Academies In SoCal

[lulu9155]

I am confused a bit about academies…

1. Are the only academies in socal LAFC, La Galaxy, and SDFC?
2. Are they all free for players that make the academy teams?
3. Does the academy include academics too? Or just soccer?
4. Do players live on site? Or just drive there everyday for practice?
5. Who do they play games against - other academies?

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

I am confused a bit about academies…

1. Are the only academies in socal LAFC, La Galaxy, and SDFC?
2. Are they all free for players that make the academy teams?
3. Does the academy include academics too? Or just soccer?
4. Do players live on site? Or just drive there everyday for practice?
5. Who do they play games against - other academies?

I know there are parents here with kids in Galaxy or LAFC academies so they'll be able to add the best insights... but I can answer these Q's based on talking with some of those parents + doing my own research...

1. Yes, those 3 are the only academies... except SD FC academy isn't open yet... their academy is planning on opening doors Fall 2025

2. yes, fully funded, all gear, tournaments, travel, league, games, nutritionist... you pay nothing

3. includes academics in different forms. In younger ages I believe with FC and Galaxy, you figure out school on your own and then starting like U15, you do fully online school on site.

Here's the info on Galaxy academic program - https://www.lagalaxy.com/academy/school/about
Previously they used Connections Academy (https://www.connectionsacademy.com/) but I think they're now using CA Online Public Schools (https://californiaops.org/). They're both online home school options, with tutors on hand to help navigate the academic side of things. I have an educator friend who worked with the academies a bit.

For SD, San Diego FC will become the first Major League Soccer club to offer a privately operated school combined with a residential football academy.

SD model is truly special. First ever residential + a full school. I think it'll be the gold standard going forward with MLS academies but we will see how quickly the other academies follow or at all.

4. Only SD is onsite and only one in the US. You have comparable programs like Barca Residential Program in AZ or IMG Academy in FL but as far as MLS academies go, I believe SD is the one and only. Oh and SD FC is free. Barca Residential is like $80,000 a year or something. IMG too LOL.

5. Some younger teams play EA like LAFC has a U12 team that plays in EA right now. But Galaxy's youngest team is a U13 and plays in MLS Next. And older teams all play MLS Next. Generally most MLS academies seem to start at U13 MLS Next level but I assume some like LAFC has younger teams in EA (cause there is no MLS Next in U12). Then in U15 and U17 they have regular MLS Next, Flex - I think this thread explains that a bit https://socalsoccer.com/threads/mls-next-league-vs-flex.20782/

Then there are tourneys like Generations Adidas Cup, MLS Next Fest and they usually go overseas for tournaments - they often go to Spain and Europe and Galaxy I know went to Japan in the last couple of years... again, all free... well for the player, not for you parents if you wanna go watch haha

I think the fact that you can play against MLS academies is why there's a perception MLS Next is the highest league on the boys' side - rightly or wrongly. You ball out against them in league play or tourney and you could get recruited. It's happened at my kid's current club.

 

[Carlsbad7]

I know there are parents here with kids in Galaxy or LAFC academies so they'll be able to add the best insights... but I can answer these Q's based on talking with some of those parents + doing my own research...

1. Yes, those 3 are the only academies... except SD FC academy isn't open yet... their academy is planning on opening doors Fall 2025

2. yes, fully funded, all gear, tournaments, travel, league, games, nutritionist... you pay nothing

3. includes academics in different forms. In younger ages I believe with FC and Galaxy, you figure out school on your own and then starting like U15, you do fully online school on site.

Here's the info on Galaxy academic program - https://www.lagalaxy.com/academy/school/about
Previously they used Connections Academy (https://www.connectionsacademy.com/) but I think they're now using CA Online Public Schools (https://californiaops.org/). They're both online home school options, with tutors on hand to help navigate the academic side of things. I have an educator friend who worked with the academies a bit.

For SD, San Diego FC will become the first Major League Soccer club to offer a privately operated school combined with a residential football academy.

SD model is truly special. First ever residential + a full school. I think it'll be the gold standard going forward with MLS academies but we will see how quickly the other academies follow or at all.

4. Only SD is onsite and only one in the US. You have comparable programs like Barca Residential Program in AZ or IMG Academy in FL but as far as MLS academies go, I believe SD is the one and only. Oh and SD FC is free. Barca Residential is like $80,000 a year or something. IMG too LOL.

5. Some younger teams play EA like LAFC has a U12 team that plays in EA right now. But Galaxy's youngest team is a U13 and plays in MLS Next. And older teams all play MLS Next. Generally most MLS academies seem to start at U13 MLS Next level but I assume some like LAFC has younger teams in EA (cause there is no MLS Next in U12). Then in U15 and U17 they have regular MLS Next, Flex - I think this thread explains that a bit https://socalsoccer.com/threads/mls-next-league-vs-flex.20782/

I think the fact that you can play against MLS academies is why there's a perception MLS Next is the highest league on the boys' side - rightly or wrongly. You ball out against them in league play or tourney and you could get recruited. It's happened at my kid's current club.

One other interesting detail about SDFC is it can claim players residing in Tijuana MX.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/1bwxavh

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

One other interesting detail about SDFC is it can claim players residing in Tijuana MX.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/1bwxavh

Haha yea, I think the owner wanted SD for that reason... not a main reason maybe but definitely one of the reasons...
San Diego FC
In the United States, a 75-mile radius of the Club’s training facility, excluding Orange County, CA.
In Mexico, a 62.1-mile (100-km) driving distance of the Club’s training facility.

The homegrown territories are a cluster****

2024 MLS Player Development Guidelines | MLSSoccer.com

OVERVIEW The MLS Player Development Guidelines set out the provisions governing player development programs and MLS Homegrown players.

www.mlssoccer.com

Portland somehow has rights to New Mexico LOL!
Portland Timbers
The states of Idaho, Oregon, and New Mexico (excluding El Paso), and including Vancouver, Washington, and its environs.

I'm actually not against the territories at all... but just how it's divided up and drawn
I feel like OC should be neutral grounds for SDFC Galaxy and LAFC... Depending on where you are in OC, you're closer to SD than Galaxy...

 

[lulu9155]

So for the younger years, families just drive for the practices after whatever school they choose to do whether it’s regular school or homeschool? How long are the practices, etc. per day in Academy?

 

[Carlsbad7]

So for the younger years, families just drive for the practices after whatever school they choose to do whether it’s regular school or homeschool? How long are the practices, etc. per day in Academy?

The way MLS Next works is there are Acadamies and regular clubs that all play in the same league. The Acadamies offer free soccer or some variance on free soccer. Players can try out directly for Acadamies and might make the team. The Acadamies also watch for talent in other MLSN non acadamy teams that they play in league and other leagues like SOCAL or ECNL or Latin leagues. Basically they don't care where they come from. In essence the non academy MLS teams only exist to train and develop the Academy MLS teams.

The net of it is if your kid has talent and somehow is able to catch a MLSN Academy coaches eye there will be opportunities.

Something most people don't understand is that because boys/men can play professionally and make a lot of $$$. At the highest levels it quickly becomes apparent who the top players are. This means boys soccer camps are usually cheaper than girls camps because clubs can't sell the dream of playing professionally when it's blatantly obvious physically, skills wise, and connections wise who that is going to be.

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

So for the younger years, families just drive for the practices after whatever school they choose to do whether it’s regular school or homeschool? How long are the practices, etc. per day in Academy?

Was talking to a parent of a kid on Galaxy and he's a younger and goes 4x a week in the afternoon - 1.5 hour practices.

Didn't talk about school but I assume he stayed in his regular school and just goes to afternoon practices.

I imagine that'll change in a few years to where he's also doing schooling on site there via online school.

 

[Yak]

Was talking to a parent of a kid on Galaxy and he's a younger and goes 4x a week in the afternoon - 1.5 hour practices.

Didn't talk about school but I assume he stayed in his regular school and just goes to afternoon practices.

I imagine that'll change in a few years to where he's also doing schooling on site there via online school.

This is accurate based on our experience but the 1.5 hours usually ran significantly longer.

 

[Grace T.]

The way MLS Next works is there are Acadamies and regular clubs that all play in the same league. The Acadamies offer free soccer or some variance on free soccer. Players can try out directly for Acadamies and might make the team. The Acadamies also watch for talent in other MLSN non acadamy teams that they play in league and other leagues like SOCAL or ECNL or Latin leagues. Basically they don't care where they come from. In essence the non academy MLS teams only exist to train and develop the Academy MLS teams.

The net of it is if your kid has talent and somehow is able to catch a MLSN Academy coaches eye there will be opportunities.

Something most people don't understand is that because boys/men can play professionally and make a lot of $$$. At the highest levels it quickly becomes apparent who the top players are. This means boys soccer camps are usually cheaper than girls camps because clubs can't sell the dream of playing professionally when it's blatantly obvious physically, skills wise, and connections wise who that is going to be.

The only part I'll dispute here is the part about the academies watching out for other talent. It's possible a coach hears about some nobody (without connections) playing for a Latino League (or even pre ECNL) team out in the Valley, but it's highly unlikely. Most of the national academies don't invest a whole lot in scouting, and to the extent it's done, it's done among a few high level teams at the entry younger levels (I had a friend who did it). After the youngers teams, the big ways to get in are you get noticed playing MLS Next against the academy team, you have a connection to earn a trial, or (very rarely) you are such a standout at camp (the Galaxy for example have a 5 point scale...the grading is tough and most high level kids capable of playing for an academy will come away with mostly 4s...but you come out of it with 5s and get pushed off to another camp and then if you survive that you get invited to a trial). I've never seen one at a Latino League game. Los Dos used to have an open tryout camp for 16-18 year olds but I haven't seen that advertised for some time.

By contrast, the Mexican teams will look at pretty much everyone and actually do show up for Latino league. In fact, they'll sponsor Latino League teams (registration fee and kit) who they'll then invite to form select teams to come down to Mexico in front of the scouts. My kid did that first step in the process but found it too cumbersome, didn't want to move to Mexico to establish residency requirements, and in any case at the end of the day even there its not just about the skills but also physically and connections. Mexican teams cast a wider net but at the end of the day wind up at pretty much the same place.

The other part is that it's still a lottery to get to that big money. MLS players are divided up into designated players (the big bucks), TAM (players who they can throw some additional money to) and GAM (supporting players who get paid out of the general fund including minimum and reserve players which make $70K/year). The MLS salaries (with the except of the 3 DP players per team) are capped (I think it's $5-6M this year IIRC) so the money needs to be divided by the squad. Players on Los Dos make less. The big bucks are international (Steffen for example went from a $2.5M salary to $900K for the Rapids). Soccer domestically just doesn't have a whole lot of money in it. By contrast even in league 1 the median salary is 360 pounds/year.

 

[watfly]

SD model is truly special. First ever residential + a full school. I think it'll be the gold standard going forward with MLS academies but we will see how quickly the other academies follow or at all.

Not true. Philadelphia Union has been doing this for years. It is a very impressive athletic and academic program. RSL-Salt Lake has a similar program, but it's school is technically a charter, and not a private school.

 

[aong cangkol]

The only part I'll dispute here is the part about the academies watching out for other talent. It's possible a coach hears about some nobody (without connections) playing for a Latino League (or even pre ECNL) team out in the Valley, but it's highly unlikely. Most of the national academies don't invest a whole lot in scouting, and to the extent it's done, it's done among a few high level teams at the entry younger levels (I had a friend who did it). After the youngers teams, the big ways to get in are you get noticed playing MLS Next against the academy team, you have a connection to earn a trial, or (very rarely) you are such a standout at camp (the Galaxy for example have a 5 point scale...the grading is tough and most high level kids capable of playing for an academy will come away with mostly 4s...but you come out of it with 5s and get pushed off to another camp and then if you survive that you get invited to a trial). I've never seen one at a Latino League game. Los Dos used to have an open tryout camp for 16-18 year olds but I haven't seen that advertised for some time.

.

My son's friend is top scorer for his regular MLSNext team, was scouted by an MLS Academy and went thru multiple trials and camps. Really long process if you have no connections. Finally decided not to pursue the opportunity and stay because current MLS Next team that gives him 75% discount.

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

Not true. Philadelphia Union has been doing this for years. It is a very impressive athletic and academic program. RSL-Salt Lake has a similar program, but it's school is technically a charter, and not a private school.

I see.

It sounds like it's similar - https://www.yscacademy.com/admissions/residency/
But seems like the residential portion is the exception and not the norm.
"Our residency program is comprised of our residency house, as well as host families and home stay program. Roughly 15 student-athletes are a part of our program annually. Each house is staffed by a couple who is responsible for preparing all student meals, providing transportation, and maintaining the home."

SD one seems like it truly is first of its kind in terms of scale and structure - https://www.sandiegofc.com/academy/about
"San Diego FC's Right to Dream Academy will deliver excellence and innovation in player development by giving top talent the opportunity to develop their academic and athletic potential in a fully-funded residential program, the first of its kind in North America."

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

My son's friend is top scorer for his regular MLSNext team, was scouted by an MLS Academy and went thru multiple trials and camps. Really long process if you have no connections. Finally decided not to pursue the opportunity and stay because current MLS Next team that gives him 75% discount.

Yea a neighbor/buddy had his boy IDed by a scout as a tourney - I think Surf Cup and was invited to the trial process.

Started the process in Jan or something. Others started in August is what he could gather from speaking to kids' parents who were already there.
They would make cuts every 2-3 weeks and bring on new kids.

The ones clearly head and shoulders above were signed early on in the process. For the others, the process is just long... and it bumped into when they had to give an answer to his regular MLS Next team for the next season... so he was still in the process with the MLS Academy but being that he was 50/50 to make it, just committed to his MLS Next team for another season.

I don't think they got a discount though haha so your son's friend made out well with the 75% discount!

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

After the youngers teams, the big ways to get in are you get noticed playing MLS Next against the academy team, you have a connection to earn a trial, or (very rarely) you are such a standout at camp (the Galaxy for example have a 5 point scale...the grading is tough and most high level kids capable of playing for an academy will come away with mostly 4s...but you come out of it with 5s and get pushed off to another camp and then if you survive that you get invited to a trial).

FC and Galaxy academy coaches seem to be putting out their own personal clinics and training sessions, outside of their capacities as academy coaches but people certainly know they're academy coaches and sign up to see if they can get IDed that way...

It could just be a money grab... to use their title as academy coaches to make a side income...

Or maybe they do actually ID some kids that way... who knows...

 

[watfly]

I see.

It sounds like it's similar - https://www.yscacademy.com/admissions/residency/
But seems like the residential portion is the exception and not the norm.
"Our residency program is comprised of our residency house, as well as host families and home stay program. Roughly 15 student-athletes are a part of our program annually. Each house is staffed by a couple who is responsible for preparing all student meals, providing transportation, and maintaining the home."

SD one seems like it truly is first of its kind in terms of scale and structure - https://www.sandiegofc.com/academy/about
"San Diego FC's Right to Dream Academy will deliver excellence and innovation in player development by giving top talent the opportunity to develop their academic and athletic potential in a fully-funded residential program, the first of its kind in North America."

I hope they're successful, and truly better than other programs. (It's a stones throw from my house and looks like a beautiful facility). However, I see the same old "pathway" propaganda spewed by every other club. So I can't help but be a little skeptical. I've been to the YSC academy and it was very impressive. True that they don't have dorms, and they prioritize Philly kids, so the residential program only includes out-of-state kids, but most kids are in the school program. RSL has dorms for its players. Is SDFC going to require their local kids to stay in the dorms?

 

[Grace T.]

My son's friend is top scorer for his regular MLSNext team, was scouted by an MLS Academy and went thru multiple trials and camps. Really long process if you have no connections. Finally decided not to pursue the opportunity and stay because current MLS Next team that gives him 75% discount.

This is right on. On the other hand, if you have the connections (or have been personally recruited by a coach) the process is much easier. One trial for one friend of the kiddo, another had none and was just brought on after the physical clearance and a few trainings.