Crew Youth News

[Stan Collins]

I figured I might as well put a catch-call thread out there, starting with this item:

http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080516/SPT/805160325

Not too groundbreaking, but three Cincinnati area youth clubs have merged to form Cincinnati United, which is to be a Crew youth affiliate.

Also noticed on the website that the new team will wear colors very reminiscent of those of the Crew.

http://www.CincyUnited.com

[myshap]

Crew Academy shows progress in first season
Player development program demonstrates potential for growth (http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080711&content_id=171926&vkey=news_coc&fext=.jsp&team=t102)

Oh and only CincyU's premier youth program, Cincinnati United Premier, is a Crew Junior affiliate. The Crew also have affliations with Worthington United and Freidel's PSA. They also have a reginal team in the state up north called Grand Rapids Crew Juniors whose u14 squad are going to the USYSA National Championships.

The Crew's site actually has some pretty good stuff on it about the affiliates and reginal teams.

Crew Affiliates (http://web.mlsnet.com/t102/youth/development/affiliates/)

Crew Regional Partners (http://web.mlsnet.com/t102/youth/juniors/regional_partners/)

[phillypride]

So, does the Crew get to lay first claim to players in all these programs/teams?

[Smithsoccer1721]

I might be wrong but I believe the players in the affiliate clubs would have to play for them Crew's academy team for two years before they gain the ability to claim them. I think these other teams are just another way to scout and look for talent for the academy team.

[Stan Collins]

If anyone can find a way to watch it, the Crew are in the DAP finals right now on ESPNU.

[THOMA GOL]

4-0 win vs. Colorado Rush. It's amazing how clinical the finishing was, yes, the top team players should show more initiative especially when it comes to the timing of shots. Crew Youth not only shot when given space, but placed those shots correctly i.e. far post when the GK was far off the line. The combination play was also technically correct. I'm very interested to see in the future if youth players start getting offered a pro contract. that would break the doors down in terms of the way the soccer systems have gone in this country. I'm stoked.

[FCmagic01]

His last name was Wall, forgot his first name, but if I were the Crew i'd give him a contract ASAP.