As the first and only official Italian scuola calcio (soccer school) in North America sanctioned by the Italian National Olympic Committee and the Italian Soccer Federation, AC Cugini Soccer clearly offers a unique and exceptional training environment for American players. However, our premier Italian soccer school program is not for everyone. So be sure you review this website thoroughly and ask school officials any questions BEFORE you enroll your child in a Cugini program or have them try out for a Cugini travel team.

We only consider players for our travel teams who have a passion for the game, are coachable, and can commit to year-round training. Along with the player commitment comes parental commitment to our school's philosophy and understanding that a player's development is not instantaneous but occurs over many seasons of proper instruction and play along with positive reinforcement from parents and coaches. Thus we ask parents not to consider Cugini if their main interest is to find a new and more winning team for their child each season; or a venue for their child to be the "star". In reality, the player who may show signs of "talent" at age 8 (which is rare) is not necessarily the strongest player by age 13 or even the still playing the game — as, unfortunately, the statistics prove, over 70% of American youth players quit the sport by age 13.

At Cugini, each player is an integral part of the team, and a team's success is not dependent on just one or two players but the entire squad and the level of passion for the sport each player holds. Our goal is to develop players over the long term and nurture passion for the game, in keeping with the long tradition and history of success of the Italian scuola calcio model. With that in mind, Cugini travel teams are not run by parents who select coaches or trainers - the school chooses coaches and trainers who all follow the same Italian player development methodology.

Customized Programs in Italy Year Round!Because of our long history of working with soccer organizations in Italy and our staff's ability to communicate fluently in Italian, we have developed invaluable relationships with many high-level contacts in Italy, which allows us to create one-of-a-kind programs for American youth players and coaches.  

We do not participate in the more commonly known international tournaments in Italy available from numerous tour operators where  U.S. teams can end up playing against  U.S. or Canadian teams.  Our focus rather is to create a unique experience where American youth play against Italian teams or train with Italian professional clubs or the Italian National Olympic Committee staff. This also allows our participants the chance to be reviewed closely by talent scouts from professional Italian clubs with the necessary translation assistance available to  support any player selected by an Italian club.  In 2009, one of our Play Soccer in Italy  participants was chosen to join the youth team of Italian professional club FC Esperia Viareggio, where he now plays, living in Italy full time and attending high school.

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Sanctionings & Affiliations

AC Cugini, based in Northern Virginia, near Washington, DC, is an official Italian scuola calcio sanctioned by the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) and the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). Cugini is a member of Virginia Youth Soccer Association, US Youth Soccer, National Capital Soccer League (NCSL), Old Dominion Soccer League (ODSL), Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS), and Suburban Friendship League (SFL).

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Play Soccer in Italy for FREE!

June 24-July 7, 2010
Boys & Girls, Ages 9-17

In 2010, Cugini members and nonmembers can take advantage of three exciting summer programs in Italy detailed below. Entire families are always welcome. Program 1 below takes place during the 2010 World Cup. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to be in Italy when the Azzurri, the Italian national team, defends its World Cup title!

Special Discounts & Free Travel Options:

Option 1: For every 13 people registered from outside Cugini (including family members), the 14th person may participate free of charge in any Play Soccer in Italy program, to include the land package -- training, hotels, meals, ground transportation.  No other tour operator offers a travel incentive like this!  

Option 2: Cugini's uniform vendor Eurosportsgear is now offering exciting purchase incentives -- including discounts for any Play Soccer in Italy tour.  To discuss your club's uniform needs and discounts for Play Soccer in Italy tours, contact Franco Sepede: 630.930.9056; fsepede@eurosportsgear.com; www.eurosportsgear.com .......www.massportusa.com

Highlights:  Training camp in Rome, tournament, and friendly matches. Italian talent scouts will observe all players during the tournament and the training camp.

Locations: Rome and San Benedetto del Tronto (beach resort on the Adriatic coast in the Marche region). Day trips to Assisi, Ascoli Piceno, Acquavia Piceno.

• Open to all players in the USA and Canada. Non-Cugini members are welcome to participate as guest players on Cugini teams. Entire teams welcome.
• The training camp is free for Cugini players.
• Training December 2009 - June 2010 in Virginia for non-Cugini team members included at no additional cost.

For more information on the 2010 Play Soccer in Italy programs or to request a brochure:
Contact Lisa Cherubini @ 703.477.6590; executivedirector@cuginisoccer.com.

To guest play on a Cugini Play Soccer in Italy team or to have a full team participate:
Contact Fabio Diletti @ 703.477.5957; president@cuginisoccer.com.

Play Soccer in Italy 2010 Details

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Winter Training & Goalie Practices

December  through  February 

As Cugini is first and foremost a school, training resources are available to Cugini members on a year-round basis, including the Italian Olympic Committee sanctioned winter training program — a mandatory part of Cugini travel team training. All sessions are outdoors on artificial turf fields with lights which also improves a player's overall conditioning in preparation for the spring season or high school tryouts. The winter program concentrates on advancing a younger player's fundamental / technical skills - receiving, passing, dribbling, 1 v 1, 2 v 2. For  older players, the program focuses on more tactical training and conditioning.

Instructor: All training is conducted by Cugini Founder and President Fabio Diletti who played as a goalkeeper for professional Italian club Ascoli Calcio.

Location: Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, turf field #4 

For training-related questions, please contact the instructor Fabio Diletti: 703.477.5957; president@cuginisoccer.com.

Winter Training Page

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Travel Team Tryouts through February

Independent Teams Welcome to Fill Cugini's Open Spots in WAGS, NCSL, ODSL

Tryouts for Cugini travel teams for Spring 2010 are by appointment only in Reston through February 27. We also welcome independent teams to fill our club's spots in WAGS, NCSL, and ODSL.

Spring 2010 Teams with Open Spots:

• U15/U16 Girls (ODSL Division 1): 1 field player;  second goalkeeper
• U9 Boys (ODSL): new for Spring, all positions open
• U11 Boys (ODSL): 1 field player
• U12 Boys (ODSL Division 1, waitlisted for NCSL): 1 field player

Added benefits:

• Family discounts for second child from same family on a Cugini travel team.
  
• Free Goalkeeper training year round
  
• Free House League registration for siblings
  
• Summer Camp discounts
  
• Automatic acceptance on Cugini’s Italy tournament teams traveling to Italy each summer
• Free training in Italy each summer
  
• Review by talent scouts for numerous professional Italian clubs
  
• Tryout arrangements in Italy with professional Italian clubs for select players, including all translation services, and negotiation services in Italy

Independent teams: Cugini has open spots for independent teams of all ages wishing to play in WAGS, NCSL, and ODSL - which the club plans to fill. Cugini welcomes coaches and parents outside the club who have interest in forming new teams or bringing their current team to Cugini. Please don't delay in contacting Cugini if you wish to switch clubs for Spring 2010 season as some leagues have tight deadlines to transfer from one club to another.

To arrange a tryout or discuss bringing an independent team to Cugini, contact Cugini President Fabio Diletti: 703.477.5957; president@cuginisoccer.com.

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SFL Team Registration Spring 2010

Saturday Play: Ages 11-16

Register by 1/31 for Discounted Registration Fee!!

Cugini's older recreational teams are for girls and boys ages 11-16 who don't wish to pursue a year-round travel soccer program or cannot play games on Sundays. Older recreational teams compete in the Suburban Friendship League (SFL), where teams play games on Saturdays on fields in Northern Virginia.

Added benefits:

Professional instruction one practice per week

Family discount of $25 for second child

Free Goalkeeper training in Spring

Free House League registration for younger siblings (ages 4-8)

Summer Camp discounts in the USA 

Free training in Italy each summer

If you have any questions on joining a Cugini SFL team, please contact: registration@cuginisoccer.com.

SFL Recreational Teams Spring 2010

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House League - Spring 2010

Register by 1/31 to Avoid Late Fee!

Free for Siblings of Players on Cugini Travel Teams and SFL Teams

Registration for Cugini's Spring 2010 Coed Piccoli Amici and Pulcini House League (ages 4-8) is open from December 1-January 31 at discounted fees. After February 1, late registration fees apply.

Practices are directed by Cugini President Fabio Diletti, a native Italian who played as a goalkeeper for professional Italian club Ascoli Calcio. The program includes two practices per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays: 4:30-6:00pm) and games Saturday mornings at 10:00am at Baron Cameron Park, Reston. 

Additional benefits: 

• Professional instruction 3 hours per week
• Family discount of $45 for second child from same family
• Returning player discount of $5 (players returning from Fall 09 season
• Registration fee is waived for any siblings of players on Cugini travel or SFL teams.

Spring House League Program Details