Sometimes the best ideas in youth soccer are the simplest.

On Saturday, the G1 Series returned for its second event, bringing together female players from three local clubs for a fast-paced evening of competitive soccer at Tatum Ridge.

FC Sarasota U17, DME Academy U15 and Tiki Taka-DME U16 and U19 gathered for a series of quick games designed around a simple concept: give good players good games without overcomplicating, or overpricing, the experience.

And that is exactly what happened.

A Different Approach to Competition

There were no tournament entry fees. No hotel requirements. No three-day commitment. No need to manufacture an “event” around the soccer.

The participating clubs simply split the referee costs for the day.

Even those costs were reduced by approximately 50% by incorporating up-and-coming referees who are developing their craft and gaining valuable game experience themselves.

Players got meaningful minutes. Coaches got competitive games. Young referees got development opportunities. Families got to watch their athletes compete without another expensive weekend commitment and most of all against good competition.

And, as an added bonus, two college coaches were on hand to watch the action, creating another layer of exposure for the players involved.

That is the G1 Series.

“It’s about working together to create more opportunities for all of our players. We can compete hard when the whistle blows and still collaborate off the field to make the game better for everyone. Saturday was exactly what this was designed to be—competitive, affordable and valuable for the girls.”

— Marvin, Owner, Tiki Taka-DME

Yes, We Keep Score

The games were competitive, and the results were earned.

Tiki Taka-DME U19 defeated FC Sarasota U17, 3–1.

DME Academy U15 defeated Tiki Taka-DME U16, 2–1.

Competition matters. Collectively, the clubs want players learning how to compete and how to win. But the scores weren’t the biggest win Saturday. The biggest win was the setup, affordability, development, exposure and willingness of multiple clubs to take a less traditional approach to youth soccer. Why can’t we just create the games our players need?

That’s the mindset behind the G1 Series, launched by DME this Summer.

“I think it’s incredibly cool that we can pick up the phone, bring good clubs and good players together, split a small cost and give girls another opportunity to compete, develop and be seen. Two college coaches showed up Saturday. That’s exposure. The girls got meaningful games. That’s development. And families didn’t have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to make it happen. That’s a win.”

— Jared Antista, Owner & GM, DME Academy Sarasota

Challenging the Traditional Youth Soccer Model

Sometimes you need a field.

A referee.

Good coaches.

Good players.

And clubs willing to work together.

The G1 Series was created around that idea, more competitive opportunities, more collaboration, more development and more exposure for female athletes.

Saturday’s second event delivered exactly that.

Three clubs. Multiple age groups. Developing referees. College coaches on the sideline. Competitive games. Minimal cost.

And a bunch of girls getting another opportunity to play.

That’s as awesome as it gets in our book!