Programs and player pathways

Community programming welcomes the youngest players through a U6 program for birth years 2019–2020, with fun soccer-oriented activities designed as a first step into the sport. Families can join session by session from August through June as commitment allows. The U8 Development Academy serves boys and girls born 2018–2019 with a play-based, year-round model that emphasizes fundamentals, work ethic, standards, and teamwork without heavy drill-and-lap training. Sessions run fall, three winter blocks, and spring, with optional enrollment per session; spring practices meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Tree Farm in Essex with weekend games in the Burlington, South Burlington, and Essex Junction area.

The U9–U12 pipeline introduces technical fundamentals and love of the game through qualified coaches. U9 and U10 teams (birth years 2016–2017) and U11 and U12 teams (2014–2015) follow fall outdoor leagues at the Tree Farm, winter 5v5 or 7v7 leagues at the Nordic Indoor Soccer Center (NISC) in the CVE Expo, and spring outdoor practices plus statewide weekend league play. Spring calendars typically include a Memorial Day weekend tournament in Massachusetts, the Vermont Soccer Festival, and Nordic Cup as the season finale. Older players split into U13–U19 Premier and Development pathways for birth years 2012–2013 and U15+ groups (2007–2011), with premier teams receiving higher coach travel support and development teams structured for strong training at a somewhat lower fee tier.

Training, facilities, and seasonal rhythm

Outdoor team training concentrates at the Tree Farm Soccer Complex in Essex Junction. Winter programming moves indoors at NISC, with three sessions from November through April, breaks for school holidays and expo events, and league formats scaled by age (5v5 for younger groups, 7v7 and up for older teams). Published tuition summaries for U10–U12 and U13–U19 tracks bundle fall, winter, and spring programming: two team practices per week, weekly technical training, goalkeeper training for players who want it, league games, and named tournaments such as the Bailey Jamboree, Memorial Day weekend events, Vermont Soccer Festival, and Nordic Cup. Premier U13–U19 annual fees are published at $2,095 excluding uniforms; development at $1,895; U11–U12 at $2,040; U9–U10 at $1,780; U8 Development Academy spring session at $255. Uniforms, extra tournaments beyond the club-covered set, and family travel costs for away weekends are separate from base tuition unless otherwise noted.

Coaching, college pathway, and club culture

Nordic emphasizes licensed goalkeeper training, extra outdoor training time in winter when possible, friendly matches with Canadian and regional clubs, and a college pathway program to help players explore Division I, II, or III fits that balance academics and soccer. The club highlights a coaching staff that includes college coaches, varsity high school coaches, and recent college players, with a stated goal of female coaches on every girls team. Alumni placement in college programs—including national champions, All-Americans, and state award winners—is part of how the organization describes its competitive identity within Vermont.

Tryouts, scholarships, and how to register

Competitive tryouts for the upcoming season are held in early July, where players meet the coaching staff and families decide whether club soccer fits their player. After tryouts, invited players receive registration paperwork and initial payment is expected within two weeks to hold a roster spot. Scholarship applications follow published deadlines—August 15 for year-round fall-eligible players and October 15 for middle school and high school players entering indoor seasons—with need-based and limited full-ride impact awards tied to volunteer commitments, especially Nordic Cup support. Multi-player discounts apply for families with more than one player in U9+ programs.

Contact and mailing address

James Goudie serves as director (jim@nordicsoccer.org). Cait Fogel handles operations (cait@nordicsoccer.org) and Deb Knakal is registrar (deb@nordicsoccer.org). The club phone is (802) 288-9577. Mailing address: PO Box 674, Essex Junction, VT 05453. Nordic aligns with US Youth Soccer, US Soccer, and Vermont Soccer Association pathways and hosts Nordic Cup as a flagship club tournament.