely overcome by players who stay in recreational soccer until older ages.

Development enhanced by association: By associating and playing with other elite-track players, your child's achievement won't be limited by new players who, each year, struggle with basic skills and strategies. Association with other elite-track players removes the growth, learning, and achievement ceilings present with most other options, and such association provides an incentive for continued progress.

 Experienced and accountable administration: SAYSO's administration is experienced in recruitment, team formation, and management of competitive teams.
Team Placement of Academy Players

Players are grouped into Academy teams based on a combination of (1) performance in SAYSO Spring and Fall public programs, (2) assessment in public and private tryouts, and (3) performance at SAYSO summer camps.

Once they are formed, age-pure Academy teams may stay together until graduation from high school.

Players are assigned to teams based on availability of qualified coaches. SAYSO generally cannot accommodate requests to play on teams with specific coaches.

SAYSO tries to accommodate the requests of players to play with friends and/or siblings. However, it is often not possible to honor such requests. SAYSO is generally unable to accommodate such requests unless friends and/or siblings are of similar abilities and ages.

Players are permitted to "play up" (i.e., play in an older age group) in certain instances. (Should your child play up? Read SAYSO's opinion here.) Players are never permitted to "play down."

SAYSO permits girls to play on boy's teams.
Registration Fees

The registration and equipment fees cover the services of a trained, credentialed (generally, non-parent) coach for approximately 28 practices and 10 league games, CYSA and/or USCS league/association membership fees, a uniform (shorts, numbered jersey, and socks), insurance, field rental (where required), payments to USSF-licensed referees for the home games, all required team equipment (balls, cones/disks, goals, and supplies), and participation awards for all players. Actual registration fees depend on the planned activities (e.g., tournaments, camps, trips), the team's staffing (paid coach and trainer), and the team's equipment needs ("away" uniforms, bags, jackets, etc.)

A limited number of qualifying players are accepted regardless of financial need. Timed-payment plans are available for players in need. Award of scholarships is governed by SAYSO's scholarship policy.
Refunds

 Refunds are governed by SAYSO's current refund policy. Equipment and uniform fees are not refundable unless the equipment and uniform are unused.

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