Since its inception 3 years ago, our SP Elite program has been extremely successful in helping players achieve their personal soccer goals. Recent graduates of our program have received scholarships to play collegiate soccer throughout the country and rely heavily on the qualities they have learned during their time with SP as they continue to work towards their professional aspirations.

We believe that the essential quality of all great players is a constant and overwhelming desire to Become Better. 

Once they understand this guiding principle, we help our players to achieve their goals by working to improve all aspects of their game.  SP Elite members not only receive top-quality coaching to improve their technical ability. We also focus on their physical and psychological development as well. Our Elite program requires a great deal of commitment, but for the players that are willing to put in the effort, the rewards are substantial.

All aspects of our Elite Program are overseen by SP Soccer Academy director Gino Padula. Over the years, his knowledge and passion have attracted players looking to prepare for top-level tryouts and Gino has successfully placed several players in international tryout opportunities. This is the expertise The SP ELITE Program brings to Central Ohio.

The SP ELITE Program has been developed for highly skilled players U15 and up who aspire to play soccer in college or at the professional level.

In coordination with the high school soccer season, the ELITE Program offers year-round soccer training and development. The program kickoffs with a short training camp in June, during which our philosophy and expectations are clearly outlined. Players will then return to SP immediately following their high school seasons to resume their participation in our ELITE Player Development Program and will compete from November through the end of May.

The training philosophies we instill in our Elite players are based on Gino’s lifelong experiences playing youth and professional soccer. Through training, players will be prepared physically, mentally, technically, and tactically to compete at the collegiate or professional levels.

In addition to top-quality technical training, players are also required to do strength training with a certified strength and conditioning coach. We also provide nutrition and sport psychology seminars for our Elite members, as well as video review sessions so that players can learn from their mistakes and improve their soccer IQ.

SP ELITE Program will strive to compete in the highest-level tournaments against top competition. We understand that true Player Development occurs in the training environment, however, playing top-level competition is also absolutely vital to the growth of the players. Therefore, our SP ELITE teams will travel to compete against the best teams in the best tournaments.

Gino also works with our SP ELITE players individually to pursue each player’s appropriate path to the next level. Gino’s experiences and network will help to guide players and create opportunities for them to meet their potential and achieve their personal goals and objectives.

The ELITE Program has been created for players committed to reaching their full potential in soccer. The commitment level expected from these players is 100%. 

Players are expected to attend all training sessions and all tournaments. This is a year-round commitment, while the players are with their high school teams they are expected to continue to improve and work at the same level as when they are training with SP. We expect players to return to SP ELITE fit and ready to train and compete at the highest level.

The ELITE teams will travel. It is expected that players will travel to every tournament regardless of dates or distances. While SP Elite administration will also attempt to make travel expenses as reasonable as possible, families need to understand that there may be significant travel expenses involved in the program.

Gino earned his National “A” coaching license in 2010, while still playing for the Columbus Crew MLS team. After building SP Soccer Academy to 25 teams in just four years and creating a supportive community for Central Ohio youth to learn and enjoy soccer, Gino looks forward to exercising his passion for developing high-level players.

Focused primarily on training, as this is where players will become better, the ELITE program will follow an approximate schedule of:

SP has partnered with “THE GYM” to offer comprehensive strength and agility training to our Elite members. Strength training regimens are specifically designed to meet the needs of each team and overseen by certified fitness trainers. In addition to scheduled training sessions with their respective teams, all Elite members also receive a 6-month membership to the gym and may take full advantage of all the facility has to offer throughout that period.

 Through our partnership with Ohio Health, the Elite teams also receive instruction on sports nutrition and performance dieting.