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ELITE

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

BUFFALO

UPCOMING SESSIONS

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5:30 PM
Ages 8-11 Technical Training
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OUR TRAINING LOCATIONS

6204 Goodrich Road

Clarence Center, NY 14032

Elite Player Development Soccer Training
Elite Player Development Soccer Training
Elite Player Development Soccer Training
Elite Player Development Soccer Training

MEET THE COACHES

CARISSIMA CUTRONA

CARISSIMA CUTRONA

Carissima brings high-level playing experience and a proven coaching background to Elite Player Development Buffalo. She was inducted into the New York State Girl’s Soccer Hall of Fame in 2025 and the WNY Section VI girls soccer Hall of Fame in 2024.


Her playing career includes professional experience in Norway’s 1st Division with Medkila IL and semi-professionally in the UWS/USLW as the captain of the FC Buffalo Women’s team. She also captained the University at Buffalo Women’s soccer team.


Carissima serves as the Head Varsity Girls Coach at Williamsville South High School and has over five years of Private Technical training experience working with individual players, small groups, and teams. Her experience in this unique role has given her the opportunity to do what she loves - connecting with players on an individual level to elevate their playing experience and growth through the game of soccer.


Through EPD Buffalo, Carissima delivers structured, high-level training focused on technical precision, decision-making, and building confidence. Her mission is to develop Elite players who are prepared to compete and enjoy their experience.

JOHN GRABOWSKI

 JOHN GRABOWSKI

John brings a strong playing background and extensive coaching experience to Elite Player Development Buffalo, with deep roots in Western New York soccer.


A former standout player at SUNY Fredonia, he went on to compete at a high level with FC Buffalo in the National Premier Soccer League and professionally for Niagara United in the Canadian Soccer League.


Transitioning into coaching, John has built an impressive resume across both collegiate and club environments. John led the SUNY Erie (NJCAA) Men’s soccer team as Head Coach for nearly ten years. He also served as an Assistant Men’s Coach at SUNY Fredonia (NCAA) and FC Buffalo (USL2). He has contributed to player development in the youth soccer landscape through his work with Empire United and the New York State West Olympic Development Program.


John is known for his player-focused approach, emphasizing technical growth, tactical understanding, and creating a positive, competitive environment. His experience across multiple levels of the game allows him to effectively guide players in reaching their full potential.

ABOUT EPD

At Elite Player Development (EPD), we strive to provide personalized coaching in an environment that challenges, motivates, and supports athletes.

Our small group training model is designed to bridge the gap between team practices and individual training. By working with a limited number of players, we are able to provide more repetitions, more individualized feedback, and more opportunities for players to develop the technical skills needed to succeed on the field.

Every session is intentionally structured to help players improve their ball skills, decision-making, confidence, and overall understanding of the game. We tailor our sessions to create realistic game-like situations that encourage players to think, compete, and apply their skills under pressure.

At EPD, we recognize that every player’s development is unique. Whether a player is looking to build a stronger technical foundation, earn a spot on a higher-level team, or prepare for the next stage of their soccer career, our goal is to provide the coaching, environment, and attention needed to help them reach their potential and BE ELITE. 

PERSONALIZED

COACHING

GAME-REALISTIC

TRAINING

HIGH

REPETITION

DEVELOPING

COMPLETE PLAYERS

Elite Player Development Soccer Training
Elite Player Development Soccer Training
Elite Player Development Soccer Training

GET IN TOUCH TO BOOK A SESSION

epdbuffalo@gmail.com

Buffalo, New York, US

Both of my kids (12 and 10) train with Carissima and John at EPD. They really enjoy the sessions.  The training is fast paced, competitive, and fun.  Highly recommend to anyone with a player looking to build on their technical skills in a great environment.

KEVIN M

Training with Elite Player Development has been a great experience for my 11-year-old player. We have seen significant technical growth and confidence in her time training with Carissima and John at EDP. EDP delivers high-level training in a supportive environment. I confidently recommend EDP for any player looking to grow their technical skills, understanding and love for soccer.

CHRIS I.

My son Ben truly enjoys attending Elite Player Development Buffalo and comes away having learned something new every time he trains. Carissima and John do an outstanding job listening to Ben’s feedback and can create effective, personalized drills on the spot that directly support his growth and development as a player. The positive environment they have built encourages players to work hard, improve their skills, and develop into confident, competitive athletes.

DAVID C.

My sons, ages 10 and 8, have trained with Carissima on and off for several years and have been training consistently with EPD since January 2026. One of the reasons I sought out additional training was because I felt their team environments did not provide enough focus on technical skill development and the confidence to apply those skills in games. EPD has done an excellent job addressing both areas.

 

Both boys were already solid all-around players, but I have seen meaningful growth since they began training with EPD. My older son has improved his ball control, first touch, and overall confidence on the field. He is more willing to take risks and trust his abilities during games, which has led to opportunities to guest play in a tournament with an older team and practice with that group as well. My younger son has also gained confidence and is much more willing to challenge himself in game situations. He now regularly attempts skills he has learned in training, such as setup and escape touches when taking on defenders, whereas previously he would have been more hesitant to try them. Training alongside older players has also helped him become more comfortable and relaxed when competing in his own age group, and he genuinely looks forward to his games.

 

What stands out most about Carissima and John is their ability to adapt training to each player’s skill level while providing immediate, hands-on feedback, guidance, and encouragement throughout each session. Their coaching is consistent, technically sound, and focused on player development. The drills and concepts they teach have become part of the additional training we do as a family outside of organized practices. Carissima has also been professional, responsive, and easy to communicate with whenever I have questions or want to schedule training.

NICK M.

TESTIMONIALS

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