Croatia Juniors Soccer Club Launches New Program to Enhance Player Pathway

Croatia Juniors Soccer Club has added a new program at the U7-U8 level to offer a competitive environment which will prepare players for the transition to the Croatia Juniors Academy.

With the addition of its new Pioneer Pre-Academy program, Croatia Juniors Soccer Club has enhanced its player pathway to offer a competitive step to prepare players for the transition to the Croatia Juniors Academy. The program is designed for boys and girls born in 2017 and 2018 who are interested in taking the next step in their soccer journey.

The Pioneer Pre-Academy program is one of two experiences offered by Croatia Juniors at the grassroots level. According to program director Ante Pilekic, “This new offering at such a critical juncture gives families the flexibility to decide the path that is most aligned with their soccer goals. Our highly successful Kicks for Kids program remains an option for families seeking a seasonal commitment and a recreational environment to learn the game of soccer and make new friends. The Pioneer Pre-Academy is geared towards families who have the ambition to compete in the Croatia Juniors club environment and would like to build the foundation that will help them be successful. Both of these personalized experiences, along with the NPL, GLA, EDP, and CASA teams in our Juniors academy, complete our player pathway by offering developmental levels for players of all backgrounds and abilities.”

The aim of the program is to build the foundation players will need to execute high-level play in the future. Added Pilekic: “At these young ages, the most important focus is on maximizing players’ technical skills and cognitive development while simultaneously fostering a passion for the game of soccer. We hope that this new platform will create productive members of our Juniors academy as well as instill a love for the game that will turn these children into lifelong fans.”

Longtime Kicks for Kids Director Jonathan Brickman, along with licensed staff coaches, will assist Pilekic with the launch of the new program. “Jonathan is extremely well-regarded among our Kicks for Kids alumni and families. We are thrilled to have him and a highly qualified group of staff coaches as part of this new initiative,” commented Pilekic.

Tryouts for the Pioneer Pre-Academy program will take place on June 10th and 12th at Andrews Osborne Academy. For additional information about the development opportunities at Croatia Juniors Soccer Club, visit croatiajuniors.com/programs.