Now standing at 71 clubs and 342 teams, the academy system goes bigger in its efforts to impact everyday environments in producing world class players. Now with an U-16 level where Long Island Sc based out of Plainveiw will field a team sets this up to now with just shy of 7,000 players.
The New Academy Teams & Age Groups:
Albion, NV, All ages
Cedar Stars Academy NJ, U-14 & 15's
Salvo, MN, All ages
SJEB Rush, NJ, U-14 & 15's
South Shore Select, MA, All ages
STA Development Academy, NJ, All ages
Teams With New Age Groups:
Arlington Soccer Assoc., VA, U-16.17 & 18/19
Long Island SC, NY, U-16
Both neew clubs and new age groups for exisitng USSDA teams were subject to an evaluation process covering:
Academy leadership and quality of coaching
Desire to embrace DA philosophy and core values
Infrastructure and investment of resources
Player production history, player pool depth and geographic location.
Miriam Hickey, US Soccer Director of Club Development informed "After a thorough review of the clubs. a selct number were chosen to join the Girl's Academy in its third season."
Jared Micklos, Youth National Teams Director added " The growth of the Academy is not simply measured in the number of new clubs or players"
With 6 of the total 8 clubs doing more, it bodes very well for local soccer as they are located in the East, the region for Long Island.