WE ARE SC GJØA YOUTH SOCCER
Sporting Club Gjøa (pronounced YO-ah) was started by Norwegian immigrants in 1911 and is the oldest soccer club in New York and quite possibly the nation. Our Brooklyn-based youth program provides soccer camps, travel soccer, and soccer classes and clinics for girls & boys ages 3 to 18 years. The club has over 800 participants each year!
As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, we put kids first in every aspect of our approach to teaching young people the beautiful game.
Why Choose Gjøa?
Brooklyn has seen a proliferation of mostly for-profit soccer clubs in recent years. What makes Gjøa’s non-profit approach different from other programs?
- Reasonable fees and financial aid provided to families in need. Learn about our scholarships.
- Full-time USSF & UEFA licensed professional coaches in all programs.
- We offer classes and clinics, camps, and travel teams from beginner to pre-college training, for boys and girls ages 3-18.
Travel Soccer Benefits…
- A philosophy that puts player development before winning at all costs
- Each player has an Individual Development Plan guided by their coach
- Every travel team player plays at least 50% of every game
- Goalkeepers have their own extra practice with our professional GK Coach
- Optional weekly Club Practice at no additional charge
- A dedicated home field with a new turf surface for all home games
- Most teams play away games within the five boroughs of NYC
- Winter practices at Socceroof, Brooklyn’s premier indoor turf field
- Community service involvement via our Playing it Back program.
Most of our players come from the neighborhoods of Park Slope, Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Flatbush, Prospect Park South, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, Prospect-Lefferts, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Kensington, Borough Park, Dumbo, Red Hook, Ditmas Park, Fort Greene, Lower Manhattan, and some come from as far as Queens.
We practice and play at the Parade Grounds, in Prospect Park, at Pier 5 (Brooklyn Bridge Park), Socceroof Brooklyn, J.J. Byrne Playground/Washington Park, and in Red Hook. Away games happen mainly in NYC: in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Testimonials
The Coaching Team
History
The renowned Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen is best known as the first person to reach the South Pole. However, his initial fame came in 1906, when he and his crew became the first to find the Northwest Passage. This feat was accomplished aboard a ship named ‘Gjøa’.
Five years later, in 1911, members of the Norwegian Seamen’s Association organized a sporting club. Inspired by the adventurous spirit of Amundsen, the new club adopted the name of his ship. Initially, Sporting Club Gjøa’s only sports were whale rowing and tug of war, but in 1915 they started a men’s soccer team and in 1918 the first youth soccer teams were formed. In the more than 100 years since then, our club has won far more trophies than fit inside the clubhouse cases, yet the program has always been proud of its focus on individual success over winning silverware.
Alumni
SC Gjøa has a long history of developing players, coaches, and leaders who have gone on to make an impact at the highest levels of the game.
Notable alumni include:
Lozen Ricard
Rosenborg Kvinner 2 (Norway), former FC Barcelona C (Women’s)
Markus Anderson
Philadelphia Union (MLS)
William Andersen
Gjøa’s first Men’s “A” Team Manager, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
Lloyd Monsen
U.S. Men’s National Team and U.S. Olympic Team, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
Amr Aly
Captain of the U.S. Olympic Team, Hermann Trophy winner
Tom Kain
U.S. Olympic Team, Hermann Trophy winner
Michael Windischmann
Captain of the U.S. National Team at the 1990 World Cup, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
Gregg Bergholm
U.S. Men’s National Team
Core Values
Courage
Courage is part of Gjøa’s identity. Inspired by our Norwegian roots and spirit of exploration, we encourage players to step outside their comfort zone, embrace challenges, and keep growing.
At Gjøa, courage means:
- Trying new positions and experiences
- Learning from mistakes and bouncing back
- Communicating confidently and taking leadership
- Being creative and confident
- Choosing growth over fear of failure
We want players to be brave enough to improve, compete, and become the best version of themselves.
Commitment
Gjøa is built on long-term commitment to players, families, coaches, and community.
At Gjøa, commitment means:
- Showing up consistently for teammates
- Taking ownership of personal development
- Coaches investing in players over the long term
- Giving back through service, fundraising, and mentoring
- Building lifelong connections to the club
Many Gjøa players remain connected to the club long after their playing days are over.
Respect
At Gjøa, every child is valued as a person first and a player second.
Respect means:
- Treating teammates, opponents, and referees with respect
- Valuing players from all backgrounds and experiences
- Staying humble and committed to learning
- Valuing every player’s journey equally
- Contributing positively to the community
We believe success is measured not only by results, but by the impact we have on people.
The Future
Today, SC Gjøa continues to build on this legacy by prioritizing long-term player development, strong coaching, and a deep sense of community.
Each year, Gjøa teams travel to the Norway Cup in Oslo, connecting today’s players with the club’s roots. The tournament takes place in the country where the Gjøa ship now rests at the Fram Museum, serving as a reminder of the club’s heritage and its longstanding ties to Norway.
Our history matters, but our focus remains firmly on the future and on providing each player with the best possible foundation to grow within the game.