MLS Academies

[Hyuuga Neji]

Just wondering, how many MLS teams have academies in their areas? I have heard of the much ballyhooed RedBull academy and a few others, but admittedly don't know if many teams(i.e.Colorado, Dallas, DC Utd) have academies or not.
Thanks.

[teddy_montoya]

Colorado has a youth academie and some youth clubs.

Rapdis U-17(couldn't find the link)
Rapids U-23 (http://www.coloradorapidsu-23.com/)
Rapids Academy... (http://www.coloradorapids.com/Team/RapidsAcademy.aspx)

[SMUPlayer]

D.C. United has an academy;
http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/t103/load.jsp?section=camps&content=academy

[Dilettante]

The Colorado Rapids have a USSF Development Academy with U16 (91-92) and U18 (89-90) teams.

[realslfan]

Every team except New England and Toronto have programs. http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/01/three-mls-teams.html

[Hyuuga Neji]

Every team except New England and Toronto have programs. http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/01/three-mls-teams.html
Really? I was under the impression the Revs did have one. I'm guessing San Jose and Seattle will not have any in place for a couple of years, right?

[realslfan]

Well, I assume that they could start one right away or maybe already have. However, they have to have a qualifying program in place for 2 years prior to being able to directly sign players from the program.

To me the interesting aspect will be what these means for the draft in future years. Although it will take along time before these programs fully reach their potential, one could imagine a day when a majority of the higher quality domestic talent is involved in these programs, and this could alter the impact of the draft as it currently stands.

[Keystone FC]

Every team except New England and Toronto have programs. http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/01/three-mls-teams.html


TFC just opened theirs.

http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/t280/youth/academy/

[Smithsoccer1721]

Brad Friedel is in the process of creating a residency program in lorain, ohio. I believe they will have some connection to the Columbus Crew. I do not know how much or what exactly that all in tales. Also the Crew of youth teams known as the the Crew Juniors. They are basically a club team. I am sure some other Crew fans know more than I do but thats all I know of.

[Goodsport]

I'm guessing San Jose and Seattle will not have any in place for a couple of years, right?

I don't know about Seattle, but the San Jose Earthquakes has plans (http://blog.soccersiliconvalley.com/archives/2007/08/alioto_intervie.html) for a San Jose Earthquakes Academy, no doubt to be set up for this year or (at the very latest) next year.


-G

[BReid]

The Revs Youth Program :D (http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/wake-m-soccer-body.html)

[JohnR]

Fire Academy went up for real this autumn. About 40 kids.

Notes on Fire Academy.

1) Extremely generous terms for the youth players - not only free training, but free travel.

2) Point #1 was made possible, according to the informed gossip that I hear from sources who are right about 80% of the time, by a $500k outside grant from a foundation. There is question about the sustainability of the program's current terms, as the $500k won't last even 2 years while paying travel costs.

3) Fire Academy players are largely those from an inherited Naperville program, plus the the Fire going down the ODP lists and inviting Regional players.

4) The competition of Magic/Sockers sells itself as a program for the player who expects to go to college, but who will turn professional if the opportunity presents itself. Those guys portray the Fire Academy as being instead for the no-turn-back professional prospect, who has pretty much foregone the notion of college.

5) Point #4 is certainly exaggerated but may have some truth to it.

6) Due to point #1, point #3, and perhaps point #4, the current roster of the Fire Academy has a strong Hispanic flavor.

[kronz21]

Just wondering, how many MLS teams have academies in their areas? I have heard of the much ballyhooed RedBull academy and a few others, but admittedly don't know if many teams(i.e.Colorado, Dallas, DC Utd) have academies or not.
Thanks.

i rememeber reading in soccer america(i think was like a year ago or so) that there were going to make having soccer academys mandatory, and would pretty much make the draft pointless. For the MLS teams would have rights too there players and they wouldnt have to draft them.

i just hope this was just an idea and not whats going to happen, i really like the draft. exspecally considering i like american sports, but iam sure euros think its stupid.

[JohnR]

i rememeber reading in soccer america(i think was like a year ago or so) that there were going to make having soccer academys mandatory, and would pretty much make the draft pointless.

That seems unlikely. Less than half the U.S. population lives within a 3-hour round trip of an MLS Academy location. Even some of the top players who live within that radius, may chose to attend nonMLS Academies.

I would expect most MLS players to come from outside the MLS Academy system for the foreseeable future.

[Bird1812]

Really? I was under the impression the Revs did have one. I'm guessing San Jose and Seattle will not have any in place for a couple of years, right?

Nothing as yet. They have a camp program that they refer to as the Revs Academy, but it is basically geared to young players.

[JohnR]

They have a camp program that they refer to as the Revs Academy

Right. We've been through this elsewhere; the Revs program is not an Academy as the term was recently defined by USSF. It is quite confusing.

But heck, if my U15 son were to play on a U16 Academy team this spring, he would in reality be playing two years up, not one. (No, I am not kidding.) So confusion comes quite naturally to U.S. youth soccer -- people seem to have a great deal of difficulty using the same words in a consistent fashion.