The 2024-2025 seasons brings continued focus on Individual Development in a Successful Team Environment and we’re committed to offering each player the right combination of Athletic, Technical, and Tactical training to help that player reach their full potential.  We are not just a soccer club, we are a community with a positive culture.

Program Overview

U8-U19 Teams

The Competitive Program mission is to provide a player-centered development program for all players to reach their fullest potential while creating a passion for the game of soccer. We strive to be the best community based club in the Northwest suburbs. Our soccer philosophy will create confident people both on and off the soccer field. The Celtic SC Philosophy incorporates a player-centered approach that develops the Celtic player with the technical mastery and the soccer IQ to become skillful, creative players on the soccer field.

The competitive program consists of 37 teams playing in competitive leagues, IWSL (girls) and YSSL (boys). Our highest level teams will compete in state and regional leagues hosted by the Illinois Youth Soccer Association. Players must tryout for the program, usually in early to mid-May every year.

All Celtic competitive teams are coached by USSF and NSCAA licensed coaches who often have collegiate and, in some cases, professional playing experience. We have partnered with world renowned Celtic FC to provide our players and coaches with the best opportunities possible to reach their goals. Their assistance in coaching education will compliment an already robust in-house coaching education platform. Many former Celtic players have continued their soccer careers in NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA college programs.

Andy McDermott

Director of Soccer

We are determined to find the right situation for each player in our club, and we’re committed to offering each player the right combination of Athletic, Technical, and Tactical training to help that player reach their full potential.  This individual emphasis means that we are NOT focused on “winning at all costs.”  I’ve coached all over the country, and I’ve seen countless times how a coach can pick the biggest, fastest players and win games by teaching that team the wrong way to play.  Unfortunately, this leads to two negative outcomes: first, the smaller, “later developers” may walk away from the game because some narrow-minded coach sends them the message that they aren’t good enough.  Second, the “early developers” never acquire the skill and knowledge of how to play the right way, and eventually they get left behind when all the other kids catch up to their early growth rate.  The right answer, of course, is to guide each player in developing the skills and abilities of high-level soccer players, while helping them all to fall in love with the game!  And yes- we will always try to win, but winning should be the result of positive play, not the sole mission of the coaches and parents.

U8

2 Trainings per week (1 hr)

8 League Games

1 Fall Event

U9-10

2 Trainings per week

8 League Games

1 Fall Event

1 Spring Event

U11-U12

2 Trainings per week

8 League Games

2 Fall Events

1 Spring Event

U13-U15

3 Trainings per week

8 League Games

2 Fall Events

1 Spring Event

High School Girls

3 Trainings per week

8 League Games

3 Fall Events

High School Boys

3 Trainings per week

8 League Games

3 Spring Events

All teams train 2-3 times a week including an Athleticism Program, Futsal Training & Leagues, Ball Mastery, Classroom Sessions. Winter Session runs from the week after Thanksgiving until Spring Break.

Competitive Program

HIGHLIGHTS