The Impact of the Girls Academy

The Girls Academy (GA) is an 81-club national soccer league divided into eight conferences (Northwest, Southwest, Frontier, Mid-America, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Mountain West). The league’s creation was in response to U.S. Soccer dropping the Development Academy in 2020.

The Girls Academy added 19 new member clubs for the 2021-22 season. Approximately 10,000 soccer players compete in the league, and the numbers are growing weekly.

The girls Academy consists of six age groups U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-19.

The season culminates in the GA National Playoffs, where the top teams from each conference compete for the Girls Academy National Championship.

The Girls Academy Philosophy

The Girls Academy’s mission is “to honor a true commitment, in the pursuit of excellence, to the player above all things: the athlete and the person.”

As stated on the Girls Academy website, the organization’s vision is as follows: “We believe through collaboration dreams can come true. We will lead the most dynamic development platform imaginable for our athletes, with integrity and respect, showcasing their passion, grit, and dedication in a fun and competitive environment.”

Core Values

The Girls Academy is steeped in six player-driven core values:

• Sportsmanship – To exhibit fair and generous behavior towards all.
• Ownership – To take responsibility for our place in our pathway.
• Confidence – To feel a sense of self-assurance and appreciation of one’s abilities and qualities.
• Grit – To demonstrate courage and resolve in all we do.
• Passion – To engage, train, and compete with abundant enthusiasm for the game.
• Character – To display strong mental and moral qualities through our actions and words.

Girls Academy Advisory Board (GAAP)

A distinct organizational feature is the Girls Academy Advisory Board which includes an adult panel and player panel. The Player Advisory Panel is comprised of athletes representing every conference, club, and team.

The advisory panel provides players a voice to offer input in the long-term development of the league. In this manner, players take ownership of the league’s present and future, affecting generations to come.

In an interview with Girls Soccer Network, GA commissioner Lesle Gallimore highlighted the significance of the GAAP: “We are solely and 100% focused on girls and the female game. Our Player Advisory Panel, and the adult panel that works with them, are active in creating the direction of our league. We want the players’ voices to legitimately matter in their development as players and people. What the players want from their experience should come from them, and, in the Girls Academy, it does.”

The Future of the Girls Academy

The Girls Academy continually seeks to build meaningful partnerships to support the league and its players. Also, the Academy is committed to further developing its players as athletes and individuals. Lastly, the Girls Academy is investing in recruiting players and female coaches, especially those from historically underrepresented groups.

Gallimore is both proud of the Academy’s progress and excited for its future: “Looking back, after U.S. Soccer dropped the Development Academy on April 15, 2020, I don’t think many would believe that not only would a league like ours exist today but that we would be cemented in the landscape and looking to thrive into the future.” 

Featured image via @girlsacademyleague on Instagram

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