USL Youth

2025 Finals & 2026 ID Clinics

A Notes From Our Club Director

By: Kirby Valle

Girls U16-U19

Current Status

The season has begun for all of our U16-U19 girls teams and it’s been an exciting start already!  Welcome back to our high school players and thank you for bringing your energy, passion and commitment to the training sessions and early games.

A quick welcome to a new coaching staff member:

Pat Ferguson -  NPL GLA Staff

• Coaching 2011G Blue NPL
• 5th year as Ohio Wesleyan University’s Head Women’s Soccer Coach
• Additional 24 years of collegiate coaching with stops at Wright State University (16 years - Head Coach), Campbell University (5 seasons), Mount Union (1 season) & Malone (2 seasons).
• Over 30 years as club coach and experience in youth soccer
• US Soccer B License & United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma
• 2nd year with Columbus Force SC - Pat coached our U17 & U18 teams last year
  

Looking Back
Teams took part in Media Day with Coach Alejandro Valdivieso to celebrate the new uniform kits and provide fun pictures for the club’s social media.  Here are a few favorites from the day!

ECNL RL

Outdoor training sessions at Columbus Academy’s Hondros Field and Columbus School for Girls’ (CSG) Kirk Campus allowed for game prep on the big space to acclimate for the Nov 14-16th showcases.  Training sessions with Coach Mario Suarez for Sports Performance got underway and have you all moving in the right direction with speed, agility, quickness, strength and recovery techniques. 

At the ECNL RL Virginia event in Richmond, VA:

2007/08G ECNL RL -  No GK for game 1 and a brilliant performance by field player Lauren Ransom to help get the win!  GK Anna Camphausen did double duty playing for the 09 team for all 3 games and the last 2 games for 07/08 at this event!  Solid start for this group in the first ever ECNL RL competition in club history!

2009G ECNL RL - Undefeated for the weekend with only 13 players and 2 substitute coaches.  Major thank you to Coach Braden Bell for guiding the team in games 1 and 2!  Coach Kelly Bryan got to enjoy the team’s grit on Sunday.  Maya Blaz with 4 goals on the weekend and 2 shutouts by the team!  Very gutsy performances for this group and also a solid start in the first ever ECNL RL competition in club history!

At the Gateway Showcase in Cincinnati, OH:

2010G ECNL RL -  Solid competition with a great challenge in preparation for Kansas City RL.  Wins on day 1 and 3 with a solid comeback mentally and physically in game 3 after a wakeup call in game 2!

NPL

Like the ECNL RL teams, it was very helpful to have outdoor training sessions at Columbus School for Girls’ (CSG) Kirk Campus to acclimate for the Nov 14-16th Gateway Showcase.  Indoor training sessions at All In One Sports Center and TOCA allowed for more touches before the weekend’s events as well.

At the Gateway Showcase in Cincinnati, OH:

2009G Blue NPL -  2-1 on the weekend for this group and a great mental and physical show of perseverance after a wakeup call in game 2!  A big mixture of new and returning players that came from different squads last year, so exciting to think about the future as they continue to gel.

2010G Blue NPL -  Three 1-goal games show that the team is in the mix as they get to know each other and still look to solidify the roster.  Help from 2012 Force guest players made for a solid show of support and opportunity to be challenged.  Lots of good to come for this squad!

GLA NPL League Games:

The NPL teams have begun league games already with the 2009G Blue team with a 0-0 draw against Ohio Galaxies.  The game was spirited and physical and saw lots of opportunities for both teams, but defense won the day. Solid start! 

The 2010G Blue team had a 1-4 result against Club X Soccer Academy.  The game was a tale of two halves as the girls were not sharp in the first half and went down 0-2, but came back in the second half to score within the first ten minutes to make it 1-2.  The pressing and and effort to get an equalizer unfortunately opened up the counter attack which led to the final score. Still a solid start to the season. 

Looking Ahead
For the ECNL RL teams, showcases the weekend of December 5-7th will finish the 2025 season before league games begin in February 2026. 

The 2009 & 2010G ECNL RL teams are heading to Kansas City, MO for the Kansas City ECNL RL event.  Competing against teams from Michigan, Texas, Missouri, and Tennessee will make for a challenging and competitive weekend for growth.  Both teams look to build on their experiences from the earlier showcases and make strides towards their team identities. 

The 2007/08G ECNL RL team will be traveling to the renowned NCFC visitRaleigh College Showcase in Raleigh, NC.  They will battle against teams from North Carolina, Virginia and Michigan to find their groove before league games in the new year.

The practice schedules for December 2025-January 2026 have been uploaded into PlayMetrics for all of our teams.  We will utilize a combination of indoor spaces (TOCA and All In One Sports Center) along with several different outdoor synthetic turf fields (Columbus Academy, Columbus School for Girls) to provide opportunities for our players to train.  Sports Performance training with Coach Mario Suarez will happen for all teams in the new year. 

Coaches Corner

Stay tuned for more information about college recruiting seminars, resources, and information to help you with your college search.  All U16-U19 players have been asked to fill out a recruiting profile in PlayMetrics to provide information to college coaches. 

Let’s go Force!!

Kelly Bryan

#CHIRP

Boys U16-U19

I’m excited to share some outstanding news from across our High School Boys Program. Over the past few weeks, our players have demonstrated exceptional commitment, character, and competitive spirit, both with their high school teams and within our club environment.

First, congratulations are in order for the several athletes who captured state titles in the pouring snow, sleet, and heavy wind with their respective high school programs, Dublin Jerome (Finn Peterson), and Worthington Christian (Nolan Schoonover, CJ Bah, Ian Rapp, Grayden Little, Cole Little). Their success is a testament not only to their individual work ethic, but to the development culture we continue to build together. We are incredibly proud to see our players leading from the front in their school environments, and Coach Alejandro and Coach Mauricio were happy to attend the Division 4 State Final for Worthington Christian, supporting the lads in their High School environment.

Equally inspiring, has been the start of our Club High School season, where our teams swept local competitor Elite FC at every age group. While the results were emphatic, the story behind them was the tenacity of every opponent. Not a single match came easy, and credit goes to each team we faced for refusing to allow us clean sheets across the board. These battles are exactly what help sharpen our players for the challenges ahead. Thank you, Elite FC.

On the regional stage, our U19s produced strong results at RL Virginia, showcasing maturity, consistency, but needing a clear identity in their play. Meanwhile, our U17s, despite being heavily impacted by injuries, showed remarkable grit and resilience. Their determination to compete for every moment spoke volumes about their character and the depth of our program.

We were also thrilled to see our NPL U16s and NPL U17s competing in their first showcase together under their new coaches, Coach Jacob and Coach Scot, at Gateway College Showcase. The energy, excitement, and commitment displayed by both groups highlight a bright future and a growing identity within our NPL pathway. It was a fantastic first step in their journey as newly formed teams, and we look forward to their continued growth. We are proud to share that our own NPL players have already been called up several times this season to support the ECNL-RL space, showing our continued commitment to internal player development, and dynamic growth within the organization.

Thank you to all families and staff for your constant support, and congratulations to our players for representing our club with pride. The season is still young, but the foundation being laid right now is setting us up for something special.

Let’s keep pushing forward, together.

With pride,

-Coach Mauricio

Girls U13-U15

Winter 2025 U13-U15

Winter training has begun at the Force, and while some of our teams are already heading indoors for their sessions, we’ve also got a couple of teams just getting rolling again after the High School season. This is always an interesting part of the year—some players are sharpening their technical base inside, while others are jumping straight from the high-school rhythm back into our club tempo.

We’re excited to welcome back our 2011 age groups from High School, and we wish them luck as they head into league play and showcases. It’s a big shift moving from the high-school style of play back into our club principles—building through the thirds, playing with purpose, and staying connected in possession—but they’ve taken it on with great energy.

Showcase – It was an exciting weekend for our 2011s as they headed down to Cincinnati for the Gateway Showcase, their first event of the year, as well as the first showcase for this age group. It was great seeing our teams compete for the first time this season. Both groups showed grit and determination throughout the showcase, and we saw a lot of moments where our possession principles, spacing, and speed of play really came through. For a first outing, there were plenty of encouraging signs that the work we’re doing is transferring into the game.

Winter Training – To support our continued growth as a club, we’ve added several new training locations to our winter offerings. This allows us to increase the frequency of training sessions and gives our teams more space to work in. More space means more room for functional training, positional play, and creating game-realistic environments. These are exciting times for the club as we continue to grow in all areas—especially as this age group continues to expand at an incredible rate.

As we head into the winter months, we’re not just dialing in on the technical side of the game — we’re also putting a big emphasis on the micro moments that eventually shape the macro moments. These little details are what allow players to grow into bigger, more complex situations on the field.

For example, our players need to be able to recognize and dominate a 2v1, not just in a drill but in the flow of a real game. It’s about seeing the overload early, understanding the cue, and having the confidence to exploit it. When they can consistently master a 2v1 — timing, angles, movement, and decision-making — then we can progress naturally into a 3v2, 4v3, and ultimately full-team moments where those same principles scale up.

These micro moments build trust, improve speed of play, and teach the girls how to create advantages instead of waiting for them. And the more they own these details, the more control they gain over the game as a whole.

Welcome Back – Pat Ferguson has joined Columbus Force again. Pat has taken over as our 2011 Blue head coach and will be a tremendous asset to the age group. Pat is currently the head coach at Ohio Wesleyan University and brings 29 years of college and club coaching experience. He previously coached our 2007 and 2008 women’s teams last year, and we are thrilled to have him back in the fold. His experience in the college game, particularly with team shape, movement off the ball, and preparing players for the next level, will be a huge benefit for our players.

Age Group Change – As you know, the age-group changes take effect during the fall season. I was part of the first round of changes when we adjusted from birth year to school year, and the transition can go very smoothly when everyone is prepared. We’ve already begun planning to make sure our players are ready. Along with staying in tune with where each player is developmentally, we’ll begin integrating players into their new age groups so the transition feels natural rather than abrupt.

Our goal is always to place players in the best environment for growth and development. This will include combining age groups for training sessions, evaluating chemistry on and off the ball, and keeping parents informed the best we can. This can be a challenging time for the girls as they move into a different group with new faces, new demands, and sometimes a different role on the field. But with preparation and clear communication, we feel confident we can make the transition as smooth as possible.

U13-U15 Boys Director

As we conclude the fall season, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all our teams. This season has been both competitive and rewarding, and it has been a privilege to witness the growth and development of our players and coaches alike. The relationships and team chemistry that have been built are a true testament to the commitment and teamwork of everyone involved.

With the conclusion of the fall season for our teams, we are currently in our Winter 1 training phase. As the club continues to grow, we will be utilizing a variety of indoor and outdoor turf facilities to provide optimal training conditions for all players. Our goal this winter is simple: to equip every player with the technical, tactical, and mental tools they need to succeed when spring arrives. We’ll be focused, intentional, and driven, ensuring that every detail counts as we build toward the next phase of the season.

For any players looking to continue their development outside of team training sessions, Columbus Force offers a variety of supplemental training and camps. These programs can be found on our website at columbusforcesoccer.com under the “Training Hub,” “Academy Training,” and “Youth Camps” tabs. These opportunities are designed to complement team training and support continued player growth.

ECNL-RL Updates

• 2013B RL: Currently sitting in 2nd place in league play with a record of 7-2.
• 2012B RL: Currently with a record of 7-2 in league play. They recently played up in the 2011B division at the Gateway Showcase, winning all three matches.
• 2011B RL: Currently 1-0 in league play after defeating Elite FC 2-1. They also participated in the Gateway Showcase, competing in the top division and finishing in the top 2. Their next event will be the Southeast Boys Showcase in Gatlinburg, TN, in mid-January.

Recent Tournament Achievements

• 2013B NPL: Reached the final of the Season Finale tournament in Lodi, OH, finishing as finalists.
• 2012B RL: Crowned Champions at the Season Finale Showcase in Lodi, OH.

Player Shout-outs

Brycen Sera

• Promoted from the 2012B NPL team to our ECNL-RL team. Brycen's dedication and performance on the field have earned him this well-deserved opportunity.
  

Gerald Asamoah

• Selected by the Columbus Crew to join their U14 roster for the Pre-Formation Academy Program - Phase #2. This is an outstanding achievement, and we are excited to see Gerald continue his development in this next phase.
  

Player Identification & Development
Our coaching staff is in ongoing communication regarding players who are excelling and may benefit from being placed in a higher-level environment. Player evaluation is a continuous process, and we will promote players or provide additional opportunities when it is in their best interest for development.

We are excited for the progress we’ve seen so far and look forward to the growth that the winter training phase will bring. Thank you for your continued support, and we can’t wait to get back to work with everyone in the coming weeks!

Boys U10-U12
The 2025 season has been remarkable for our U10-U12 Boys teams. It is truly astonishing how quickly the year has passed, a testament to the enjoyment and progress experienced by all. Throughout 2025, teams across the age group demonstrated continuous learning, development, and strong competition in every event. We celebrated numerous successes both on and off the field. Here are some of the notable achievements by our players and teams in 2025:

U8 - U12 Girls 

I am happy to announce the Fall 2025 Championship Teams from our U10 - U12 Girls Age group! 

2016G Premier

In our local, OCL format, our 2016G Premier finished top of the division in the U10 Girls Stars North 2 Division with a record of 5 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie! They also were able to earn wins outside of their division vs. a team in the next division up (U10 Girls White), in a 2 - 0 win over Club Ohio North 2016G Pre - GA. Congratulations 2016G Premier and Coach Braden!

2015G Pre-ECNL

In our regional, Pre - ECNL format, our 2015G Pre - ECNL team finished 1st place in the Ohio Valley South 2nd division, with a PERFECT record! Not only did they win, receiving a perfect 10 - 0 record, they also registered 67 goals for and only 4 goals against! Congratulations 2015G Pre - ECNL and Coach Evan! 

Classics Eagles and Columbus Force Bridge Program

As partner clubs and organizations, Classics Eagles and Columbus Force have enhanced their partnerships in directors across both platforms have been working hard to put together the first ever CE and CF Bridge Program, that saw identified talented CE players (U10 - U12) to come out and work with the Columbus Force Age Group Directors, Staff as well as selected players that represent the Columbus Force Values! 

The event on November 9th saw over 15 Classics Eagles players, their families and some CE staff get to work with the Columbus Force players, staff and directors in a collaboration to further those relationships across both platforms, to better support the development of all our youth soccer players! 

Boys & Girls U8-U9

Fall Season Recap

What a fantastic fall season from all of our players, our teams demonstrated tremendous growth in understanding the game and ability to transfer training topics directly into our games! Throughout the season our teams demonstrated the grit and tenacity that are a true reflection of the values of the Columbus Force, amidst an incredibly competitive season! I am so proud of the work that we have begun and want to thank every player, family, and supporter that has driven us to the goals we attained and the future endeavors we will undertake for the spring! Below is a small recap of how the season went for each U8-U9 team:

Director's Corner

As you all know, this was my first season as a coach in the club as well as a leader in the organization! I wanted to take this time to sincerely thank everyone involved in the process to welcome me in:

To the players and families - Thank you for the trust in our club and the direction we are trying to go throughout the difficulty of the transition period I was brought in. You share in my passion of developing young men and women and I am humbled to have been accepted into the family and will continue working to serve you and your children as they grow with Columbus Force!

To the leadership staff - Thank you for the willingness to support me in the Force principles & pathways, patience in the process of my assimilation into the team, and willingness to provide me with feedback and challenge! You have played a MASSIVE role in my personal development and I am forever grateful!

To my coaches - I am so proud of the family we have built and continue to build, you all have shown incredible hard work and consistency in developing yourselves and your players. We are far from a finished project but I am encouraged by the hunger and desire for more in the group, the sky is the limit!

Looking forward to another year of growth together with Columbus Force!

2018 Girls - Premier

What a season for the 2018 girls and Coach Mario Suarez! With a coach that leads our performance program for the club it is no surprise that this team was fast, physical, and extremely competitive! Winning 2 tournaments and having a strong league season the girls set the bar HIGH for the age group and have been trailblazers for showing us how far attention to detail can go, well done ladies!

2018 Boys - Premier & Blue

Dealing with injuries, illnesses, and schedule complications really gave our 2018 boys teams a massive hill to climb, but boy did they excel regardless. Kudos to Coach Caleb Walters & Coach Val Montoya for your management of the environment to promote resiliency in the face of adversity, as well as community in helping each other out for the greater good of our club family. We truly have a special group growing here and have already shown we can bring hardware home so expecting more to come soon!

2017 Girls - Premier

The 2017 girls team has shown the greatest combination of personality and intensity, beautifully deriving a sense of identity in the combination of individuality and team. Their ability to out-work opponents while playing an attractive brand of soccer was truly a joy to witness all season. The expert leadership of our Club Director Kirby Valle and our HS Girls Director Kelly Bryan fostered self-confidence and belief in the girls and system we are trying to build as a club, I am so thankful for your investment in our younger girls!!

2017 Boys - Premier, Blue, & White

Coaching a boys U9 team myself I was directly involved in the operations of all things 2017 boys, alongside Coach Caleb Walters and Coach Jon Hsu. After the spring of this year we took on the challenge of ramping up the level of competition for our boys and it has paid off incredible dividends already! I enjoyed watching the boys learn positional principles and game cues, as the teams we saw really tested our ability to process efficiently! All in all the boys worked hard and grew together as a unit more and more as the season went on, I am proud of how seamlessly we all fit together as we supported each other!

Juniors Programs!

By: Jessica Shelton

Program Pathway

Mini Academy (Ages 3–4)
A fun and active introduction to soccer! Mini Academy focuses on body movement, balance, coordination, and simple ball activities that develop comfort and confidence. Players learn through engaging games that encourage teamwork, listening, and movement in a positive, energetic setting.

Juniors Academy (Ages 5–8)
The foundation stage of youth soccer development. Juniors Academy is perfect for players who are new to the sport or participating at a recreational level. Juniors Academy provides an excellent environment to build the essential skills needed for both enjoyment and long-term success in soccer. The program focuses on building technical skills and game understanding while developing a love for soccer.

Juniors Elite (Ages 6–8)
For advanced players ready for the next challenge. Juniors Elite is designed for players who demonstrate strong technical ability, understanding of the game, and a desire to compete at a higher level. This program emphasizes faster play, decision-making under pressure, and small-group tactical understanding in a fun and competitive environment. Players refine their technical skills and learn to apply them in realistic game situations.

Come enhance your ability to control your body and the ball in our Force Juniors Programs! Whether you’re joining Mini Academy, Juniors Academy or Juniors Elite, players will develop confidence and skill in a safe, engaging, and fun environment.

Visit out Juniors Academy webpage for more information and to register! Reach out to our Juniors Director, Jessica Shelton, jshelton@tocafootball.com with any questions! 

Sports Performance

By: Mario Suarez

Sports Performance

Our players have been hard at work throughout Winter 1 on the field and in the weight-room! 

Our 2014-2016 Pre-Ecnl boys and girls teams have been improving their athleticism off the field with their 6-week program! Over the course they have been working on components of speed, agility, and strength such as:

• Balance and stability: A state of bodily equilibrium in either static or dynamic planes.
• Rhythm: The expression of timing.
• Spatial awareness: The ability to know where you are in space and in relation to objects.
• Kinesthetic differentiation: The degree of force required to produce a desired result.
• Reactive ability: The ability to respond with movement to a particular stimulus, such as sight, sound, or touch.
  

Our HS ECNL-RL boys and girls teams have also been improving their athleticism through their Winter 1 6-week program managing and enhancing their movement patterns to be resilient, strong, and safe on the field. They have been working hard while going through: 

• Isometric block: Build efficiency, tissue stability, and ligaments and tendon durability and flexibility at specific joint angles that are experienced on the field.
• Strength block: to enhance force production, absorption, redirection to be quicker and more explosive on the field and be prepared to handle the loads of the game or multiple games in a weekend. 
• Conditioning block: to enhance overall anaerobic and aerobic capacity to maintain preparation of game load and experience, so when playing fatigue does not hit as quick, nor does it stop our high level play. 

Excited to continue working until the New Year and beyond!! Let’s go FORCE!! 

Columbus Force SC Supplemental Training

Holiday Camps, U8-U9 Supplemental Training,  Force7's & Goalkeeping Training!

Proud Partner of Columbus Force Soccer Club

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

@ColumbusForceSC