One-on-one with Chris Klein, the Galaxy DA Director: http://www.soccernation.com/la-galaxy-academys-chris-klein-one-on-one-interview-cms-2259 A few tidbits: SNN: Is the Galaxy looking at developing a residency program? Chris Klein: No, we are not at the moment. SNN: What else have you changed at the Academy? Chris Klein: We have increased the number of practices for players to four times a week, plus we added two athlete performance training sessions with specialists. This is six times a week they work out, which is a tremendous step forward.
@CanPro - this is still rumour. I know the boys said it on twitter, BUT... Jan 15 - rumour confirmed http://www.reddit.com/r/tfc/comments/oezpd/qpr_swipe_tfc_academy_players_petrasso_and/ Jan 17 - QPR state they didn't sign anyone from TFC http://the11.ca/2012/01/17/rumour-mill-debunked-qpr-states-it-hasnt-signed-tfc-academy-players/ I hope they do go! And yes, Canada is too big with too small a population that is too spread out!
Chris Leitch takes over Earthquakes academy: http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/2012/01/leitch-oversee-academy Let's hope this leads to other positive developments with the Earthquakes DA. Thus far, they have lagged behind some of the other MLS DAs.
Hoping some RSL folks pop in to answer this one. Or anyone who may know rules about Residency programs. Can someone confirm that residency programs give up NCAA Scholarships/ college play? Found this from interview with Vancouver about their residence program, didn't get a link. When I google it now, all that comes back is my big soccer post... Vancouver Residential Academy interview: Residential academy players forfeit access to NCAA scholarships and college play. “We’re clear on that, We make it very clear to the parents and the kids that this is an alternative, you can’t do both. If you want to pursue a professional career in the game, then you do what pianists and others do in their fields, you pursue that full time. We’ve come to the conclusion you can’t tap dance around that – you either want to go the professional route at a very young age or you don’t.”
I'm not sure I fully understand the question. Of course, you can't go to college while in residency for a number of reasons. However, RSL players certainly can & have gone onto college after they finish residency. RSL's philosophy is that they try to prepare players for whatever the next step might be, whether that's with the RSL first team, going to college, or playing in leagues abroad.
Whitecaps residency players also play in their USL PDL Pro side and as such forego any chance at playing college/university soccer. Sounders USL PDL team is NOT a PDL Pro team and as such won't affect their college eligibilty. The difference b/w the two? Whitecaps PDL fields MLS-roster players, while the Sounders won't be. I'm not sure if Timbers do or don't.
FWIW I don't think the Whitecaps Residency players give up their eligibility for Canadian college soccer, which has looser standards. UBC has a number of ex-Whitecaps Residency players on their roster, including at least one who made USL-1 appearances.
CIS hockey teams are also littered with former CHL players who gave up their NCAA eligibility to play in the CHL. --Edit-- some CHL players also go to college/university while in the CHL. I am currently attending Loyalist College in Belleville, and a few members of the Belleville Bulls are enrolled in classes here.
The rules have changed. http://www.meacsports.com/fls/20800/Compliance/News/ItsRelatedJune2010.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=20800 However, I believe that once enrolled you can no longer play on a professional team or a team with professional players. If it was allowed by the CBA and MLS roster rules you could have a teenager play in MLS and remain eligible for the NCAA.
Ok, that makes sense - BUT. That still means the Sounders FC u23 team is NOT PDL Pro and won't have MLS roster players. Because the Sounders FC u23 will be signing former academy players (their own I imagine) who are currently in college. So your new rule says college players can't play with Pro teams, but pre-college they can (which makes sense - especially for the DA players). It'd be great if teens could play MLS and still be college eligible.....but it's a slippery slope for other sports etc.
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club.../Galaxy-U16-rework-lineup-after-Academy-title An article about the Galaxy's U16 academy team.
Not so sure of this anymore. I coached one player that has spent the last two in the residency and is now in serious conversation with big Universities in the US to play next season. Now that most of them also play USSDA, I think it's changed. Why? I have no idea.
Larry Sunderland leaving Chicago Fire Academy to go to Sereno in Arizona. Might Arizona get another academy?
Hard to say, but from a population standpoint, the Phoenix metro area is large enough to accommodate another DA (that's assuming you consider Casa Grande to be close enough to be in Phoenix's orbit).
The Sounders are adding U-15 and U-17 teams. I like how in the link they bold These tryouts are not for US Soccer Development Academy teams http://www.soundersfc.com/Team/Academy-Teams/Open-Tryouts/Tryouts.aspx
Pretty good move. Trying to expand their club. Basically developing reserve teams for their DA academies. I wonder if they'll shrink the DA roster size? If so that's good so the kids get more games.