“a new elite youth competition platform which will provide year-round high-level matches for MLS club academy teams and non-MLS academy teams that previously participated in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy”
MLS Technical Director of Youth Development Fred Lipka joins Extratime to discuss future of US youth development Not much meaty in the article. The podcast interview is here starting at 14:06.
Earlier today, I spoke at length with Technical Director of MLS Player Development, Fred Lipka, about the league's new program being launch in the wake of the DA collapse. My latest for ASN: https://t.co/iAQOUHvdH4— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) April 17, 2020
Reporting with @PaulTenorio: According to sources, MLS has hired former US Soccer executive Jay Berhalter as a consultant. Berhalter has been involved in conversations about designing the new MLS academy league.— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) April 17, 2020
Here's the list of member clubs: https://t.co/SFcIXt5bzjAnd the rundown of committees and working groups:https://t.co/2KzM6HNsBL— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) August 4, 2020
What's interesting to me is it sounds like they're adding age groups...........No? U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-19 Buzz reporting that FCD isn't going to maintain U16 teams for the moment, but instead will run a U12 program.
MLS announced a structure of its newly created elite youth development platform along with the expansion of 19 additional youth soccer clubs into the platform. https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/mls-announces-youth-platform-expansion_aid48364 Working Group and Conference Chair Leadership Competition Working Group Name Club Title Sean McCafferty New York Red Bulls - NJ Academy Director Robert Elliott FC Delco - PA General Manager Cedric Cattenoy Chicago Fire FC - IL Academy Technical Director Lars Richters Michigan Wolves - MI Academy Director Chris Cartlidge Colorado Rapids - CO Academy Technical Director Paolo Carbone Breakers - CA Executive Director Environment Working Group NameClub Title Anthony Nixon Cedar Stars Academy Bergen - NJ Academy Director Jamie Smith Nashville SC - TN Academy Director Jon Burklo RISE Soccer Club - TX Academy Director Todd Saldaña Los Angeles Football Club - CA Academy Director Derek Armstrong Nomads - CA Director of Coaching Individual Growth Working Group Name Club Title Darren Powell Inter Miami CF - FL Director of Player Development Steve Klein PA Classics - PA Director of Coaching Corey Wray Columbus Crew SC - OH Assistant General Manager Nick Evans San Antonio FC - TX Pro Academy & Club Development Director Kevin Hartman LA Galaxy - CA Academy Director, Soccer Operations Jerry Losson Ballistic United - CA MLS EYDP Director of Coaching Talent ID Working Group Name Club Title Dave Sanford D.C. United - DC Academy Director Peter Decker Seacoast United - NH Academy Director Tyson Wahl Austin FC - TX Academy General Manager Sean Bushéy Shattuck-St. Mary's - MN Academy Director Henry Brauner Seattle Sounders FC - WA Director of Player Development Gerson Perez Silicon Valley SA - CA SVSA Technical Director Brent Erwin RSL Arizona - AZ Technical / Executive Director Commercial Working Group Name Club Title Dan Lock Charlotte FC - NC Academy Manager Alex Chater IMG Academy - FL General Manager Dale Schilly Saint Louis FC - MO Academy Director Ryan Miller Portland Timbers - OR Academy Director Noah Gins Albion SC - CA CEO Western Conference Chairs Name Club Title Dennis Sanchez MLS Sacramento Club Director Gerson Perez Silicon Valley SA Club Director Tom Spall Real Salt Lake Club Director Derek Armstrong Nomads Club Director Central Conference Chairs NameClubTitle Paul HolocherHouston DynamoClub Director Danny BillsReal ColoradoClub Director Jamie SmithNashville SCClub Director David RichardsonSockers FCClub Director Eastern Conference Chairs NameClubTitle Marcelo NeveleffOrlando City SCClub Director Roberto LopezChargers SC Club Director Dan LockCharlotte FC Club Director John EllingerBaltimore ArmourClub Director Anthony Capotosto Toronto FC Club Director Chris Apple Empire United Soccer Academy Club Director Series: Media Resources
I realize this is evolving but anyone want to breakdown for me what this means as someone who hasn't paid any attention to this since they announced the DA was closing up shop
I think it’s really interesting how many non MLS club representatives are included in this. I thought the MLS would exclusively be making decisions but this actually looks more inclusive than I was expecting
Interesting look into the MNUFC diaspora: https://www.epluribusloonum.com/202...new-mls-set-up-local-youth-soccer-frustration Following the Loons’ decision in June, academy players have scattered. An academy source with knowledge of player movements provided the following breakdown of former academy players’ new clubs: Minnesota Thunder Academy - 25+ Shattuck-St. Mary’s - 10+ Sporting Kansas City - 6 Real Salt Lake - 2 FC Barcelona (Arizona) - 2 Portland Timbers - 1 FC Cincinnati - 1
This is egregious, if true ( and I think it is highly likely to be true). https://www.epluribusloonum.com/202...-update-reserve-team-youth-soccer-development
I asked this in the Caden Clark/NYRB USl thread, but will ask it here too. Presumably all of these players moving to other MLS academies are still deemed to be from Minnesota's homegrown territory. So they can't actually sign for those MLS clubs unless the new clubs acquire their "homegrown rights?" SKC seems like a master of acquiring players for their academy that aren't actually eligible to sign for them. I guess the plan is to develop the players and if they end up being good enough for first team contracts, they'll figure it out later.
Not all of them, no. For instance, one of the RSL players is from Las Vegas area. Not sure where he ended up in this, but another is from Florida. There are actually 3 players going to Portland that I have heard of. One is from Wisconsin. So that depends on how much of Wisconsin is considered homegrown territory for MNUFC. I think the kid going to Cincy was also from Las Vegas. SKC is a logical destination for a lot of these kids. Next closest MLS academy. I mean Chicago is in that discussion too, but has no residency and has there own issues with commitment to the academy (although it seems that may be changing with the new ownership).
Charlotte's FC Academy kicked off its first games over the weekend. The have a U-14 and U-17 team. Here is a link to their roster. I don't recognize any names. https://charlottefootballclub.com/charlotte-fc-academy/academy-players/ The players are primarily from Charlotte, but also are pulling players from NC FC Youth (formally CASL out of Raleigh) and NC Fusion (out of W-S, GSO former club of Busio). https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/other-sports/article244529517.html
For the u17’s Chris Thaggard is the big time player. He has been dominant in the DA, is very technical and athletic, and has been the best player in any game I’ve watched. His GA cup performances when he guest played with Atlanta United were notably impressive as he was the best player every time.
Anyone hear a peep as to any hopes of having a fall season.. or even a spring season? Even if they don't play, has anyone heard or seen how this is all going to run, what will be divisions, league levels, any tournaments, or actually ANY information other than the list of the folks responsible to make decisions?
It doesn’t sound like we’ll be getting the competition prior to 2021. For the time being, clubs are practicing, scrimmaging, and there are hopes for an unofficial competition between academies in close proximity or if not a competition, a number of friendlies. Nothing is sorted yet though, and a lot of this will probably be informal without MLS guidance until 2021, although we might get some clarification from MLS sooner than that on their plans. It also goes without saying that this is all subject to change. Things already have changed, and a lot of it is still COVID dependent.
Two more international stars are moving to the CITY! Learn how famed German youth academy architect Bernhard Peters and global sport management executive Mike Forde will help make #stlCITYsc a world-class club.Learn more at https://t.co/9jKTCUdz5E. pic.twitter.com/vjSx9Jrvng— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) August 31, 2020
Only scrimmages at FC Dallas for now. Contrary to what was reported in another thread about having a U16 age group, at least for now, they are training as the former DA age groups: U16/U17 and U18/U19. They started scrimmaging against each other this past weekend with the younger ones winning by a wide margin.
Here's a profile of a Houston academy player from Hawaii. It feels kind of strange saying this, but if he actually makes the first team, he will not be the first player from Hawaii to do so. Almost makes you wonder what the point even is... https://www.mauinews.com/sports/loc...nn-a-rising-star-with-houston-dynamo-academy/