Player Progression Pathway

Recreation Soccer (In-Town) | Introduction & Foundation Building

The foundational level for every soccer player's journey in the sport. They say every great building must be built on a solid and stable foundation- exactly what recreation soccer can provide to every player. Learning to build a relationship between the player and the ball, while also being introduced to the idea of playing with your team (your soccer friends and family). Recreation soccer is the least competitive and lowest level of commitment for soccer, as it is meant to allow players to truly enjoy having the ball at their feet while they share the pitch with their teammates.

At North Jersey FC, we urge players and their families to take initial steps in soccer through their local town program in recreation soccer. This crucial step allows the player to develop as a player, but also start that crucial relationship with the beautiful game.

Travel Soccer (County Wide) | Introducing Competition & Travel

The initial competitive phase for players, as "scores start to count" and the "our team against their team" begins to appear. This is a great transitional step for players who are looking to continue their journey from Recreation soccer with their friends, where the idea of playing as a team becomes a bit more important. This step in the journey usually requires finding competition outside of town, and a commitment of more than just games on the weekends. Travel teams are a fantastic way to begin competing while also being able to minimize the stress and pressure placed on players- while keeping in mind that "good stress and pressure" can certainly be great for developing the player and the person.

At North Jersey FC, our recommendation to all players are to play with their local town team for as long as they can. Those who are interested in taking the next step, can do that while also playing here. These local town programs compete locally in leagues like Morris County Youth Soccer Association and Northern Counties Soccer Association. 

Club Soccer (Tri-State / Regional) | More Commitment &  Development

At this phase of the player's progression pathway, players and their families begin to make more of a commitment to the sport, which will include more travel and more of an emphasis of development to achieve positive results. This is the point in the pathway where players are starting to "Live The Game"- watching soccer games on tv, playing with the ball in the back yard, trying to watch any recorded games, and other things become more prevalent. This is where the players really start to find their intrinsic motivation to compete at a higher and higher level. 

North Jersey FC teams begin at this level in the pathway, with most teams at this level being members of EDP Soccer. Players are encouraged to secondary card into their town travel teams to double up on their soccer and development. Players and teams are very development focused still, but a larger emphasis on working together toward a collective goal is placed compared to travel soccer.

Academy Soccer (Regional / National) | Performance Driven

We do not like to throw the term "academy" around loosely, as it diminishes the true meaning behind the word. At North Jersey FC, our Academy Teams and players have the goal of competing and beating the very best to win league, state, regional, and national titles every chance they get. These players are still continuing to focus on development, but push themselves and their teammates everyday, as hard,if not harder, than the coaches do. The players at this level understand that to reach the top of the game and maximize potential, you must become a soccer player- understanding their is a difference between playing soccer and being a soccer player.

This part of the pathway is where players compete in leagues and competitions that allow them to get to a national level, which is currently the National Premier League through the Mid Atlantic Premier League - a US Club Soccer league that has two possible routes to national finals competitions. The goal for North Jersey FC teams, players, coaches, staff, and all is to get to these nationals and win.