An interesting article in the Chicago Sun Time: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/preps/51 ... 20.article
This is probably more of an issue in Illinois since they have 3 clubs who will be part of the acdemy system, while Mass. only one at the present time, but that could change and also include girls at some future date.
This is probably more of an issue in Illinois since they have 3 clubs who will be part of the acdemy system, while Mass. only one at the present time, but that could change and also include girls at some future date.
IHSA has some Academic issues
August 20, 2007
BY JOE TROST
For years, many purists have said the Illinois High School Association's inability to adjust to changing times eventually would turn high school soccer into a recreational sport.
While it hasn't quite reached that point, there's little doubt next year will be interesting for high school soccer and its decision-makers within the IHSA membership.
U.S. Soccer has officially announced the calendar for the nationwide Development Academy, which features 64 clubs throughout the country taking part in a revolutionary new program. The 64 teams will be divided into eight conferences, each made up of eight teams based largely on geographic proximity.
Teams will play approximately 30 games during an eight-month season, with the winner of each conference playing in the Academy finals at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The Development Academy kicks off in September with a two-day orientation in Chicago. The first games of the inaugural season will begin during the first week of October. Teams will compete in three types of game weekends -- individual conference games, travel-partner weekends and showcase weekends -- to provide players with the optimum balance of playing rhythm, economy of travel and exposure to scouts.
''The Development Academy has been implemented to shift the focus of the young elite player toward a meaningful training and competition model, with the U.S. Soccer Federation taking the initiative to extend its national-team program into the daily environment of the elite player,'' U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said. ''The response thus far has been unprecedented for a youth initiative.''
Unlike other states, the IHSA prohibits players from competing with their club teams during the high school season. The area's two top clubs -- the Chicago Magic and Sockers FC -- and the Chicago Fire PDA are three of the programs in the Mid-America Conference, which also features teams from Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri and one of the U.S. men's national teams.
The Magic, Sockers FC and Fire will send teams made up of under-15/16 and under-17/18 players. The Magic, however, is the only program covering all costs for its players.
In total, more than 2,000 players nationwide are expected to take part in the Development Academy beginning later this fall.
''It is highly unlikely our membership would be supportive of our student-athletes playing with club and high school teams at the same time,'' IHSA executive director Marty Hickman said. ''It's too bad for those kids that aren't going to get a chance to play high school soccer.
''This new program is going to set expectations for these kids that they're not going to be able to meet. These kids in the program are going to start to believe they're going to be future Division I or professional players. Clearly this is their business, and we're not going to get involved in it. I do know we're going to have plenty of kids who have fun playing high school soccer. We'd love to have every student play high school, but that's up to them.''
August 20, 2007
BY JOE TROST
For years, many purists have said the Illinois High School Association's inability to adjust to changing times eventually would turn high school soccer into a recreational sport.
While it hasn't quite reached that point, there's little doubt next year will be interesting for high school soccer and its decision-makers within the IHSA membership.
U.S. Soccer has officially announced the calendar for the nationwide Development Academy, which features 64 clubs throughout the country taking part in a revolutionary new program. The 64 teams will be divided into eight conferences, each made up of eight teams based largely on geographic proximity.
Teams will play approximately 30 games during an eight-month season, with the winner of each conference playing in the Academy finals at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The Development Academy kicks off in September with a two-day orientation in Chicago. The first games of the inaugural season will begin during the first week of October. Teams will compete in three types of game weekends -- individual conference games, travel-partner weekends and showcase weekends -- to provide players with the optimum balance of playing rhythm, economy of travel and exposure to scouts.
''The Development Academy has been implemented to shift the focus of the young elite player toward a meaningful training and competition model, with the U.S. Soccer Federation taking the initiative to extend its national-team program into the daily environment of the elite player,'' U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said. ''The response thus far has been unprecedented for a youth initiative.''
Unlike other states, the IHSA prohibits players from competing with their club teams during the high school season. The area's two top clubs -- the Chicago Magic and Sockers FC -- and the Chicago Fire PDA are three of the programs in the Mid-America Conference, which also features teams from Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri and one of the U.S. men's national teams.
The Magic, Sockers FC and Fire will send teams made up of under-15/16 and under-17/18 players. The Magic, however, is the only program covering all costs for its players.
In total, more than 2,000 players nationwide are expected to take part in the Development Academy beginning later this fall.
''It is highly unlikely our membership would be supportive of our student-athletes playing with club and high school teams at the same time,'' IHSA executive director Marty Hickman said. ''It's too bad for those kids that aren't going to get a chance to play high school soccer.
''This new program is going to set expectations for these kids that they're not going to be able to meet. These kids in the program are going to start to believe they're going to be future Division I or professional players. Clearly this is their business, and we're not going to get involved in it. I do know we're going to have plenty of kids who have fun playing high school soccer. We'd love to have every student play high school, but that's up to them.''
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