The soccer sensation, starring on the U.S. Women’s National Team and Seattle Reign, is the first professional athlete to collaborate as a technical advisor of the Barca Academy Pro NY project
Youth Soccer News: Alexandra Linsley Long, known as Allie and even La Blanquita is stepping up, off the field so to speak, to help develop the future of the game.
Long known for her goal to inspire others and encourage girls to dream big now has a chance to impact the next generation of youth soccer players working with the world famous Barcelona FC American based Barca Academy NY.
Considered by many as one of the best American soccer talents, Allie Long, has become the first professional athlete to collaborate as a technical advisor of the Barca Academy Pro NY project, on Long Island.
The Seattle Reign player began her relationship with the Barca Academy Pro NY late last spring, when she became an ambassador and advisor for entrance trials for girl players, as well as playing an active role on both the Girls ID Clinic and at a camp held on school premises last July.
“It is a passion of mine, to help the next generation,” says Allie Long.
“I couldn’t be more greateful and excited,” said Allie Long. “I have been a fan of the style of play. I watch all the games. I am in awe of how Barcelona plays the game.”
The midfielder was born in Huntington, close to the site of the soccer academy, and has already been contributing her experience to the project for several weeks.
For the remainder of the season, Allie Long will continue working with the academy as long as her club and US national team commitments allow. Her presence is already confirmed at the Girls Welcome Practice in the coming weeks, the opening ceremony of the academy’s season, and at a specific clinic for girls this fall.
Her presence with the Barca Academy Pro NY project is a major boost for the Long Island school. The students look up to Allie and work even harder to earn their spot on the team. They also see more clearly the possibility of pursuing the sport in college and perhaps professionally, if they have the skill and determination to make it.
What is the Barca Academy Pro? Managed directly by FC Barcelona, the club has two Pro academies, one in Asia (Haikou) and one in North America (New York).
The goal of these special academies is to participate in the biggest competitions in each geographical area.
Together with the Barça Residency Academy Arizona – the only FC Barcelona residential program outside of Barcelona, Spain, the Pro academies are the only schools with players wearing the official FC Barcelona jersey from the current season.
The Barca Academy is FC Barcelona’s model for youth soccer development worldwide and its main objective is the multi-faceted education of its students.
Currently, FC Barcelona has 45 Barca Academy projects around the world, 180 campuses and 50 clinics, with a presence in 52 countries and across five continents, and the participation of 45,000 children across all the activities.
The Barca Academy projects are divided into the Barca Escola of Barcelona, the Barca Academy Pro in Haikou (China) and New York, the Barca Residency Academy of Casa Grande (Arizona) and the 41 Barca Academies spread across the five continents.
