Exciting Times at GSA!

As we continue to work in an attempt to improve our Club, there is a lot on the horizon to get excited about!

We are adding to our Competitive Senior Staff!

Competitive Director Jeremy Witt is hiring two familiar faces for director roles in an attempt to raise the quality of coaching and administrative effectiveness within the competitive program.

Junior DaCosta is being rewarded for his exemplary work and effort by being given the role of Senior Boys Program Director. With his experience playing professionally in Europe and coaching with English Premier League academies Leicester City and Aston Villa, Junior is primed to take our boys to new heights this season!

Kerri Hanks Petersen is being brought over full-time from United Soccer Alliance in the role of Senior Girls Program Director and Juniors Program Director! Kerri was a two-time Collegiate Player of the Year while at Notre Dame and brings with her a wealth of experience having just coached in the US Soccer Development Academy and the Girls Academy.

Our Competitive League Affiliations are starting to take shape, and we have never been in a better position to ensure we have a competitive level for ALL of our teams to play in next season! Our Showcase boys teams will compete in the Florida State Premier League, our elite girls will compete in the DPL, while our remaining teams play in the EDP.

Our Competitive Team Tryouts are NEXT WEEK! Details are below, as well as a link to pre-register. We hope to see all of you there!
Meet Junior DaCosta!

Junior DaCosta has been with GSA for two years now, working with numerous teams and establishing himself as one of the best soccer trainers to ever work in Gainesville!

Founder and coach of Gainesville FC, the semi-pro USPL team taking the area by storm, Junior has developed a wealth of connections for male players across the state. GSA players are reaping the rewards of these connections already, with several 2004, 2005, and 2006 players suiting up to play with Gainesville FC!

Junior has extensive experience as a player, coach, and scout in the English Premier League and elsewhere in Europe! As an Academy coach with Leicester City and Aston Villa, Junior developed a distinctive, technically-rich coaching style that has made him a player favorite in Gainesville. Having placed players into Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea, Junior's professional connections will be invaluable for our players who seek to play at the next level.

Junior DaCosta is being given the role of Senior Boys Program Director (U13-19) and will also serve as the GSA Camp Director.
Meet Kerri Hanks Petersen!

We are thrilled to bring Kerri Hanks Petersen over to GSA full-time next season! Kerri is a former professional women’s soccer player who played for Sky Blue FC and St. Louis Athletica in the Women’s Professional Soccer League.

Before playing professionally, she was a two-time Hermann Trophy winner (Collegiate Player of the Year award) and a 4 time All-American from the University of Notre Dame. She also competed with the US Youth National teams representing the U19, U21, and U23 age groups as well a couple of US Senior women’s team camps from 2006-to 2008. She was a member of the United States U19 national soccer team that won the Gold medal in 2002 and a bronze in 2004.
 
After her playing career, she went straight into coaching college with Texas Christian University as an assistant coach. She also coached with the national powerhouse Sting Soccer Club in Dallas and as of recently was the Girls Recruiting Coordinator and head coach for United Soccer Alliance in Clay County which competes in the GA (Girls Academy League). In 2012 she was on the ODP Region III staff and will be rejoining the ODP Region III staff again this summer.

Kerri Hanks Petersen is being given the role of Senior Girls Program Director (U13-19) and Juniors Program Director (U9-U12). She will also serve as the GSA College Recruiting Coordinator.
GSA Competitive Team Tryouts

Registration is now OPEN to try to be part of the largest and most successful competitive youth soccer program in North Central Florida!

Every year hundreds of the most promising youth soccer players in the area are chosen to represent the Gainesville Soccer Alliance (GSA) on our competitive teams. These teams are trained year-round by Gainesville's most experienced soccer coaching staff. A rich curriculum of technical instruction and tactical awareness is designed for both individual growth and team success.

Tryouts for GSA's U9-U19 male and female competitive teams will be held May 2-6 at Jonesville Soccer Park and are completely FREE of charge!

The schedule will be as follows:
 
2022 Competitive Tryout Schedule
 
Male Players (2009 through 2014)
Monday, May 2nd – 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Wednesday, May 4th - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
 
Male Players (2004 through 2008)
Monday, May 2nd - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Wednesday, May 4th - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
 
Female Players (2009 through 2014)
Tuesday, May 3rd - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 5th - 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
 
Female Players (2004 through 2008)
Tuesday, May 3rd - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Thursday, May 5th - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
 
Friday, May 6th will be a rain-out day.

Coming to both tryout sessions is not required, but recommended. If you can not attend a session, or can't come at all on tryout week, please contact Jeremy Witt using the email address below.

Please arrive 30 MINUTES early to check in.

Players should wear a WHITE shirt, bring their water, a ball, and full soccer gear.

We ask that ALL players pre-register by following the button below.
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