Programs and competitive levels

Junior Academy introduces U4 through U7 players at the Gretna Sports Complex with professional GEA staff training, small-sided 4v4 games, and volunteer parent coaches leading weekend scrimmages. Academy soccer for U8 through U10 builds on that foundation with licensed coaches, no-cut academy clinics each June, and year-round teams playing 5v5, 7v7, or 9v9 formats depending on age. Gold and White academy tiers train twice weekly in fall and spring with winter indoor work at the Gretna Sports Complex, while Pre-ECNL academy teams add director-led indoor sessions and conference play for eligible U11 and U12 groups.

Youth Select for U11 and U12 marks the first formal tryout cycle, grouping players by ability for 9v9 league play, two weekly trainings, winter indoor sessions, and three or four annual tournaments. Select teams for U13 through U19 emphasize technical, tactical, physical, and psychological growth with two fall and spring trainings, winter indoor work, local league rosters of 16 to 20 players, and two or three tournaments. Elite girls compete in ECNL with Midwest Conference schedules, national showcase events, and all-inclusive training on turf year-round. Boys field ECNL and ECNL Regional League teams in the Heartland Conference, while girls NPL squads compete in the Central States NPL alongside clubs from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Nebraska.

Tryouts, clinics, and team formation

Team formation for the 2026–27 cycle centers on May and June evaluations. Academy clinics for U8 through U10 run May 26 through 28 with evening sessions split across the turf indoor complex and outdoor turf fields. U11 through U19 tryouts for girls take place May 30 and June 1, while boys add a June 2 session. Open girls and boys identification clinics for outside U13 through U15 players occur May 10 and May 15 with staggered birth-year time slots on assigned fields; current GEA players skip separate ID registration. Families register through the club’s LeagueApps portal linked from tryout announcements.

Training sites and facilities

Primary training and games concentrate at the Gretna Soccer Complex at 10550 S. 222nd St., Gretna, NE 68028, which includes grass fields, an indoor turf field house, and two outdoor turf surfaces. Additional grass venues include Leo Royal Soccer Fields on NE-31 and Capehart Soccer Fields on Capehart Road. Papillion Landing at 1022 W. Lincoln St. in Papillion supplies outdoor and indoor turf, while Speedway Sporting Village in Lincoln offers grass and indoor options for select events.

Costs and what families should plan for

Published club fees vary by pathway. Junior Academy families purchase a reversible Soccer Internationale jersey and size 3 ball while sessions run at the sports complex. Academy Gold and White tiers are about $750 for U8 and $875 for U9 through U10 plus team fees, with Pre-ECNL academy near $1,200 plus team fees that may cover tournaments, extra training, and winter futsal. Youth Select Gold and White run about $1,450 plus team fees, Pre-ECNL youth select about $1,700 plus team fees, and select U13 and U14 about $1,450 while U15 and older select is about $1,250 plus shared tournament and indoor costs. ECNL boys and girls are about $2,600 all-inclusive aside from college ID camps and winter futsal, ECNL Boys Regional League about $2,050, and girls NPL about $1,900 with turf training throughout the week.

Philosophy and staff support

The club mission centers on empowering members, strengthening families, and enriching the community through holistic player development on and off the field. Core pillars emphasize respect, development, leadership, integrity, and joy within a growth-mindset culture that prizes learning over fear of failure. Licensed directors oversee each age band: Junior Academy, academy and youth select, girls and boys select, ECNL, and ECNL RL, with a club administrator handling registration questions.

How to reach the club

Email clubadmin@gretnaeliteacademy.com for general registration help. Program-specific questions can go to the Junior Academy director at jono.callaghan@gretnaeliteacademy.com, the academy and youth select director at raphael.martinez@gretnaeliteacademy.com, girls U13 through U19 leadership at greg.jarosik@gretnaeliteacademy.com, boys technical leadership at chris.dunford@gretnaeliteacademy.com, or the director of coaching and girls ECNL lead at mitch.kavanagh@gretnaeliteacademy.com.