Academy ID Clinics

Prospective candidates – athletes that are new to the Newton Academy – who would like to be considered for a spot on a team must attend an ID Clinic.

Newton Girls Soccer goes to great lengths to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to try out for a team and to evaluate all players consistently. The ID Clinics are open to any player in Newton Girls Soccer who would like to be considered for a spot on an Academy team.  Before expressing interest and attending an ID Clinic, applicants are asked to carefully self-assess their readiness for club-level soccer. Academy members perform at the top of their age level, usually with a division 1 or 2 travel team, and are invited to participate based on skill level and commitment. Participants consider soccer to be their primary sport.

To participate in an ID Clinic, players must declare interest by completing our brief application form.

A note to returning players: Athletes that are currently rostered on a Newton Academy team do not need to attend a separate ID Clinic. They should attend their team’s regularly scheduled practices and continue to work hard. Returning players are still required to declare interest by completing our brief application form.

ID Clinics are similar to a large practice.

We organize ID Clinics in a way that will be fun and will lessen anxiety among the girls and their parents:

• Upon arriving, players will check in and receive a number and a pinnie.
• Next, applicants will participate in technical exercises, small-sided games, and larger scrimmages which will evaluate players in the four pillars of the game – Technical, Tactical, Physical and Psychological. Experienced soccer coaches will observe and rank players based on their skill, fitness, and overall fit for the program.
• Clinics are run parallel to current Academy team training sessions.  As part of the ID Clinic, applicants may be asked to join a team practice, if appropriate, to see how their skills align with current players.

Parents are asked to stay at a distance from the field and to refrain from cheering or making any comments. Any type of assessment involves some level of anxiety, and it is important to have the support of parents to keep things in perspective.

This a competitive selection process. There will not be a roster spot for every interested player.

Positions on our NEFC – NGS Academy teams are limited and in high demand. While many larger soccer clubs offer teams for a wide variety of skill levels, our boutique program is focused on NGS players performing at the top of their age level. The number of roster spots available each year will vary depending on the number of qualified applicants in each age group and their skill level, as well as the number of returning players. Although being a current player does not guarantee selection, we are committed to long-term player development and strive to retain our players for many years.

Although a player may not always make the team she wants, we encourage each player to focus on her own soccer improvement. Roster spots occasionally open during a season and, with youth athletes, it is common to see jumps and plateaus in player development. For this reason, we are always looking to identify travel players to move up to the Academy Program. Our Pro Coaches observe NGS BAYS games and NGS team practices throughout the year to identify potential recruits. Players can also be reassessed for the Academy next spring.

Check our Soccer Homework Page for additional ways that a player can work independently to improve her game.