Girls Academy Program

Why City SC Girls Academy?

City SC has a long established tradition of developing elite level players and preparing them to compete at the highest levels in college and beyond. As a member of the Girls Academy (GA), we offer players access to the best coaching, resources and competition in the US.

What you can expect as a player in our Girls Academy program:

  • Train on the best turf floodlit fields in North San Diego County
  • Work with professionally licensed and experienced coaches
  • Home games played on top level turf fields in Carlsbad, CA
  • Games recorded using Veo technology
  • Participate in game video analysis sessions at our City SC Headquarters
  • Financial aid/assistance available to help with program fees (for qualifying players)
  • Complete player pathway to college and professional level
  • Access to college recruitment services and two full time college liaisons

TRYOUT for CITY SC GIRLS ACADEMY PROGRAM

Players will be evaluated for our Girls Academy League program during tryouts (click here for latest tryout info), however, the recruitment process is ongoing. Typically players will be invited for a trial period of training with the current Academy team before being offered a spot with that team. Even though our Girls Academy League program tryouts have now completed, we encourage any players who wish to come out and practice with these teams to email: [email protected]

If you are interested in trying out for any of our age groups listed below then please fill out this form or contact: [email protected]

2025/26 TEAM INFORMATION
U13 Girls | 2013 WHITE | Head Coach: Brett Williams
U13 Girls | 2013 BLUE | Head Coach: Jonathan Jones Takano
U13 Girls | 2013 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Jonny Espinoza
U14 Girls | 2012 WHITE | Head Coach: Jeff Hughes
U14 Girls | 2012 BLUE | Head Coach: Lucas Mattos
U14 Girls | 2012 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Jonny Espinoza
U15 Girls | 2011 WHITE | Head Coach: Aaron Jaffe
U15 Girls | 2011 BLUE | Head Coach: Lucas Mattos
U15 Girls | 2011 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Luis Casillas
U16 Girls | 2010 WHITE | Head Coach: Jeff Hughes
U16 Girls | 2010 BLUE | Head Coach: Jonathan Jones Takano
U16 Girls | 2010 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Luis Casillas
U17 Girls | 2009 WHITE | Head Coach: Brett Williams
U17 Girls | 2009 BLUE | Head Coach: Craig Bedford
U17 Girls | 2009 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Maksim Tsyplyakov
U18/19 Girls | 2008/07 WHITE | Head Coach: Jeff Hughes
U18/19 Girls | 2008/07 BLUE | Head Coach: Craig Bedford
U18/19 Girls | 2008/07 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Gregg Cacioppo
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN OUR ACADEMY PROGRAM

Player Development

City SC offers a unique and seamless player pathway. We are one of the only clubs in the nation that is structured to allow a player to progress from their first U6 recreational experience to a top level U19 Academy player en route to college or international play, all under one roof.

The Girls Academy Player Development program is a highly sophisticated and structured model geared towards the most talented players aspiring to compete at the highest level.

One of the founding principles of the Girls Academy is creating a better training environment. This is achieved through a commitment to minimum of 3 days/week of on-field training over the course of a 10 month season. This schedule allows for coaches to cover a vast amount of technical and tactical topics in great detail.  Players are allowed to participate in high school soccer.

Player Development Pathway

DPL

City SC is a proud member of the new Development Player League (DPL).

The DPL is designed to mirror the Girls Academy (GA) to help prepare aspiring players for the transition to the GA. This is a three-day per week training program that also allows players the flexibility to play high school soccer.

Teams will compete against teams from other GA clubs in the Southwest Conference during the fall season, and will attend two top level College Showcases throughout the year.

For more information on the Development Player League (DPL) please click here to visit their website.

Competition

The Girls GA promotes less games, but MORE MEANINGFUL games each season. With less games on the schedule and more riding on each game, players develop better game preparation skills to allow them to compete at their best in each game.

City SC compete in the Southwest Conference (made up of teams from Arizona, Utah, LA, Las Vegas and San Diego) along with the following clubs:

  • Albion SC (San Diego, CA)
  • Albion SC Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Beach Futbol Cub (Torrance, CA)
  • City SC (Carlsbad, CA)
  • Legends FC (Chino, CA)
  • LA Surf (La Canada Flintridge, CA)
  • Pateadores Academy (Costa Mesa, CA)
  • SC Del Sol (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Utah Royals FC (Salt Lake City, UT)
  • West Coast FC (Laguna Hills, CA)

League Play
GA League is divided into a Fall Season & Spring Season

  • Fall Season: September-November (10-15 Games)
  • Spring Season: January-March (10-15 Games)

Teams will play 26-30 Regular Season League Games between the two seasons.

Showcases
Teams will also attend two GA showcase events during a regular season. Showcases rotate between various locations throughout the country each year.

Staff

Better coaches develop better players

City SC takes coaching education a step further. Through our partnership with Utah Royals, our coaches gain unprecedented access to periodic coaching clinics hosted by Utah Royals technical directors and coaching staff. We also host our own, ongoing monthly coach education program to ensure that all coaches stay on the cusp of best coaching practices.

Carl Higham Executive Girls Academy Director
Carl Higham
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (760) 822-4974
CLICK HERE for BIO
Michael Duggan Director of Soccer Operations
Michael Duggan
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (619) 994-6440
CLICK HERE for BIO
Jeff Hughes Girls Academy Director
Jeff Hughes
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (714) 325-1116
CLICK HERE for BIO
Brett Williams Head Coach
Brett Williams
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (619) 889-5331
CLICK HERE for BIO
Head Coach
Aaron Jaffe
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (858) 231-8512
CLICK HERE for BIO
Head Coach
Craig Bedford
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (760) 631-8017
CLICK HERE for BIO
Head Coach
Lucas Mattos
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (760) 580-5765
CLICK HERE for BIO
JJ Takano Head Coach
Jonathan Jones Takano
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (858) 203-8969
CLICK HERE for BIO
Louis Hunt Goalkeeper Coach
Evann Zilka
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (760) 672-1970
CLICK HERE for BIO

 

2025/26 TEAM INFORMATION
U13 Girls | 2013 WHITE | Head Coach: Brett Williams
U13 Girls | 2013 BLUE | Head Coach: Jonathan Jones Takano
U13 Girls | 2013 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Jonny Espinoza
U14 Girls | 2012 WHITE | Head Coach: Jeff Hughes
U14 Girls | 2012 BLUE | Head Coach: Lucas Mattos
U14 Girls | 2012 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Jonny Espinoza
U15 Girls | 2011 WHITE | Head Coach: Aaron Jaffe
U15 Girls | 2011 BLUE | Head Coach: Lucas Mattos
U15 Girls | 2011 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Luis Casillas
U16 Girls | 2010 WHITE | Head Coach: Jeff Hughes
U16 Girls | 2010 BLUE | Head Coach: Jonathan Jones Takano
U16 Girls | 2010 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Luis Casillas
U17 Girls | 2009 WHITE | Head Coach: Brett Williams
U17 Girls | 2009 BLUE | Head Coach: Craig Bedford
U17 Girls | 2009 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Maksim Tsyplyakov
U18/19 Girls | 2008/07 WHITE | Head Coach: Jeff Hughes
U18/19 Girls | 2008/07 BLUE | Head Coach: Craig Bedford
U18/19 Girls | 2008/07 ASPIRE | Head Coach: Gregg Cacioppo

Resources

One of the things that differentiates our Girls Academy program are the additional resources and opportunities available to players. We partner with some of the biggest names in the local sports industry to provide players with unprecedented access to a team of coaches, mentors, trainers, and specialists.

Facilities
One of the major factors that sets City SC apart from other clubs are our fantastic facilities. With access to five multi field, lit, turf facilities, our teams are able to maximize field time, rain or shine. Facilities utilized for Girls Academy home games and training include:

  • Army & Navy Academy – 2605 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008 – click here to map
  • Aviara Community Park – 6435 Ambrosia Lane Carlsbad, CA 92009 – click here to map
  • Pine Park – 3333 Harding Street Carlsbad, CA 92008 – click here to map
  • Poinsettia Community Park – 6600 Hidden Valley Road Carlsbad, CA 92009 – click here to map