Four More Clubs Join U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy
U.S. Soccer has announced that four new clubs will join the Girls’ Development Academy, which is set to kick off in the fall of 2017. Albion Soccer Club, LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes will play in the West market, while United Futbol Academy will join the Southeast market.
Youth Soccer News: The U.S. Soccer Development Academy welcomes four additional clubs that will join the Girls’ Development Academy in the fall of 2017.
The new development academy program will consist of 74 Clubs in six regional divisions, with the goal to accelerate the development of world-class female players.
The three clubs that will be added in the West market are Albion Soccer Club (San Diego, Calif.), LA Galaxy (Carson, Calif.), and San Jose Earthquakes (San Jose, Calif.). In addition, United Futbol Academy (Cumming, Ga.) will join the Southeast market.
The U.S. Soccer program will look to provide member clubs with a consistent league schedule as part of a balanced program focusing on appropriate training-to-game ratio. The schedule is structured to provide meaningful games and a variety of top-level competition.
Albion SC is proud to have been selected for the USSF Girls Development Academy and looks forward to continuing to focus on developing youth players to their fullest potential.
“We are very excited to provide the opportunities and the platform for our players to develop and be recognized inside the Development Academy. We intend to be one of the most progressive girls programs in the country,” said Noah Gins, Albion SC Technical Director.
Along with National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) clubs joining the initiative, the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes become the third MLS team to join the development academy.
“The LA Galaxy want to continue to invest in and lead the development of youth soccer in North America in every facet,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “Adding an Academy program for girls is a huge step for this club in order to continue that investment. We are thrilled to launch this program and provide a structure for young girls to grow and develop in a professional environment free of charge.”
The Earthquakes interim general manager Chris Leitch remains excited for the challenge as his club prepares to join the Northwest Conference.
“The Quakes are excited to be a part of the inaugural season of the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy,” said Earthquakes interim general manager Chris Leitch. “We’re looking forward to fielding a competitive team and giving girls in the Bay Area an opportunity to advance their game with the goal of playing at the highest level.”
The final club joining the Girls’ Development Academy in its inaugural season next fall is United Futbol Academy based out of Cumming, Georgia.
“We are very excited to be a part of the Girls’ Development Academy. This is a great avenue for our elite-level female players to keep on developing and have a professional soccer option right in their back yard,” said Iggy Moleka, UFA’s Director of Soccer. “Our goal for the future is to develop players for the U.S. National Team and this brings us closer to achieving that goal.”
The next phase of U.S. Soccer development is taking shape as teams remain focused on representing their organization on the highest youth soccer level in 2017.
