Dear GRASC Families,

As we gear up for the 2025 soccer season, we want to give you a comprehensive update on team formation, training plans, and what’s ahead for each age group.

📌 All major updates, including this one, will be posted in our website’s News section so families can easily reference past communications.

📣 Please note:
Many families have players in multiple age groups, so these updates may include information that doesn’t apply to you directly. We’ll always organize them by age group headers to make it easy to skim and find what’s relevant for your family.

We’ll also be sending out a separate message soon about a club fundraiser we hope all families will consider supporting again this year.

U4 Little NetBusters

Our youngest players will kick off later this spring. This is a fun, introductory program run by high school players and volunteers, focused on movement, games, and early ball skills—no formal teams or matches.

Details:

• Dates: Sundays – May 25, June 1, June 8, June 15, and June 22

• Time: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

• Location: West Rapids Elementary School

More information is available on our Programs Page.

U6–U10 Future Stars

There will be no Saturday league games in Hibbing this year for U6–U10.

➡️ We will still host our in-house league as planned, with practices and games in Grand Rapids. Game schedules will be released in mid-April.

We are forming one U10 Girls tournament team and one U10 Boys tournament team. These will be selected based on skill and availability for tournament dates.

📅 Season start is targeted for early May, pending field and weather conditions.

📝 For age group formats and game/practice structure, see the Programs Page.

U12 and U14 (Boys & Girls)

• U12 Boys and Girls: Two teams each, divided by skill following an evaluation period, with one Tier 1 team and one Tier 2 team each.

• U14 Boys: Two equal teams, both placed in Tier 1.

• U14 Girls: One team, placed in Tier 1.

What is Tier 1 and Tier 2?
These levels are part of the Arrowhead Youth Soccer Association’s Northern League, which includes home and away games against other clubs in the region.

• Tier 1 = higher competition level

• Tier 2 = one step below, still competitive and development-focused

🏆 Each age group will also form one boys’ and one girls’ tournament team, selected from both Tier 1 and Tier 2 rosters based on skill and availability.

📅 Season is expected to begin in early May, pending field and weather conditions. Evaluations will be coordinated by the GRASC Board and our Director of Coaching and Player Development.

U15–U18 (Boys & Girls)

Each age level from U15 through U18 will field one team, offering a flexible, well-rounded soccer experience that includes:

• Tournament play and matches scheduled by coaches

• An in-house league inspired by our past COVID Cup and recent Boys’ Program structures

• Small-sided teams with rotating matchups throughout the summer

This format supports both competitive players and those with limited availability due to summer jobs or other commitments—offering consistent touches, skill development, and meaningful competition without requiring travel every week.

TRAINING: U14–U18

We’re launching a coordinated training plan for U14–U18 players led by Nick, Joe, Brian, and other GRASC coaches. This model is designed to build technical skills, support team training, and grow club culture—all while being mindful of high school work schedules.

Training Schedule:

• Wednesday (4–6 PM):

  • One hour of drills and instruction

  • One hour of 5v5 league play

  • Players will be split by gender:

    • 14U & 18U Girls

    • 14U & 18U Boys

  • Small-sided teams will be selected at the beginning of the season and compete in a season-long intraclub tournament with weekly games

  • Multiple coaches will run simultaneous sessions across both groups

• Friday:

  • Turf field scrimmage and small-sided games

  • Open to all 14U–18U boys and girls

This structure ensures quality instruction, efficient use of coaching resources, and fun, competitive play throughout the summer.

Team Evaluations

Evaluation information will be shared in a future update. All team placements will be made at the discretion of the GRASC Board and the Director of Coaching and Player Development, based on skill level, development needs, and roster balance.

Thank you for being part of the GRASC family! We’re excited for the season ahead and look forward to seeing you at the fields soon.

See you on the pitch (or should I say… Are you ready? To which your response should be: I WAS BORN READY!)

Sean Martinson
President
Grand Rapids Area Soccer Club
www.grsoccerclub.org