Soccer Pathways
Soccer Pathways
Transforming Talent into Opportunity At Coastal Games, we empower underserved youth by providing life-changing opportunities to develop athletic, academic, and personal skills through the game of soccer. Our focus is on nurturing character, teamwork, and leadership. Through our network of elite partner academies across Europe and the U.S., selected players receive access to high-level coaching, professional training environments, and a full soccer immersion experience. These academies and professional clubs provide the facilities, mentorship, and structure that allow players to grow both on and off the field — preparing them for a future in professional soccer. We identify talented players and connect them to a global stage — helping dreams take flight from the local field to international stadiums.
At Coastal Games, our Soccer Pathway Program opens doors for talented youth to train and grow within world-class soccer environments across Europe. One of our key partners is AKS SMS Łódź, one of Poland’s most elite football academies, known for its cutting-edge infrastructure and player development success.
Located at the Kazimierz Górski School of Sports Mastery in Łódź, the academy features:
7 football pitches (4 natural grass, 3 artificial)
2 gyms, 2 weight rooms
Wellness and physiotherapy centers
On-site dormitories and full meal service
During their stay, Coastal Games ensures players are supported every step of the way:
Pickup from Warsaw airport
Local SIM card with mobile phone for family contact
Accommodations, meals, and all training needs
Daily team training, strength and conditioning sessions, and 1–2x/week individual coaching
Weekend matches (friendly or league games)
AKS SMS LODZ
Consistently ranks among the top teams in provincial youth leagues and competes at high national levels, including the U17 junior league and Polish 4th division senior league. The senior team, built primarily from academy graduates (born 2005–2008), currently ranks 3rd. Founded in 2015, the club operates on three pillars:
Education
Linking academics with athletic development
Professional Training
Direct access to elite coaching and league play
Safe Residency
Full boarding care in a secure, centrally located campus
The academy has sent, on average, five players annually to Poland’s top leagues in recent years, with over 20 players now playing at the national level. Over 350 youth train in the system, and nearly 200 are enrolled in affiliated sports schools from 4th grade to high school.
In 2024, AKS SMS Łódź began formal collaboration with Hércules CF of Alicante, Spain—further expanding the international reach and opportunity available to our athletes.
By supporting the Soccer Pathway Program, you’re helping us provide these life-changing opportunities to youth who would otherwise be unable to access them. Your belief in their dreams allows them to pursue soccer at the highest level—both domestically and internationally.