Q: Is the NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program the same as the Junior Academy or Select soccer? 

A:  No. The NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program is specifically designed for the 7U & 8U age groups. The Junior Academy is for the 9U to 10U age groups and the Travel Program is for players in the 11U age group and older. Like the Travel Program and the Junior Academy Program, the NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program provides professional advanced training.  
  

Q: Can a player join a team if he or she did not start the NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program at the 7U level? 

A:  Yes. Players can be evaluated for a team in their age group any time during the seasonal soccer year. Prior inclusion on a NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program team is not required. 

Q:  Can I still be a “team parent” for my child’s team? 

A:  Yes. NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program teams rely on parents to fill volunteer jobs. Positions include being a Team Manager.  Team Managers are responsible for maintaining team records and communicating information to the team.

Q:  Do all “pools” train at the Proehlific Park Soccer Complex? 

A: NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program teams will provide training at Proehlific Park, first and foremost.  Additional training at other facilities will be based on interest in those areas.

Q: Does Junior Discovery practice coincide with regular recreation practice?

A: No, the Junior Discovery practice schedule will start before and extend beyond the regular recreation practice schedule.  Junior Discovery teams will also practice 2 times per week.

Q:  Can I choose to have my player on a “pool” that trains by our home? 

A: The Directors makes the decision about where a team trains. Requests are taken into consideration.  

Q:  Do all pools train 2 times each week? 

A: Teams train two nights each week. Each player has the optional benefit of participating in the Goalkeeping Sessions.   Some “pools” may train an additional night per week at the coach’s discretion.

Q: Can parents stay at practice?

A: No, parents must drop off players at the beginning and collect players at the end of practice. Having parents on or around the practice field creates a bad training environment for players and takes attention and authority away from the coach.

Q:  On which days do “pools” practice? 

A: “Pools” will train any combination of days throughout the week determined by the NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program staff.

Q:  Are there ways I can be involved with coaching my player? 

A: No, the NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program’s staff of professional coaches will train the pool each practice and coach in matches.   

Q: When and how do we find out about game schedules? 

A: Game schedules are posted online via a link on the GUSA Recreation website and are updated throughout the season. The fall schedule posts in August and the spring schedule posts in February.  

For more information about the NC Fusion Junior Discovery Program, please contact NC Fusion/GUSA Junior Discovery Program Director, Liam Brown at [email protected] or 864.395.0828