|
|
En Route: Inside The Development Academy
One of the more discussed issues among youth soccer circles is the future and on-goings of the Development Academy. Goal.com talked to the guy in the know, Director of Scouting Tony LePore, to break down what the Academy looks like.
Feb 23, 2010 1:22:00 AM
By J.R. Eskilson
The Development Academy is at the forefront of youth soccer culture in America, but its labyrinthine structure isn't well known. More of a league than a single-location academy, the DA spans the United States and looks to unify and expedite the process of discovering and nurturing young talent in the country.
Established as a league to put the best clubs against each other and cut down on the excess of games, the Academy started in the fall of 2007 with some of the most powerful youth clubs in the country joining the movement.
Currently, the breakdown of the academy is split between four conferences. At the head of each conference is a technical adviser responsible for the scouting, practice, and club evaluations for the clubs that fall in that region. Tony LePore is the technical adviser for the East.
Another part of the make-up of the Academy is the scouting network which currently employs 70 scouts. The scouts are in charge of examining players and evaluating clubs. Every Development Academy game is graded and scored by the scouts. These results are put into a database so every club can view the scores and see areas that need improvement. The scores are also used for the weekly meetings that LePore heads among the technical advisers.
Last year, the Academy grew by six teams. (The league is still waiting on the applications this year.) While the current tally of 77 clubs is not going to be the final number, and though LePore said that the academy has "no set number" in mind, he added that they "have to be careful with expansion." LePore targeted a few areas that are possibilities for expansion, but the difficulty of an isolated location is an issue for new clubs looking to join the Academy.
Today, clubs across the nation face the challenge of travel to find quality opponents, but, as LePore stated, they are looking at ways to alleviate these costs. This year, schedule makers added a third game to a four day trip to boost the rate of match-time to travel. The four day trips offered a one day rest for the players.
Another new initiative that the Development Academy began this year is the Market Training Centers. These centers are a development tool for coaches to watch technical advisers hold practice with some of the top players in the area. Centers occur about three times per year for each location. There are four to six locations for each conference. LePore is hoping that the regularity of the centers can increase and pointed out that the U.S. youth national teams have used these centers to get a look at players outside the Academy teams against better competition.
Asked about the benefits of a championship game in a league that puts the emphasis on development, he said that players needed the motivation. The scouts are looking for players with a will to win. However, the championship game is not included in any grading for the clubs.
The challenges that face the academy are numerous, and, of course, LePore is aware of this. But the goal from the top is not going to change. Players perpetually need better environments to practice and play. The common emphasis coming from LePore and U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe is the need to eliminate the clutter and clean up the calendar. As LePore called it, "Investing appropriately in a player."
The Development Academy is trying to find the right angle to make that work.
J.R. Eskilson is the youth soccer editor at Goal.com. You can follow him at twitter.com/NCAAsoccer
Established as a league to put the best clubs against each other and cut down on the excess of games, the Academy started in the fall of 2007 with some of the most powerful youth clubs in the country joining the movement.
Currently, the breakdown of the academy is split between four conferences. At the head of each conference is a technical adviser responsible for the scouting, practice, and club evaluations for the clubs that fall in that region. Tony LePore is the technical adviser for the East.
Another part of the make-up of the Academy is the scouting network which currently employs 70 scouts. The scouts are in charge of examining players and evaluating clubs. Every Development Academy game is graded and scored by the scouts. These results are put into a database so every club can view the scores and see areas that need improvement. The scores are also used for the weekly meetings that LePore heads among the technical advisers.
Last year, the Academy grew by six teams. (The league is still waiting on the applications this year.) While the current tally of 77 clubs is not going to be the final number, and though LePore said that the academy has "no set number" in mind, he added that they "have to be careful with expansion." LePore targeted a few areas that are possibilities for expansion, but the difficulty of an isolated location is an issue for new clubs looking to join the Academy.
Today, clubs across the nation face the challenge of travel to find quality opponents, but, as LePore stated, they are looking at ways to alleviate these costs. This year, schedule makers added a third game to a four day trip to boost the rate of match-time to travel. The four day trips offered a one day rest for the players.
Another new initiative that the Development Academy began this year is the Market Training Centers. These centers are a development tool for coaches to watch technical advisers hold practice with some of the top players in the area. Centers occur about three times per year for each location. There are four to six locations for each conference. LePore is hoping that the regularity of the centers can increase and pointed out that the U.S. youth national teams have used these centers to get a look at players outside the Academy teams against better competition.
Asked about the benefits of a championship game in a league that puts the emphasis on development, he said that players needed the motivation. The scouts are looking for players with a will to win. However, the championship game is not included in any grading for the clubs.
The challenges that face the academy are numerous, and, of course, LePore is aware of this. But the goal from the top is not going to change. Players perpetually need better environments to practice and play. The common emphasis coming from LePore and U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe is the need to eliminate the clutter and clean up the calendar. As LePore called it, "Investing appropriately in a player."
The Development Academy is trying to find the right angle to make that work.
J.R. Eskilson is the youth soccer editor at Goal.com. You can follow him at twitter.com/NCAAsoccer
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.
