Developmental

10-Month Development Program For Children Ages 5-8

The Gotham Girls Rising development program is a comprehensive, 10-month soccer curriculum designed for children ages 5 to 8. This program introduces young players to the fundamentals of soccer and physical literacy in a fun, safe, and supportive environment while fostering a lifelong love for the game. Training is broken down into two age-specific brackets, both running for 90-minute sessions with a core focus on developmentally appropriate skill building, confidence, and learning through play.

For our youngest players in Group 1, which covers the 5 to 6 age bracket (U6), the program fee is $1,300 and includes one training session per week across the 10-month timeline. The primary objectives for this group focus heavily on basic enjoyment, ball mastery, coordination, movement skills, simple decision-making, and an introduction to teamwork. A typical session lasts 90 minutes and flows naturally from 15 minutes of fun warm-up games like tag and animal movements, into 25 minutes of technical ball work like dribbling and turning. This is followed by 20 minutes of skill-based challenges or obstacle courses, 20 to 25 minutes of small-sided 2v2 or 3v3 free play, and concludes with a 10-minute cool down and reflection period.

For older players in Group 2, which covers the 7 to 8 age bracket (U8), the program fee is $2,500. This group trains twice a week during the Fall and Spring, and transitions to once a week during the Winter months. The primary goals for Group 2 are to build a strong technical foundation, introduce fundamental soccer concepts, and sharpen decision-making through fun games like 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 duels. Their 90-minute training sessions consist of a dynamic warm-up, a dedicated technical block, a period for practicing skills under pressure, small-sided games, and a concluding group discussion. During the winter season, training is intentionally adapted to a single weekly session that emphasizes close ball mastery, futsal-style games, heavy technique repetition, and quick decision-making in tight spaces.

Our entire coaching philosophy is built on key principles that maximize ball contact, meaning children spend minimal time waiting in lines and maximum time staying engaged. We use age-appropriate language, rely on positive reinforcement, and believe that learning should happen strictly through play. To keep families connected, we host monthly feedback sessions with parents, track individual growth using specific skill checklists for dribbling, passing, and shooting, and celebrate every milestone along the way. Ultimately, the Gotham Girls Rising Development Program provides a structured yet flexible pathway that ensures a positive first experience with the sport, laying a strong foundation for a smooth future transition into competitive travel soccer.