Earlier today, Seattle Reign FC announced the launch of Seattle Reign Academy, a partnership with Seattle United that will provide a comprehensive competitive platform for elite-level female youth soccer players in the Seattle region.

Seattle Reign Academy will be led by Laura Harvey, head coach and general manager of Reign FC, who will also serve as the Academy’s Executive Director.

“After three seasons of intense focus on building a world-class professional squad, we are now in a position to confidently engage more deeply with the community, and specifically, to use our unique position to influence the development of female soccer players in the Northwest,” said Laura Harvey, Executive Director of the Seattle Reign Academy. “I am deeply passionate about youth player development and expect to build the Academy program in a manner that reflects my beliefs about how to develop world-class players on and off the pitch.”

Supporting Harvey will be a Technical Committee that includes Jason Farrell, Seattle United’s Director of Coaching — Girls, Sam Laity, Seattle Reign FC Assistant Coach, and the Academy’s Technical Director, who will lead the day-to-day operations of the Academy. Reign FC is currently evaluating candidates for the Technical Director role and expect to have the role filled within the next 30 days. Coaches for the Seattle Reign Academy will be identified by Harvey and the Technical Committee, and will be employed by Seattle United.

Beginning with tryouts this Spring for competition during the 2016/17 season, Seattle Reign Academy will field teams for 13–18 year-old females, and will seek to compete at the highest levels of competition available for those age groups.

Seattle Reign Academy Teams will wear authentic Seattle Reign FC match kits and training gear from Nike, featuring a newly-designed Seattle Reign Academy crest, as well as a Seattle United patch on the sleeve, signifying that Seattle Reign Academy teams will be a core part of Seattle United’s program offerings.

As part of the partnership, Seattle Reign FC’s coaching staff will provide curriculum support and coach education for Seattle United players and coaches. Seattle Reign FC players and coaches will be involved in Seattle United programs, and Seattle United coaches and players will have opportunities to observe and learn from the Reign’s first team training sessions.

“We view the launch of the Seattle Reign Academy and the partnership with Seattle United as the first step in a much broader initiative to support the development of female youth soccer players in our region,” said Harvey. “Over the coming months we will work to forge partnerships with additional clubs in the Seattle area. There are many clubs in our area doing fantastic work with female youth players in our region; we will seek opportunities to support their efforts, with a shared goal of developing the next generation of elite female soccer players.”