The GCS Soccer Program provides a means to teach how a Christian should compete on the field as well as function in other aspects of life. GCS athletes must participate in such a way that honors their team, our school and the Lord.
Grace Christian is committed to developing a perspective on winning and losing that is consistent with the teachings of the scripture. We expect our athletes to dedicate themselves to this goal. Our challenge is to be in contrast to a sports world that emphasizes winning at any cost. Winning should be one of our goals, but we recognize that sports presents a beneficial learning experience, regardless of the outcome.
The mission of Grace Christian Athletics is to provide an excellent sports program that will help our students develop their God-given abilities. We want our student-athletes to honor and glorify God in all that they do (I Corinthians 10:31). Athletics is something that God allows us to do, not something that defines us. We need to make God first place in our lives (Matthew 6:33).
GCS Soccer teams are 2A members of the Raleigh Area Athletic Conference (RAAC) as part of the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA).
The Middle School Soccer teams are available to students grades 5 through 8. This foundational stage of development is the most important level of learning for our Soccer program, and includes:
Middle School Soccer gives us an opportunity to introduce and teach the fundamental aspects of the sport including but not limited to technical skills such as dribbling, shooting, passing, tackling, and ball and body control; game intelligence aspects such as spatial awareness, tactical knowledge, risk assessment, and in-game awareness; and areas of physical fitness such as endurance, speed, balance, coordination and strength. We also work on developing the proper mindset in our young players by encouraging them to have a passion for the sport, proper composure and mental strength, how to lose and win well, how to be coachable and self-motivation.
Middle School Soccer teams practice/or play at least 4x a week. Wednesday is normally the off day for Middle School Soccer practice.
The JV Soccer team is available to students grades 6 through 10 for athletes who have mastered the fundamentals taught in the middle school program. Fundamental skills are refined with an increased intensity for excellence, competition, and complexity of Soccer strategies.
GCS Junior Varsity Soccer athletes must be prepared to compete for playing time. Our goal is to prepare our athletes for the demands of the Varsity Soccer program, training them to be ready to contribute immediately. Decisions related to playing time are made solely at the coach’s discretion.
Junior Varsity Soccer teams practice/or play at least 4x a week.
The privilege to wear the GCS Varsity Soccer uniform is reserved for our top athletes, grades 7 – 12, who have mastered fundamental skills with increased intensity for excellence, competition, and complexity of Soccer game strategies. Varsity players must demonstrate a consistent display of the core Christlike characters traits of our athletic program: Diligence, Endurance, Boldness, Obedience, Faith, Humility, and Dependability.
Varsity Soccer players must be prepared to compete for playing time and work to keep it. Seniority of a player is not a factor. Our Varsity Soccer players are judged on athletic ability, work ethic, attitude, and knowledge of the coach’s strategies.
Competing to win is strongly emphasized, without sacrificing the display and the development of Christ-like character. GCS Varsity Soccer athletes are expected to act accordingly to their roles on the team, and contribute unselfishly in accordance with their abilities. Playing time will be determined solely by the coach/coaches. Coaches will not discuss playing time or strategy.
Varsity Soccer teams practice/or play at least 5x a week with possible Saturday practices and games.
Our Boys Varsity Soccer Team traveled to Wilson to take on Greenfield High School in the NCISAA State final for the third time in the past four years. Our Crusaders were ready for the rematch of last year’s state title bout and went the distance to bring home the NCISSA State Championship!
The GCS Mens Soccer Program runs during our Fall competition season, with tryouts and practices beginning in the summer. The GCS Womens Soccer Program runs during our Spring competition season, with tryouts and practices beginning in February. If you’d like more information about the GCS Soccer Program, or to register for tryouts, please contact our Athletic Director.
GCS hosts a Summer Soccer Camp for 2nd through 8th grade, as well as after school Elementary Enrichment Soccer Camps.
The Crusader Soccer Shot’s Camp is dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of soccer to boys and girls in a safe, enjoyable environment. Working each day to help better a players skill set on the pitch and working to build their individual confidence off of it. This camp will strengthen the athlete’s mentality while boosting their confidence to become a more skilled player. We will teach this through daily stations, drills, games, and competitions designed for kids of all skill levels. The summer camp is split into two sessions: Grades 2-4 and Grades 5-8.
Practices and home games are held in our newly renovated soccer field. Our state-of-the-art scoreboard was installed thanks to donations from our generous Corporate Sponsors: The Blackwell Group Realty Company, 360 Capital Management, Central Carolina Power Equipment and Pinnacle Benefit Resources.
Players from each team are selected for the following annual awards:
We are extremely proud our our GCS Alumni who have gone on to play / coach college and professional soccer:
Kayden Michael, ℅ 2022: Carolina University
Noe Limas, ℅ 2019: Columbia International University
Scarlet Prater, ℅ 2019: UNCG
Christian Galindo, ℅ 2019: Professional Soccer at Macclesfield FC
Isaac Kreuger, ℅ 2014: William Peace
Salvador Leonidez, ℅ 2014: Wake Tech
Hugo Lemus, ℅ 2014: Columbia International University, (Player and Former Goalkeeper Coach)
Jose Leonidez, ℅ 2015: Wake Tech
Marcus Velaquez, ℅ 2013: Life University
Fernando Depz, ℅ 2013: Columbia International University
