All Winter Academy Participants will train with a professional coach two times (2) per week during the 12 week program. We would like the players to attend both training sessions if possible but it is not mandatory if you have a conflict. If you miss a training session there also may be other opportunities to train within our year round program. Basically, this can be as little or big commitment as you want to make it.

We recognize there may be a slight overlap in your recreational season and that is o.k. We would like you to honor your commitment with them if there is a conflict on one of our training days. When your season is completed then you can commit fully to our Winter Program. If this is the the case, just let us know the day / days you will not be able to make it.

Training sessions: (tentatively) Tuesday and Friday, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. (Maybe 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.)

Location: Glendora

Training sessions will be 1 - 1.5 hours in length.

Focus of All Training Sessions:  individual technical development of players, such as proper dribbleing, change direction, fake & feint, pass, shoot, and more....

See demonstration video of players who have been training with our Academy program.

 

Click on PLAY to begin the video.

Josh Hodges - Director of Coaching

Josh played collegiately at Azusa Pacific University and in his senior year started developing the Glendora Football Club. During his short tenure in Glendora he has developed over 15 players for the Olympic Development Pool to represent the state of California, brought a number of highly qualified soccer coaches to the area, and developed a program considered one of the top competitive soccer clubs in Southern California. Hodges also coached locally for Glendora High School and Azusa Pacific University.

 

Matt Evans - Technical Director

 

- Former Professional Soccer Player

- High School & College All-American

- Oversees all technical training of the GFC Soccer Program

 

As a youth club player, Evans accumulated an impressive playing resume in the Olympic Development Program. (ODP). He was a member of the State & Regional ODP teams at the U15, U17 and U18 age groups. He was also the Team Captain on all but one of the State and Regional teams. At each of these age groups, he was selected to the National Pool, just steps below a selection to the US National Teams. While completing his Physical Education degree from Azusa Pacific University, he racked up numerous honors: four-time All-American, three-time Regional MVP, and three-time League MVP. He also ranks just one point shy of being the APU all-time points leader in scoring and assists. 

• Coach Matt is a favorite among GFC players, and is known for his positive and encouraging demeanor, passion for the game, and his ability to demonstrate "the moves."

Zak Abdel - Goalkeeper Coach

Abdel  is also the Goalkeeper Coach for the Major League Soccer Club Deportivo Chivas USA. The ex-Egyptian national team goalkeeper, who for seven consecutive seasons (1998-2004) oversaw the development of Los Angeles Galaxy and U.S. national team goalkeepers Kevin Hartman and Matt Reis, returned to Major League Soccer after a brief stint with the coaching staff of the U.S. U-20 national team led by head coach Sigi Schmid, which participated in last year’s FIFA World Youth Championship in Holland.

Abdel had a 16-year professional career as a goalkeeper, playing for Mehalla of the Egyptian first division, where he won two championships in 1986 and 1988. Abdel also formed part of the Egyptian national team as a player with the U-14, U-16, U-17 and U-20 teams.

He came to the United States in 1994 to join the Los Angeles Salsa as goalkeeper coach. He also held the same position with Cal State University, Fullerton between 1996 and 1997, as well as PDL teams Orange County Zodiac and Orange County Blue Stars in 1997. 

• Coach Zak is a highly sought after goalkeeper coach and is known for expertise in youth goalkeeper development.