So announcement came out of the new U-12 Academies for 2016-2017 season. http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...clubs-at-under-12-division-for-2016-17-season Could be good, could be bad. In my area, IL, it looks there will be 2-3 new "academy" level clubs for U-12 division. What happens after the kids U12 season, the team does not have any other academy level teams. Pull them in for 1 season of academy play then what? U12 academy will be what age group, 05's or 06's?
Watered down? Why does Chicago need 5 DA Academies? Uhhh... This may go to prove my assumption that the new girls DA will be completely worthless. If that's the case I hope the ECNL can hold together!
These new U-12 academy clubs are ONLY for the U-12 age group. I believe the idea is to help identify these players earlier and then funnel them into the "full" academy clubs.
The 12 academy will be 2004s. And as posted above, the idea is to train more kids earlier at the academy level, identifying the best to move on. There are also clubs that will have only 12, 13, and 14 academies. Then there are the full academies. So it is taking more of a pyramid shape now. With broader coverage in the younger ages.