Youth Academies

Youth Academies aren't big in Europe, their huge. They accept kids into their academy starting at the age of 9. They recruit about 20 -30 players in each age group and train them to become professionals. Their main goal isn't to win state cup or nationals but to develop the individual and not the team. They don't teach down to the weakest link in their academy but instead teach beyond the age of the kids. They play about 30 games a year, all friendlies against other academies and they don't care what the results are. Some of the top academies in England cost about $3 million a year to keep running but all they need to produce is one quality player a year and their investment is safe. Academy soccer is by far the best way to develop a player and give him a chance to play professionally for years to come. Academies need to become standard for all clubs to create better soccer players throughout the world. When we start seeing real academies pop up in countries like the United States , we know that soccer has reached the next level.