The Girls Academy (GA) represents the leading youth development platform for the best female soccer players in the United States. GA is also distinguished by the active role the league’s players have in shaping the direction of the league through their player Advisory Panel. GA is committed to cultivating an environment that empowers each player to reach their best potential as an exceptional athlete and human being.

In 2024/25, GA boasted over 100 member clubs, with over 14,000 players ages U13-U19, and divided into eleven conferences nationwide. League play begins in August and culminates with the playoffs and national finals events in June and July; the most competitive teams qualify for an additional competition.

We are excited about the future of NVA GA in the Girls Academy and look forward to continuing to develop top-tier athletes in a player-centered, high-performance environment!

In transitioning to GA, NVA will continue to provide players with:Elite, high-level competition in a structured national league

• Maximized college exposure through showcases, tournaments, club hosted College ID evenings and partnerships
• Reduced league travel commitments while maintaining top-tier competition
• A player-first environment with leadership opportunities (GA Players Advisory Panel)

Roster sizes will remain consistent with our current structure; however, at the older high

school age groups, rosters may increase slightly to account for injuries, college ID events, and travel considerations. This ensures that our teams can compete at the highest level while maintaining roster depth and internal competitiveness.

No, all current teams will finish their Spring 2025 season and postseason play in their existing league. The transition to Girls Academy will take full effect after the Spring 2025 season to ensure a smooth transition for players and families.

Yes, Girls Academy players are fully eligible to play for their high school teams. The GA supports player choice and workload balance, allowing athletes to compete at both the club and high school levels while maintaining high-quality training opportunities year-round.

NVA GA teams train four days per week during the fall and spring seasons until the high school season begins. For players opting out of high school play, NVA offers a structured three-day per week spring training program to ensure continuous development. Players participating in high school soccer will also train twice per week with NVA GA. Practice schedules will be confirmed approximately one month before the season begins.

The GA’s conference structure is designed to maximize competition regionally while maintaining high-level matchups, significantly reducing travel distances. Our future conference will primarily include teams in Virginia and North Carolina with potential crossover matchups versus teams from Maryland and Pennsylvania. 

Loudoun Soccer’s top teams will also transition to GA, and compete in the same conference as NVA GA. 

NVA GA and Loudoun GA will coexist in the GA National League as part of the same overall Girls Academy platform. NVA GA is the marquee and 1st-tier program within the structure, offering the highest level of competition and exposure. This structure mirrors successful multi-club models seen in other top leagues and allows for strong internal competition while maximizing player development and exposure.

NVA GA teams will participate in all available GA National Showcases and Events. In  2024-25, these included:

• GA Fall Showcase & Champions Cup (Late Fall)
• GA Winter Showcase & Champions Cup (January)
• GA Spring Showcase (April/May)
• GA National Playoffs & Finals (June/July, for teams that qualify)

These showcases provide maximum college exposure and the opportunity to compete against top teams from across the country.

The Girls Academy has quickly become one of the premier recruiting platforms for college coaches. Over the past three years:

• More than 1,200 GA players have committed to college soccer programs.
• In the Class of 2024 alone, over 700 players committed to NCAA programs.
• GA showcases attract hundreds of college scouts, including from top Division I programs like UNC, Stanford, Duke, UCLA, and Florida State.

Additionally, GA has strong partnerships with college recruiting platforms, including ScoutingZone and Veo, which provide players with video analysis and direct exposure to college coaches. The college pathway is a multifaceted journey where college coaches strive to recruit the players they feel can most positively impact their programs. Top college programs attend all GA events and the relationship NVA has with college coaches will continue to provide great exposure .

Sources:

GA College Impact

Class of 2024 Commitments

Yes, NVA GA teams will continue to attend top-tier showcases that provide elite competition and enhanced college exposure. These events will be strategically selected based on:

• Competition level
• College recruiting opportunities
• Player development goals

Premier tournaments such as Jefferson Cup, WAGS, and Raleigh Showcase will remain part of our event calendar to ensure our players are consistently competing in highly-scouted, elite-level environments.