GIRLS Academy

 

COLLEGE PREPARATION PROGRAM

 

For girls ages 12-18 born 2013-2007

 

Our premier development program for the player who is looking for the best competition and training environment.

Capital FC’s Academy Program is for players U13 to U19 who are looking for top level training and competition alongside players of similar commitment level to the sport.

The program consists of 6 Girls Teams birth years 2013 to 2007 and is designed to prepare players for college soccer.

CAPTIAL FC’S ELITE PLAYER PATHWAY

 

Program overview

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

 

3x Week Training from CFC’s licensed, senior coaching staff

Players train three times a week with US-Soccer Licensed coaching staff.

Players will have 1/2 a field to train on year round at Pioneer Sports Park, CFC’s newly renovated training facility.

Other Benefits include:

  • Access to CFC College Advisor

  • Larger player pools to ensure the training environment is always challenging

  • Curriculum-based session planning

  • Games filmed through Veo available to assist with College Recruiting Process

Premier regional and national competition through the and GIRLS ACADEMY League

Teams compete in the Girls Academy League as their primary source for playing games.

This league provides both high quality, regional competition, as well as showcase opportunities with college coaches in attendance.

All-inclusive pricing

We’ve designed our Academy program so that you know from the start what the financial commitment will be and can make plans accordingly.

The club fee includes all costs for coaching expenses, equipment, tournament entry fees, league fees, Coerver training, indoor soccer league/training fees, and facility fees.

For tournaments that require travel, travel expenses are handled at the team level with support from the club. See below for approximate travel costs associated with each tournament/travel experience. Many teams will work to offset these costs through fundraising and sponsorship.

Not sure if you can afford it? Our club is deeply committed to making sure finances are not a barrier to participation and have many ways to help offset these costs.

learn about our scholarship and fee reduction programs
 

Is this the right program for my child?

  • The program is for players in birth years 2013 to 2007.

  • $195/mo for June-May + $100 annual membership

    The club fee includes all costs for coaching expenses, equipment, tournament entry fees, league fees, indoor soccer league/training fees, and facility fees.

    Scholarships of up to 75% of the fee are available for families based on need.

    For games and tournaments that require travel, travel expenses are handled at the team level with support from the club. See below for approximate travel costs associated with each tournament/travel experience. Many teams will work to offset these costs through fundraising and sponsorship.

    Approximate cost per player for travel (includes hotel, ground/air transportation, and food) IF participating in all tournaments:

    U13-14: $2,500-3,000

    U15-19: $2,500-6,000

    We have many other tools to help make this affordable for families. You can find them by clicking here.

  • This program is for committed players who have shown skill and potential for future growth. Nearly all players have aspirations for playing beyond high school.

    Players are selected for this program based on evaluations performed by staff, and the best players from the club who would like this level of commitment participate with these teams.

  • Season Length:

    U13-14: 12 months, with several breaks built into the season. 40 weeks total.

    U15-19: 9 months, with time off to participate in High School Soccer Season

    Practices: 3 practices per week (1 to 1:30 hour length)

    Tournaments/Events: See plan overview for list of events and showcases. These vary by age group and are subject to change by the league.

    League Play: Girls teams participate in the Girls Academy League along with teams from Eugene, Portland, and Seattle. Games are played in a home and away format, typically with games played Sat/Sun.

    Cup Play: All teams may qualify for GA National Event depending on leagueresults.

  • Practices are held at Capital FC’s Complex, Pioneer Sports Park.

    League games are played home and away within the Girls Academy League Pacific Northwest Division for U13-14 Girls in the fall, winter and spring, and U15-19 Girls in the winter and spring. This include teams from the Portland area, Eugene, Seattle, and Spokane.

    Teams should expect 1-2 trips to Seattle and 1-2 trips to Spokane throughout the year.

    Showcase Events occur throughout the year and take the place of traditional tournaments.

    Schedules for the Academy leagues do not come out until August and are subject to change. Based on our experience in years past, teams should expect the following:

    U13-14 Girls should expect to play 1 Regional Showcase Event in the Fall that will require a plane flight.

    U15-17 Girls should expect to play 1 Regional Showcase Event and 1 National Showcase Event that will both require a plane flight.

    U19 Girls play 1 Regional Showcase Event.

GIRLS 2025-2026 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

 

SUMMER

MAY

Tryouts, teams formed

Organizational Meeting Details:

When: Thursday, May 19th from 7-8pm

Where: East Salem Community Center (1850 45th Ave NE, Salem, OR 97305)

Training begins end of May

JUNE

June 21-28 - GA Summer Playoffs and Showcase (TBD - CA)

  • Who: U15-17 Girls (from 24-25 season - 08’s, 09’s, 10’s) + those who qualify

OR

June 21-24 - Rainier Challenge (Tacoma, WA)

  • Who: U13-14 Girls (13’s and 12’s)

JULY

July 11-14 - Surf Cup NW (Redmond, WA)

  • Who: U15-19 Girls

OR

July 18-20 - Beaverton Cup (Beaverton, OR)

  • Who: U13-14 Girls

AUGUST

U15-19 Teams Return to HS Soccer

August 23-26 - Eastside Cup (Bellevue, WA)

  • Who: U13-14 Girls

U13-14 teams begin GA League Play

 

FALL

HS Teams off for fall with local schools.

SEPTEMBER

U13-14’s continue GA League play

OCTOBER

U13-14’s continue GA League play

NOVEMBER

U13-14’s continue GA League play

U15-19 Teams Return from HS Soccer

WINTER

DECEMBER

~1-5 (TBD) - GA Winter Showcase, Mesa, AZ

  • Who: U19 Girls

Teams will take off 2 weeks for Winter Break

JANUARY

U13-19 GA League play

FEBRUARY

U13-19 GA League play

 

SPRING

MARCH

28-30* - GA Spring West Regional, Location TBD

  • Who: U13-14 Girls

League Play Continues

Spring Break

APRIL

League Play Continues

17-20* - GA Spring Showcase, Location TBD

  • Who: U15-17 Girls

  • Approximate travel cost per player $1,500-$2,000 (includes hotel, ground/air transportation, and food)

MAY

League Play Continues

Player Placements for following year

JUNE

20-27* - GA Summer Showcase and Playoffs, Location TBD

  • Who: U15-U17 Girls (U13-19 if they qualify for playoffs)

OTHER INFORMATION

CONCLUSION OF SEASON

At the conclusion of the spring component, all players will then participate in tryouts for the following seasonal year, taking place in May. Players may be assigned to a roster on the Academy Teams, or CFC’s Competitive programs.

BREAKS

Note that there are the following breaks that are built into the season:

  • Week of Thanksgiving

  • Two weeks of Christmas Break

  • Spring Break

  • Last week of school

  • Any Federal Holiday

  • Any Salem-Keizer School District closure

TEAM, ROSTER SIZE, and PLAYING TIME

Our objective is to form 1 team per age group & per gender with roster equity of between 18-22 players placed per team. Registration for the program is open throughout the year, and rosters will be adjusted accordingly to maximize the development for the players.

COST

$195/mo + $100 annual membership

The club fee includes all costs for coaching expenses, equipment, tournament entry fees, league fees, video subscriptions through Veo and HUDL, college advisor, league/training fees, and facility fees.

Scholarships of up to 75% of the fee are available for families based on need.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FINANCIAL AID

 STAFF

 

LISA LJUBICIC

GIRLS ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Ljubicic joined the Capital FC staff in 2022 after moving back to Oregon to serve as the head women’s soccer coach at Willamette University.

Her prolific experience includes appointments at multiple collegiate programs including the University of Arizona, Santa Clara University, and Coastal Carolina University. She also served as Girls ECNL director and head coach of the Sereno Soccer Club in 2017-18.

Ljubicic has a United State Soccer Federation (USSF) A License.

lu wentz

ASSOCIATE GIRLS ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Born and raised in Brazil, Wentz played professionally for 6 years before she moved to the US in 2013 to play college soccer.

Wentz served as the assistant coach at Georgia Southwestern State University (D2). After moving to Oregon in 2019, Wentz has led her teams to win 2 OYSA state cups, 1 runner-up position, a top 4 finish at Far West Regionals.

Wentz was named Oregon Girls Competitive Coach of the Year in 2020. In 2021, she was named West Region Girls Coach of the Year. Wentz says she is" “immensely grateful for the opportunity to share my love for the sport with young athletes and to inspire them to become better individuals.”

Wenzt holds her USSF “B” Coaching License.

JOE WENTWORTH

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Joe Wentworth joined the Capital FC team in 2019. Wentworth has been coaching in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska for nearly 20 years.

Previously, Wentworth served as Alaska Youth Soccer Technical Director and Alaska Youth Soccer Director of Coaching. He holds his United Soccer Coaches “Director of Coaching” Diploma, USSF “A - Youth” License, and is a certified US Soccer Coach Educator (USSF Instructors License).

FAQs

  • Players will be evaluated based on skill level, personality, and potential for development. We recognize that these players have a long developmental road ahead of them.

    Selected players will be asked to make a commitment to the team by making their first payment. If players do not commit within the time, alternates will be offered spots.

    Players are expected to wear a white shirt and black shorts.

  • Players who do not make the Academy team will be evaluated for the competitive programs at the same time, with emphasis on the second day of tryouts.

  • The Academy program includes several elements that are not a part of the competitive program and Is geared at preparing players to play college soccer. It Includes:

    • Extra day of training per week

    • Guaranteed 1/2 a field for training

    • Regional/National Competition + Travel

    • Individual Development Plans for each player

    • Access to CFC College Advisor

    • Game filming and platform sharing through VEO

    The Academy Program elements have been carefully designed to maximize player development potential.

  • We do encourage players to sample other sports and develop as complete athletes, but it is quite difficult for a player to participate at a higher level in other sports.

    We expect players who play in the Academy to choose soccer as their primary sport.

    Most players who are a part of the Academy, if they play other sports, do so recreationally or with soccer being the primary sport.

  • Teams will travel in line with our team travel policy, which you can find here.

    Team travel will be facilitated by coach and team managers with support from the club. We expect teams to travel together.

  • The schedule is set by the league, which has a national office and is not on the same calendar as Oregon. All states have slightly different calendars, so we must follow the lead of the league. These schedules are typically not finalized until August.

    We have a good idea of what the commitment will look like, but we don’t always have the final times. Some of these events will change from what is in this schedule.

  • Academy / Pre-Academy trainings will be Tuesday/Thursday/Friday.

    Friday sessions for Academy teams will be a team practice where as Pre-Academy teams will have a technical training session.

    Competitive and Junior Academy teams will train on Monday/Wednesday.

  • No.

    Tryouts will take place over two days with both the Academy team and Competitive teams in mind. Players offered a spot on the Academy team will be contacted after day one of tryouts. Competitive team positions will be offered after day two.

    You can choose to accept or decline your position on either the Academy or Competitive team.

  • Yes, travel is expected, though only 18 players will travel to these showcases.

    This will be determined by skill level and if special circumstances do not allow for a player to make a trip. 

  • Our plan is to have assistant coaches with each group.

  • Game day rosters will be a maximum of 18 players. Though game time is important and is part of each player’s development plan, Academy game time is not guaranteed or equal and is based on performance, character, and attendance.

  • For the Academy, the program cost includes a jersey costs. Players who played in the 24-25 season will keep their jersey for the 25-26 season.

    Players who join midway through the jersey cycle will be responsible for purchasing their own jersey.

    Additional travel gear (warm up jacket, sweats, backpack) is expected though players are on their own to purchase.

Have more questions? Reach out!

Send us a message via the form, or reach out directly to our program director, Lisa Ljubicic.

lisa.l@cfcsalem.com
(503) 673-6708